Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

फाल्गुनस्यामले पक्षे द्वादशाहं पयोव्रतम् । अर्चयेदरविन्दाक्षं भक्त्या परमयान्वित: ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

phālgunasyāmale pakṣe dvādaśāhaṁ payo-vratam arcayed aravindākṣaṁ bhaktyā paramayānvitaḥ

Translation

Dans la quinzaine claire du mois de Phālguna, pendant douze jours, on doit observer le payo-vrata, ne vivant que de lait. Avec une dévotion suprême, qu’on adore le Seigneur aux yeux de lotus, Aravindākṣa.

Synonyms

• phālgunasya: of Phālguna (month)
• phālgunasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phālguna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; month-name

• amale: in the pure
• amale: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Saptamī vibhakti (locative, 7th), Ekavacana; qualifies pakṣe

• pakṣe: fortnight
• pakṣe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• dvādaśa-aham: for twelve days
• dvādaśa-aham: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण/time-span)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvādaśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + ahan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṁsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; dvigu: dvādaśa ahāni yasya/tat ‘twelve-day (period)’

• payo-vratam: the milk-vow
• payo-vratam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: payas (प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṁsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: payasaḥ vrataṁ ‘milk-vow’

• arcayet: one should worship
• arcayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arc (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (optative), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• aravinda-akṣam: the lotus-eyed (Lord)
• aravinda-akṣam: Karma (कर्म/object of arcayet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aravinda (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: aravindavat akṣī yasya ‘lotus-eyed’ (Viṣṇu)

• bhaktyā: with devotion
• bhaktyā: Karaṇa (करण/instrument, means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (feminine), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (instrumental, 3rd), Ekavacana

• paramayā: supreme
• paramayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; qualifies bhaktyā

• anvitaḥ: endowed (with)
• anvitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/implicit ‘he’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anu + i (धातु) + kta (कृत्) / anvita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Kta-pratyaya (past participle used adjectivally), Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ‘endowed/possessed’

Purport

Worshiping the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu with devotion means following arcana-mārga.

Characters & Entities

• Aravindākṣa (Lord Viṣṇu)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the payo-vrata?

This verse instructs that the payo-vrata should be observed for twelve days in the bright fortnight of Phālguna, worshiping the lotus-eyed Lord Viṣṇu with supreme devotion.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī recommend worshiping Aravindākṣa during this vrata?

Because the payo-vrata is a focused devotional observance meant to please Lord Viṣṇu; Śukadeva emphasizes that its success rests on wholehearted bhakti offered to the lotus-eyed Lord.

How can a devotee apply the teaching of this verse in modern life?

Set aside a fixed period for disciplined sādhana—simple diet, regulated habits, and daily worship—while keeping the central aim as sincere, elevated devotion to Lord Viṣṇu.