Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 16

Bali Liberated, Prahlāda Blessed, and Vāmana Accepted as Universal Protector

Devanagari script

मन्त्रतस्तन्त्रतश्छिद्रं देशकालार्हवस्तुत: । सर्वं करोति निश्छिद्रमनुसङ्कीर्तनं तव ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

mantratas tantrataś chidraṁ deśa-kālārha-vastutaḥ sarvaṁ karoti niśchidram anusaṅkīrtanaṁ tava

Translation

Il peut y avoir des erreurs dans la récitation des mantras, dans l’observance des règles, et aussi quant au temps, au lieu, à l’officiant et aux objets. Mais lorsque Ton saint Nom est chanté en anu-saṅkīrtana, tout devient sans faute.

Synonyms

• मन्त्रतः: from/with regard to mantra
• मन्त्रतः: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) ‘-तः’; अर्थः: ‘मन्त्र-सम्बन्धेन/मन्त्रदोषात्’

• तन्त्रतः: from/with regard to ritual procedure
• तन्त्रतः: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय ‘-तः’; ‘तन्त्र-सम्बन्धेन/विधिदोषात्’

• छिद्रम्: a flaw/defect
• छिद्रम्: Karma (कर्म/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छिद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• देश-काल-अर्ह-वस्तुतः: due to place, time, eligibility, or materials
• देश-काल-अर्ह-वस्तुतः: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: देश + काल + अर्ह + वस्तु + तस् (प्रातिपदिक/प्रत्यय)
• Form: समासान्त-तसिल् अव्यय; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (देशे, काले, अर्हे, वस्तुनि इति विषयेषु) + ‘-तः’ = ‘इन कारणों/पक्षों से’

• सर्वम्: all (of it)
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘समस्तम्’

• करोति: makes/does
• करोति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• निः-छिद्रम्: flawless
• निः-छिद्रम्: Karma (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + छिद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपसर्गपूर्वक-तत्पुरुष (दोषरहितम्)

• अनु-सङ्कीर्तनम्: the repeated chanting/glorification
• अनु-सङ्कीर्तनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनु + सम् + कीर्त् (धातु) + ल्युट् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त-नाम (ल्युट्/घञ्-भाववाचक), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तव: of you/your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

Purport

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has recommended:

Characters & Entities

• Bali Maharaja
• Vamana (Lord Vishnu)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about defects in worship and how to overcome them?

This verse teaches that mistakes arising from mantra, ritual procedure, place, time, eligibility, or items used are made faultless by the Lord’s continuous glorification (anusankīrtana).

Why did Bali Maharaja say that chanting makes everything perfect?

In his prayers to Vāmana, Bali acknowledges that devotion expressed through the Lord’s glorification surpasses technical shortcomings and completes the offering in a spiritually flawless way.

How can I apply this teaching in daily spiritual practice?

Even if your worship feels imperfect, prioritize sincere chanting and remembrance of the Lord; devotion-centered kīrtana helps purify and complete your practice.