Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

आचार्यमग्रत: कृत्वा वाग्यत: सह बन्धुभि: । दद्यात्पत्‍न्यै चरो: शेषं सुप्रजास्त्वं सुसौभगम् ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

ācāryam agrataḥ kṛtvā vāg-yataḥ saha bandhubhiḥ dadyāt patnyai caroḥ śeṣaṁ suprajāstvaṁ susaubhagam

Translation

Vor dem Essen soll der Ehemann den Ācārya vorne bequem Platz nehmen lassen und, zusammen mit Verwandten und Freunden, seine Rede zügeln und dem Guru Prasāda darbringen. Dann soll die Ehefrau die Reste des mit Ghee gekochten charu essen; dies bringt gute Nachkommenschaft und glückverheißendes Geschick.

Synonyms

• ācāryam: the teacher/priest
• ācāryam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ācārya (आचार्य) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन (sg.)

• agrataḥ: in front
• agrataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: agratas (अग्रतः) (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of place)

• kṛtvā: having placed
• kṛtvā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु) (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); अर्थः ‘कृत्वा/स्थापयित्वा’ = ‘having placed/made’

• vāk-yataḥ: restrained in speech
• vāk-yataḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāk (वाच्/वाक्) (प्रातिपदिक) + yata (यत √यम् धातु, क्त; कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय-सन्निकर्ष: ‘वाचा यतः’); पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (sg.); कर्तृविशेषणम्

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक

• bandhubhiḥ: with relatives
• bandhubhiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bandhu (बन्धु) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया (3rd/सह), बहुवचन (pl.)

• dadyāt: should give
• dadyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.)

• patnyai: to the wife
• patnyai: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patnī (पत्नी) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन (sg.)

• caroḥ: of the caru (offering)
• caroḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caru (चरु) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन (sg.)

• śeṣam: the remainder
• śeṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śeṣa (शेष) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन (sg.)

• suprajāstvam: good progeny (blessing)
• suprajāstvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su (सु उपसर्ग/उपपद) + prajā (प्रजा) (प्रातिपदिक) + tvam (त्वम् प्रत्यय; भाववाचक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास/उपपद-समास (‘सु-प्रजा’ + ‘त्व’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन (sg.); आशीर्वचन-रूपेण दत्तव्य-वस्तु/फलनिर्देशः

• susaubhagam: good fortune (blessing)
• susaubhagam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su (सु) + saubhaga (सौभग) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उपपद: ‘सु-सौभग’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन (sg.)

Characters & Entities

• ācārya (spiritual teacher)
• patnī (wife)
• bandhu (relatives)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about getting blessed progeny through vows like Pumsavana?

This verse states that under the guidance of an ācārya, with restraint and proper conduct, the sanctified remainder of the offering (caru) is given to the wife with prayers for virtuous progeny and auspicious fortune.

Why does the Bhagavatam emphasize placing the ācārya in front and controlling speech (vāgyataḥ)?

It highlights that sacred observances should be performed under proper spiritual guidance and with inner discipline, indicating humility, purity, and seriousness in dharmic rituals.

How can a modern devotee apply the teaching of this verse in daily life?

Seek guidance from qualified teachers, keep speech truthful and restrained, involve family in sattvic practices, and sanctify household life by offering actions and food to the Lord before sharing them.