Shloka 16

Bhakti Yoga: The Three Modes of Devotion, Non-Envy, and Time as the Lord

Devanagari script

मद्धिष्ण्यदर्शनस्पर्शपूजास्तुत्यभिवन्दनै: । भूतेषु मद्भावनया सत्त्वेनासङ्गमेन च ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

mad-dhiṣṇya-darśana-sparśa- pūjā-stuty-abhivandanaiḥ bhūteṣu mad-bhāvanayā sattvenāsaṅgamena ca

Translation

A devotee should regularly behold My Deity in the temple, touch My lotus feet, worship Me with proper offerings, and honor Me with prayers, hymns, and obeisance. Situated in goodness and detachment, he should see My presence within all beings and thus regard every living entity as spiritual.

Synonyms

• मत्-दिष्ण्य-दर्शन-स्पर्श-पूजा-स्तुति-अभिवन्दनैः: by (means of) seeing, touching, worship, praising and bowing to My abode/temple
• मत्-दिष्ण्य-दर्शन-स्पर्श-पूजा-स्तुति-अभिवन्दनैः: Karana (करणम्/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + दिष्ण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक) + स्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजा (प्रातिपदिक) + स्तुति (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिवन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मत्-दिष्ण्य = मम दिष्ण्यम्), ततः समाहार/द्वन्द्व-सदृश-सूची-समासेन साधन-बहुवचनम्; Instrumental plural (by/with)

• भूतेषु: among living beings
• भूतेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; Locative plural (in/among beings)

• मत्-भावनया: by contemplation of Me / by thinking of Me
• मत्-भावनया: Karana (करणम्/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + भावना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मत्-भावना = मम भावना/मयि भावना); Instrumental singular

• सत्त्वेन: by goodness/purity (sattva)
• सत्त्वेन: Karana (करणम्/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular (with purity/goodness)

• असङ्गमेन: by non-attachment
• असङ्गमेन: Karana (करणम्/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular (with non-attachment)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

Purport

Temple worship is one of the duties of a devotee. It is especially recommended for neophytes, but those who are advanced should not refrain from temple worship. There is a distinction in the manner a neophyte and an advanced devotee appreciate the Lord’s presence in the temple. A neophyte considers the arcā-vigraha (the statue of the Lord) to be different from the original Personality of Godhead; he considers it a representation of the Supreme Lord in the form of a Deity. But an advanced devotee accepts the Deity in the temple as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He does not see any difference between the original form of the Lord and the statue, or arcā form of the Lord, in the temple. This is the vision of a devotee whose devotional service is in the highest stage of bhāva, or love of Godhead, whereas a neophyte’s worship in the temple is a matter of routine duty.

Characters & Entities

• Kapila
• Devahuti

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about seeing God in all living beings?

This verse teaches that a devotee should cultivate mad-bhāvanā—perceiving the Lord’s presence in all beings—along with purity (sattva) and non-attachment, as a direct method to deepen devotion.

Why did Lord Kapila speak about temple worship and reverence to Devahuti in Canto 3?

Kapila instructs Devahuti in practical bhakti-yoga: engaging body and mind through darśana, worship, prayers, and obeisances, while also developing inner realization of the Lord’s presence everywhere.

How can I apply this shloka in modern life as a spiritual practice?

Regularly visit or honor a sacred space, offer simple worship and prayers, practice respectful humility, and train yourself to treat all beings with reverence by remembering the Lord within them—while reducing attachment through a sattvic lifestyle.