Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 1

Puṁsavana / Viṣṇu-vrata: Worship of Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa for Auspicious Progeny and Fortune

Devanagari script

श्रीराजोवाच व्रतं पुंसवनं ब्रह्मन् भवता यदुदीरितम् । तस्य वेदितुमिच्छामि येन विष्णु: प्रसीदति ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-rājovāca vrataṁ puṁsavanaṁ brahman bhavatā yad udīritam tasya veditum icchāmi yena viṣṇuḥ prasīdati

Translation

Mahārāja Parīkṣit sprach: Ehrwürdiger Brāhmaṇa, du hast bereits das Puṁsavana-Gelübde erwähnt. Nun möchte ich es im Einzelnen hören, denn durch seine Befolgung wird der höchste Herr Viṣṇu zufrieden.

Synonyms

• śrī-rājā: the king
• śrī-rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + rājā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘the glorious king’

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• vratam: vow
• vratam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• puṁsavanam: Puṁsavana rite
• puṁsavanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṁsavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; name of a rite

• brahman: O brāhmaṇa
• brahman: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• bhavatā: by you
• bhavatā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; honorific pronoun ‘by you’

• yat: which
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; relative pronoun ‘which/that’

• udīritam: was described
• udīritam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-īr (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; ‘uttered/declared’

• tasya: of that
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; ‘of that’

• veditum: to know
• veditum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), ‘to know’

• icchāmi: I desire
• icchāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 1st Person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• yena: by which
• yena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; relative pronoun ‘by which’

• viṣṇuḥ: Viṣṇu
• viṣṇuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• prasīdati: is pleased
• prasīdati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-sad (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• King Parīkṣit

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Pumsavana vrata?

In this verse, King Parīkṣit asks to learn the Puṁsavana vow specifically as a means by which Lord Viṣṇu becomes pleased, indicating it is a devotional observance meant to satisfy Viṣṇu.

Why did King Parikshit ask about this vrata from the sage?

Because the sage had mentioned the Puṁsavana observance, and the King wants a clear explanation of its method and purpose—centered on how it pleases Lord Viṣṇu.

Practical application of pleasing Vishnu in modern life?

Approach spiritual practice with the intention of pleasing Viṣṇu—seeking clarity, learning from authentic teachers, and adopting disciplined devotional observances (vrata) with sincere devotion.