Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

अर्चादावर्चयेत्तावदीश्वरं मां स्वकर्मकृत् । यावन्न वेद स्वहृदि सर्वभूतेष्ववस्थितम् ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

arcādāv arcayet tāvad īśvaraṁ māṁ sva-karma-kṛt yāvan na veda sva-hṛdi sarva-bhūteṣv avasthitam

Translation

While performing one’s prescribed duties, one should worship Me, the Supreme Lord, in the arcā form until one realizes My presence within one’s own heart and within the hearts of all beings.

Synonyms

• अर्चा-आदौ: in the beginning (with image-worship)
• अर्चा-आदौ: Desha/Kala-adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अर्चा (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः: अर्चायाः आदौ (‘at the beginning with/starting from Deity-worship’); सप्तमी-एकवचनार्थे अव्ययवत्

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तावत्: so long
• तावत्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: परिमाण/अवधि-वाचक-अव्यय (until/so long)

• ईश्वरम्: the Lord
• ईश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• स्व-कर्म-कृत्: one who performs his prescribed duties
• स्व-कर्म-कृत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + √कृ (धातु) (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: समासः: स्वस्य कर्म (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) → स्वकर्म; स्वकर्म कृत् (उपपद-तत्पुरुष); कृत्-प्रत्ययान्त (agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यावत्: until
• यावत्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधि-वाचक-अव्यय (until)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• वेद: knows/realizes
• वेद: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• स्व-हृदि: in one’s own heart
• स्व-हृदि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: स्वस्य हृदि (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• सर्व-भूतेषु: in all beings
• सर्व-भूतेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: सर्वेषु भूतेषु (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रयोग); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• अवस्थितम्: present/abiding
• अवस्थितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव + √स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) ‘अवस्थित’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (माम्/ईश्वरम् as object of veda)

Purport

Worship of the Deity of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is prescribed herewith even for persons who are simply discharging their prescribed duties. There are prescribed duties for the different social classes of men — the brāhmaṇas, the vaiśyas, the kṣatriyas and the śūdras — and for the different āśramas — brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa. One should worship the Deity of the Lord until one appreciates the presence of the Lord in every living entity. In other words, one should not be satisfied simply by discharging his duties properly; he must realize his relationship and the relationship of all other living entities with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If he does not understand this, then even though he discharges his prescribed duties properly, it is to be understood that he is simply laboring without profit.

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kapila

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Deity worship (arcana) in Canto 3?

This verse teaches that worshiping the Lord in the Deity form is essential, especially until one truly realizes the Lord’s presence within the heart and within all living beings.

Why did Lord Kapila emphasize Deity worship to His mother Devahuti?

Kapila was guiding Devahuti step-by-step in bhakti: arcana helps steady devotion and purify perception, leading to the higher realization of the Lord as the indwelling Supersoul in everyone.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life while doing my duties?

Continue consistent devotional practice (such as temple/Deity worship, prayer, and service) alongside your responsibilities, and cultivate the habit of seeing the Lord’s presence in your own heart and in others through humility and compassion.