Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 49

Arcana-vidhi: The Method of Deity Worship

Vedic, Tantric, and Mixed

Devanagari script

एवं क्रियायोगपथै: पुमान् वैदिकतान्त्रिकै: । अर्चन्नुभयत: सिद्धिं मत्तो विन्दत्यभीप्सिताम् ॥ ४९ ॥

Transliteration

evaṁ kriyā-yoga-pathaiḥ pumān vaidika-tāntrikaiḥ arcann ubhayataḥ siddhiṁ matto vindaty abhīpsitām

Translation

ഇങ്ങനെ വേദ-തന്ത്രങ്ങളിൽ നിർദ്ദേശിച്ച ക്രിയായോഗ മാർഗങ്ങളിലൂടെ എന്നെ അർച്ചിച്ച് ആരാധിക്കുന്നവൻ, ഇഹലോകത്തിലും പരലോകത്തിലും—ഇരുവിടത്തും—എന്നിൽ നിന്നു താൻ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്ന സിദ്ധി പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു.

Synonyms

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (अव्यय; manner)

• kriyā-yoga-pathaiḥ: by the paths of ritual and yoga
• kriyā-yoga-pathaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण; means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kriyā (प्रातिपदिक) + yoga (प्रातिपदिक) + patha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (determinative chain: ‘paths of ritual-yoga’); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• pumān: a man (the practitioner)
• pumān: Karta (कर्ता; subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• vaidika-tāntrikaiḥ: Vedic and Tantric
• vaidika-tāntrikaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vaidika (प्रातिपदिक) + tāntrika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: ‘Vedic and Tantric’); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifies pathaiḥ

• arcan: worshipping
• arcan: Karta (कर्ता; agent as participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arc (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/शानच्; here शतृ), Parasmaipada sense; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with pumān

• ubhayataḥ: in both ways
• ubhayataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ubhayatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (अव्यय; ‘from both sides/ways’)

• siddhim: perfection/success
• siddhim: Karma (कर्म; object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• mattaḥ: from me
• mattaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान; source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (अस्मद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम); Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• vindati: obtains
• vindati: Kriyā (क्रिया; main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• abhīpsitām: desired
• abhīpsitām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhīpsita (प्रातिपदिक; √āp + desiderative sense)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies siddhim

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Vedic vs Tantric (Agamic) worship?

This verse states that worship of the Lord performed through either Vedic or Tantric/Āgamic methods, when done as arcana to Him, grants the devotee the desired perfection from the Lord.

Why did Krishna speak about arcana (deity worship) to Uddhava in Canto 11?

In the Uddhava Gītā, Kṛṣṇa instructs Uddhava on practical devotional disciplines; here He clarifies that regulated worship (kriyā-yoga) offered to Him—following authorized Vedic or Tantric procedures—leads to real spiritual success.

How can I apply this teaching about regulated worship in modern life?

Choose an authorized, consistent practice of worship—such as daily prayer, mantra-japa, and simple deity or image worship—performed with devotion and cleanliness, trusting that sincere, regulated bhakti brings the Lord’s grace and the results one truly needs.