Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 39
Aditi’s Lament and Kaśyapa’s Instruction of the Payo-vrata (Milk Vow) to Please Keśava
अर्चित्वा गन्धमाल्याद्यै: पयसा स्नपयेद् विभुम् । वस्त्रोपवीताभरणपाद्योपस्पर्शनैस्तत: । गन्धधूपादिभिश्चार्चेद्द्वादशाक्षरविद्यया ॥ ३९ ॥
arcitvā gandha-mālyādyaiḥ payasā snapayed vibhum vastropavītābharaṇa- pādyopasparśanais tataḥ gandha-dhūpādibhiś cārced dvādaśākṣara-vidyayā
Au commencement, le dévot doit réciter le mantra aux douze syllabes et offrir parfums, guirlandes, encens et autres offrandes. Puis, après avoir ainsi adoré le Seigneur, qu’il Le baigne de lait et Le revête de vêtements convenables, du cordon sacré et d’ornements. Après avoir offert l’eau pour laver Ses pieds, qu’il L’adore de nouveau avec fleurs parfumées, encens et tout l’attirail du culte.
The dvādaśākṣara-mantra is oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. While worshiping the Deity, one should ring a bell with his left hand and offer pādya, arghya, vastra, gandha, mālā, ābharaṇa, bhūṣaṇa and so on. In this way, one should bathe the Lord with milk, dress Him and again worship Him with all paraphernalia.
FAQs
This verse instructs that after initial worship with fragrance and garlands, the devotee should bathe the Supreme Lord with milk and then continue worship with garments, sacred thread, ornaments, pādya, incense, and other offerings.
Because the worship is to be performed while chanting the dvādaśākṣarī mantra, indicating that mantra-japa and arcana together form a complete, devotional method of pleasing Lord Vishnu.
Offer simple, sincere worship—such as a small abhiṣeka, clean cloth, incense, and a flower—while regularly chanting the dvādaśākṣarī or other authorized Vishnu mantras, focusing on reverence and purity rather than extravagance.