Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

निर्वर्तितात्मनियमो देवमर्चेत् समाहित: । अर्चायां स्थण्डिले सूर्ये जले वह्नौ गुरावपि ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

nirvartitātma-niyamo devam arcet samāhitaḥ arcāyāṁ sthaṇḍile sūrye jale vahnau gurāv api

Translation

Ensuite, après avoir accompli ses devoirs spirituels quotidiens, l’esprit recueilli, on doit adorer le Seigneur : dans la Déité, sur l’autel, dans le soleil, dans l’eau, dans le feu, et aussi dans le maître spirituel.

Synonyms

• nirvartita-ātma-niyamaḥ: having completed self-restraint
• nirvartita-ātma-niyamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier of implicit worshipper)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir + vṛt (धातु) + kta (कृत्) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + niyama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: nirvartitaḥ ātmā-niyamaḥ yasya/saḥ ‘one whose self-discipline is completed/fulfilled’

• devam: the Lord
• devam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

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

• samāhitaḥ: composed, attentive
• samāhitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam + ā + dhā (धातु) + kta (कृत्) / samāhita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Kta-pratyaya (past participle used adjectivally), Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ‘collected, composed’

• arcāyām: in an image (icon)
• arcāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arcā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• sthaṇḍile: on a (purified) ground/altar-spot
• sthaṇḍile: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthaṇḍila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṁsaka, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• sūrye: in the Sun
• sūrye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• jale: in water
• jale: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṁsaka, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• vahnau: in fire
• vahnau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vahni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• gurau: in the guru (as object of reverence)
• gurau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (समुच्चय/also, even)

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Parīkṣit Mahārāja
• Lord Viṣṇu
• Guru (Spiritual Master)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about worshiping God in different forms like the sun, water, and fire?

This verse teaches that after practicing self-discipline, a devotee may worship the Lord with focused mind not only in the Deity, but also by recognizing His presence in sacred manifestations such as the sun, water, and fire.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī include the spiritual master (guru) as an object of worship here?

Because the guru is honored as the Lord’s representative who reveals bhakti and proper worship; therefore, serving and revering the guru is included as a vital limb of devotional practice.

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

Maintain basic self-discipline, then worship with steady attention—through Deity worship or prayer, and by cultivating reverence for God’s presence in daily essentials (sunlight, water, fire) and by sincerely serving and respecting one’s bona fide spiritual teacher.