Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 43

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

Devanagari script

कृत्वा शिरसि तच्छेषां देवमुद्वासयेत् तत: । द्वय‍वरान्भोजयेद् विप्रान्पायसेन यथोचितम् ॥ ४३ ॥

Transliteration

kṛtvā śirasi tac-cheṣāṁ devam udvāsayet tataḥ dvy-avarān bhojayed viprān pāyasena yathocitam

Translation

Tras tocarse la cabeza con las flores y el agua ofrecidas a la Deidad, debe concluir el rito (udvāsana). Luego, según corresponda, debe alimentar al menos a dos brāhmaṇas distinguidos con pāyasa (arroz con leche dulce).

Synonyms

• kṛtvā: having placed/done
• kṛtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु) (करणे)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund)

• śirasi: on the head
• śirasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• tac-cheṣām: that remainder (prasāda)
• tac-cheṣām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + śeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘तच्छेषा’ = that remainder (of offerings)

• devam: the Deity/Lord
• devam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• udvāsayet: should dismiss (the deity)
• udvāsayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√vas (धातु) (निवासे) → udvāsayati (णिच्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative (णिच्) ‘cause to depart/dismiss’

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla/Anukrama (काल/अनुक्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक (sequencing adverb)

• dvi-avarān: at least two (inferior/younger)
• dvi-avarān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + avara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समासः; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन; ‘two or more (at least two)’ as qualifier of viprān

• bhojayet: should feed
• bhojayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhuj (धातु) (भोजने) → bhojayati (णिच्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative (णिच्) ‘feed’

• viprān: brāhmaṇas
• viprān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन

• pāyasena: with sweet rice (pāyasa)
• pāyasena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāyasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• yathā-ucitam: as appropriate
• yathā-ucitam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + ucita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (according to propriety)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about concluding Deity worship (udvāsa)?

This verse instructs that after offering, one should formally conclude the Lord’s worship (udvāsa) with respect, indicating a complete and orderly devotional procedure.

Why does the Bhagavatam emphasize feeding brāhmaṇas during a vrata like Payo-vrata?

The verse includes feeding two qualified brāhmaṇas with pāyasa as an essential concluding act, showing that vrata is completed through worship plus proper hospitality/charity aligned with dharma.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Complete spiritual practices with gratitude and order: honor prasāda respectfully, and conclude worship by sharing sanctified food or charity with worthy recipients in a proper, considerate way.