Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 52

Nimi Questions the Yogendras: Māyā, Cosmic Dissolution, Guru-Śaraṇāgati, Bhakti, and Deity Worship

Devanagari script

साङ्गोपाङ्गां सपार्षदां तां तां मूर्तिं स्वमन्त्रत: । पाद्यार्घ्याचमनीयाद्यै: स्न‍ानवासोविभूषणै: ॥ ५२ ॥ गन्धमाल्याक्षतस्रग्भिर्धूपदीपोपहारकै: । साङ्गंसम्पूज्य विधिवत् स्तवै: स्तुत्वा नमेद्धरिम् ॥ ५३ ॥

Transliteration

sāṅgopāṅgāṁ sa-pārṣadāṁ tāṁ tāṁ mūrtiṁ sva-mantrataḥ pādyārghyācamanīyādyaiḥ snāna-vāso-vibhūṣaṇaiḥ

Translation

主の御姿を、その超越的身体の諸肢、スダルシャナ・チャクラ等の武器、諸相好、そして随伴する御眷属とともに、それぞれのマントラで礼拝すべきである。足洗いの水、芳香水、口すすぎの水、沐浴、水衣と装身具、香、花輪、無欠の穀粒、花鬘、香煙、灯明などを捧げる。かくして規定に従い全体の礼拝を成し遂げたなら、讃歌でシュリー・ハリを讃え、伏して礼拝すべきである。

Synonyms

• साङ्गोपाङ्गाम्: with (all) limbs and subsidiary limbs
• साङ्गोपाङ्गाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-अङ्ग + उप-अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (feminine, accusative singular; adjective)

• स-पार्षदाम्: together with attendants
• स-पार्षदाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + पार्षद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (feminine, accusative singular; adjective)

• ताम्: that
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (feminine, accusative singular; pronoun)

• ताम्: that (each such)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति-बलार्थम् (repetition for emphasis)

• मूर्तिम्: form (icon)
• मूर्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (feminine, accusative singular)

• स्व-मन्त्रतः: by one’s own mantras
• स्व-मन्त्रतः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययम्; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ततः/तः = 'by/through'); अर्थे—उपाय/करण (indeclinable; ablatival adverbial: 'by means of')

• पाद्य-अर्घ्य-आचमनीय-आद्यैः: with foot-water, offering-water, sipping-water, etc.
• पाद्य-अर्घ्य-आचमनीय-आद्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद्य + अर्घ्य + आचमनीय + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; 'आदि' = 'etc.' (neuter, instrumental plural)

• स्नान-वासः-विभूषणैः: with bathing, garments, and ornaments
• स्नान-वासः-विभूषणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान + वासस् + विभूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (neuter, instrumental plural)

Purport

Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī has mentioned that akṣata, or unbroken barleycorns (mentioned in verse 53), are to be used in decorating the Deity with tilaka, and not in the actual pūjā. Nākṣatair arcayed viṣṇuṁ na ketakyā maheśvaram: “Lord Viṣṇu should not be worshiped with unbroken barleycorns, and Lord Śiva should not be worshiped with ketakī flowers.”

Characters & Entities

• Hari (the Supreme Lord)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Deity worship (arcana) and offerings like pādya and arghya?

It teaches that one should worship the Lord’s Deity form with proper services—such as pādya (washing the feet), arghya (respectful welcome), ācamanīya (sipping water), bathing, garments, and ornaments—using one’s authorized mantra.

Who is giving these instructions in Bhagavatam 11.3.52?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī is describing the proper method of devotional worship as part of his teachings to King Parīkṣit in the Eleventh Canto.

How can this verse be applied in modern life if someone worships at home?

Even simple home worship can follow this mood: approach the Lord respectfully, offer clean water and basic items according to one’s capacity, and serve with mantra, cleanliness, and devotion rather than mere ritual.