Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

इत्यभिष्टूय वरदं श्रीनिवासं श्रिया सह । तन्नि:सार्योपहरणं दत्त्वाचमनमर्चयेत् ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

ity abhiṣṭūya varadaṁ śrīnivāsaṁ śriyā saha tan niḥsāryopaharaṇaṁ dattvācamanam arcayet

Translation

Thus one should worship Lord Viṣṇu, known as Śrīnivāsa, together with Mother Lakṣmī, offering prayers according to the method described above. Then, after removing the worship paraphernalia, one should offer water for ācamanam (washing the hands and rinsing the mouth) and worship Them again.

Synonyms

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इत्यर्थक-निपात)

• अभिष्टूय: having praised
• अभिष्टूय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + स्तु (धातु) → अभिष्टूय (क्त्वान्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), from √स्तु (स्तु—स्तुतौ) with prefix अभि; 'having praised'

• वरदम्: the boon-giver
• वरदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• श्रीनिवासम्: Śrīnिवास (abode of Lakṣmī)
• श्रीनिवासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री + निवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; 'abode of Śrī' (epithet of Viṣṇu)

• श्रिया: with Śrī (Lakṣmī)
• श्रिया: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• सह: together with
• सह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable preposition-like particle (सहार्थक-अव्यय) governing instrumental

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; deictic pronoun referring to offering/act

• निःसार्य: having taken out
• निःसार्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निः + सृ (धातु) → निःसार्य (ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: Gerund/absolutive (ल्यप्), from √सृ (सृ—गत्यर्थे) with prefix निः; 'having taken out/removed'

• उपहरणम्: offering, gift
• उपहरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपहरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; 'offering/present'

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) → दत्त्वा (क्त्वान्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: Gerund/absolutive (क्त्वा), from √दा (दा—दाने); 'having given'

• आचमनम्: sipping water (ācamanam)
• आचमनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); from √अर्च् (अर्च्—पूजायाम्)

Characters & Entities

• Śrīnivāsa (Lord Viṣṇu)
• Śrī (Lakṣmī)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about proper worship (arcana) of Lord Vishnu?

This verse outlines a simple sequence: offer heartfelt prayers to Lord Śrīnivāsa with Śrī (Lakṣmī), present the appropriate offering, give ācamanam (water for sipping/purification), and then continue worship with reverence.

Why is Lakshmi mentioned together with Lord Vishnu in this verse?

The verse highlights worship of Śrīnivāsa “with Śrī,” indicating the Lord is honored along with His divine energy and consort, emphasizing completeness in Vaiṣṇava devotion and auspiciousness in worship.

How can this verse be applied in modern devotional practice?

Begin worship with sincere prayer, offer something pure within your means, maintain cleanliness and mindful purification (symbolized by ācamanam), and then proceed with steady, respectful devotion.