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Shloka 46

Aditi’s Lament and Kaśyapa’s Instruction of the Payo-vrata (Milk Vow) to Please Keśava

पयोभक्षो व्रतमिदं चरेद् विष्णवर्चनाद‍ृत: । पूर्ववज्जुहुयादग्निं ब्राह्मणांश्चापि भोजयेत् ॥ ४६ ॥

payo-bhakṣo vratam idaṁ cared viṣṇv-arcanādṛtaḥ pūrvavaj juhuyād agniṁ brāhmaṇāṁś cāpi bhojayet

Living only on milk and worshiping Lord Viṣṇu with deep faith and bhakti, one should observe this vow. As before, one should offer oblations into the sacred fire and also feed the brāhmaṇas.

पयः-भक्षःone who subsists on milk
पयः-भक्षः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootपयस् (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (one whose food is milk / milk-eater)
व्रतम्vow
व्रतम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootव्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
इदम्this
इदम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootइदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (this)
चरेत्should observe
चरेत्:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootचर् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; धातु: चर्—आचरणे (to practice/observe)
विष्णु-अर्चन-आदृतःdevoted to the worship of Viṣṇu
विष्णु-अर्चन-आदृतः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootविष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्चन (अर्च् धातु + ल्युट्) + आदृत (आ-दृ धातु + क्त)
Formतत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘आदृत’ = क्त-कृदन्त (respected/devoted), ‘अर्चन’ = क्रियानाम (act of worship)
पूर्ववत्as before
पूर्ववत्:
Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपूर्ववत् (अव्यय)
Formरीति-वाचक अव्यय (in the former manner/as before)
जुहुयात्should offer (oblations)
जुहुयात्:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootहु (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; धातु: हु—होमादाने (to offer in fire)
अग्निम्fire
अग्निम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootअग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
ब्राह्मणान्brāhmaṇas
ब्राह्मणान्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन
and
:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)
अपिalso
अपि:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
Formसम्भावना/समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (also/even)
भोजयेत्should feed
भोजयेत्:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootभुज् (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; णिजन्त ‘भोजय-’ = to feed
V
Vishnu
A
Agni
B
Brahmanas

FAQs

This verse instructs that Payo-vrata is observed by taking only milk while remaining dedicated to Viṣṇu’s worship, along with performing fire offerings and feeding brāhmaṇas.

In the Bhagavatam’s vrata culture, devotion to Viṣṇu is supported by dharmic acts—homa and honoring brāhmaṇas—so the vow becomes both spiritually focused and properly performed according to Vedic injunctions.

Keep a simple, regulated vow (as health permits), prioritize consistent Viṣṇu worship, and include practical service—such as charity and feeding devotees or priests—as an offering to God.