Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 10

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

Devanagari script

प्रणमेद्दण्डवद्भ‍ूमौ भक्तिप्रह्वेण चेतसा । दशवारं जपेन्मन्त्रं तत: स्तोत्रमुदीरयेत् ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

praṇamed daṇḍavad bhūmau bhakti-prahveṇa cetasā daśa-vāraṁ japen mantraṁ tataḥ stotram udīrayet

Translation

Mit einem durch Hingabe demütig gewordenen Geist soll man sich in daṇḍavat auf die Erde niederwerfen, wie ein Stab. Während dieser Niederwerfung rezitiert man das Mantra zehnmal und trägt danach das folgende Lobgebet (Stotra) vor.

Synonyms

• प्रणमेत्: should bow down
• प्रणमेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd sg.)

• दण्डवत्: like a rod (prostrate)
• दण्डवत्: Manner (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दण्डवत् (अव्यय/तद्धितान्त)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: like a staff)

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन (locative sg.)

• भक्ति-प्रह्वेण: with (a mind) humbled by devotion
• भक्ति-प्रह्वेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ति + प्रह्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (instrumental sg.); विशेषण (made humble by devotion)

• चेतसा: with the mind
• चेतसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (instrumental sg.)

• दश-वारम्: ten times
• दश-वारम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/परिमाण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दश + वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समासः; क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverbial accusative: ten times)

• जपेत्: should chant
• जपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd sg.)

• मन्त्रम्: the mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (acc. sg.)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Sequence marker (अनुक्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: thereafter/from that)

• स्तोत्रम्: hymn
• स्तोत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (acc. sg.)

• उदीरयेत्: should recite/utter
• उदीरयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-ईर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd sg.)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about offering daṇḍavat praṇāma (full prostration)?

This verse instructs that one should bow down like a rod on the ground with a mind humbled by devotion, as a proper beginning to worship and prayer.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī prescribe chanting the mantra ten times and then reciting a stotra?

He outlines an ordered devotional procedure: first humility (praṇāma), then focused repetition of the mantra (japa), and then heartfelt glorification through a hymn (stotra) to complete the worship.

Practical application of mantra-japa and stotra in modern life?

Begin daily practice with a moment of humility, chant a chosen Viṣṇu-mantra with attention a fixed number of times, and conclude by reading or reciting a short prayer to deepen devotion and steadiness.