Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 20

Arcana-vidhi: The Method of Deity Worship

Vedic, Tantric, and Mixed

Devanagari script

कृतन्यास: कृतन्यासां मदर्चां पाणिना मृजेत् । कलशं प्रोक्षणीयं च यथावदुपसाधयेत् ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

kṛta-nyāsaḥ kṛta-nyāsāṁ mad-arcāṁ pāṇināmṛjet kalaśaṁ prokṣaṇīyaṁ ca yathāvad upasādhayet

Translation

ニャーサを行い、マントラを唱えつつ身体の諸部に触れて自らを聖別せよ。同様に、わたしのアルチャ（神像）にもニャーサを施し、手で古い花や以前の供物の残りを取り除いて清める。次いで、カラシャと散水用のプロークシャニーヤ器を正しく整えるべきである。

Synonyms

• kṛta-nyāsaḥ: having performed nyāsa
• kṛta-nyāsaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ (धातु)) + nyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; विशेषण; (kṛto nyāsaḥ yena)

• kṛta-nyāsām: (the image) on which nyāsa has been done
• kṛta-nyāsām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ) + nyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana; विशेषण (qualifying arcām)

• mat-arcām: my deity-image
• mat-arcām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + arcā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (mad-arcā = my image)

• pāṇinā: with the hand
• pāṇinā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instrumental/3rd), Ekavacana

• mṛjet: should wipe/clean
• mṛjet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √mṛj (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (Optative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• kalaśam: the water-pot
• kalaśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana

• prokṣaṇīyam: fit for sprinkling (to be used for sprinkling)
• prokṣaṇīyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prokṣaṇīya (कृदन्त; √ukṣ/√prokṣ (धातु) with niyya/ṇīya suffix)
• Form: Napुṁsakaliṅga (Neuter), Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; gerundive (भाव्य/णीय) qualifying kalaśam

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• yathāvat: properly, as prescribed
• yathāvat: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (manner)

• upasādhayet: should prepare/arrange
• upasādhayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√sādh (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (Optative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

Purport

Before beginning the process of worship mentioned here, one should offer obeisances to one’s spiritual master, the Deity and other worshipable personalities.

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Uddhava

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about preparing for Deity worship (arcana)?

This verse says that after nyāsa, a devotee should cleanse the Lord’s Deity form by hand and then properly prepare the kalaśa (water-pot) and the prokṣaṇīya (sprinkling vessel) according to prescribed rules.

Why did Krishna teach arcana-vidhi to Uddhava in Canto 11?

In the Uddhava-gītā section, Kṛṣṇa instructs Uddhava on practical bhakti—especially Deity worship—so devotion is expressed through disciplined, reverent service and purified daily practice.

How can I apply this Bhagavatam teaching in modern life?

Approach worship and spiritual routines with cleanliness, preparation, and mindfulness—setting up a simple, orderly space and following a consistent method to cultivate steadiness and devotion.