Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 10

Puṁsavana / Viṣṇu-vrata: Worship of Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa for Auspicious Progeny and Fortune

Devanagari script

प्रणमेद्दण्डवद्भ‍ूमौ भक्तिप्रह्वेण चेतसा । दशवारं जपेन्मन्त्रं तत: स्तोत्रमुदीरयेत् ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

praṇamed daṇḍavad bhūmau bhakti-prahveṇa cetasā daśa-vāraṁ japen mantraṁ tataḥ stotram udīrayet

Translation

ಭಕ್ತಿಯಿಂದ ವಿನಮ್ರವಾದ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನಿಂದ ನೆಲದ ಮೇಲೆ ದಂಡವತ್ ಪ್ರಣಾಮ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು. ದಂಡವತ್ ಪ್ರಣಾಮ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಾ ಆ ಮಂತ್ರವನ್ನು ಹತ್ತು ಬಾರಿ ಜಪಿಸಿ, ನಂತರ ಸ್ತೋತ್ರವನ್ನು ಪಠಿಸಬೇಕು।

Synonyms

• प्रणमेत्: should bow down
• प्रणमेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd sg.)

• दण्डवत्: like a rod (prostrate)
• दण्डवत्: Manner (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दण्डवत् (अव्यय/तद्धितान्त)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: like a staff)

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन (locative sg.)

• भक्ति-प्रह्वेण: with (a mind) humbled by devotion
• भक्ति-प्रह्वेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ति + प्रह्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (instrumental sg.); विशेषण (made humble by devotion)

• चेतसा: with the mind
• चेतसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (instrumental sg.)

• दश-वारम्: ten times
• दश-वारम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/परिमाण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दश + वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समासः; क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverbial accusative: ten times)

• जपेत्: should chant
• जपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd sg.)

• मन्त्रम्: the mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (acc. sg.)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Sequence marker (अनुक्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: thereafter/from that)

• स्तोत्रम्: hymn
• स्तोत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (acc. sg.)

• उदीरयेत्: should recite/utter
• उदीरयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-ईर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd sg.)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about offering daṇḍavat praṇāma (full prostration)?

This verse instructs that one should bow down like a rod on the ground with a mind humbled by devotion, as a proper beginning to worship and prayer.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī prescribe chanting the mantra ten times and then reciting a stotra?

He outlines an ordered devotional procedure: first humility (praṇāma), then focused repetition of the mantra (japa), and then heartfelt glorification through a hymn (stotra) to complete the worship.

Practical application of mantra-japa and stotra in modern life?

Begin daily practice with a moment of humility, chant a chosen Viṣṇu-mantra with attention a fixed number of times, and conclude by reading or reciting a short prayer to deepen devotion and steadiness.