Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 26

Aditi’s Lament and Kaśyapa’s Instruction of the Payo-vrata (Milk Vow) to Please Keśava

Devanagari script

सिनीवाल्यां मृदालिप्य स्‍नायात् क्रोडविदीर्णया । यदि लभ्येत वै स्रोतस्येतं मन्त्रमुदीरयेत् ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

sinīvālyāṁ mṛdālipya snāyāt kroḍa-vidīrṇayā yadi labhyeta vai srotasy etaṁ mantram udīrayet

Translation

అమావాస్య రోజున, వరాహుడు తవ్వి తీసిన మట్టి లభిస్తే దానిని శరీరానికి పూసుకొని ప్రవహించే నదిలో స్నానం చేయాలి. స్నానం చేస్తూ ఈ మంత్రాన్ని జపించాలి।

Synonyms

• sinīvālyām: on Sinīvālī (amāvāsyā)
• sinīvālyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sinīvālī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; tithi-name (new-moon day)

• mṛdā: with clay
• mṛdā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛd (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana

• ālipya: having smeared
• ālipya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया/preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + lip (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), lyap-form: ā-lipya ‘having smeared’

• snāyāt: one should bathe
• snāyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: snā (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (optative), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; ātmanepada

• kroḍa-vidīrṇayā: with (clay) dug up by a boar
• kroḍa-vidīrṇayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kroḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + vidīrṇa (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: kroḍena vidīrṇā ‘torn up by a boar’ (qualifies mṛdā understood)

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/clausal connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: Conditional particle (शर्त/condition)

• labhyeta: is obtainable / can be found
• labhyeta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (optative), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; ātmanepada; passive sense ‘be obtained’

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात/emphasis)

• srotasi: in a stream
• srotasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: srotas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṁsaka, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• etam: this
• etam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; agrees with mantram

• mantram: mantra
• mantram: Karma (कर्म/object of udīrayet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• udīrayet: one should utter/recite
• udīrayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud + īr (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (optative), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about bathing and purification during a vrata?

This verse instructs that during the observance, one should smear the body with sacred clay and bathe in naturally flowing water (a spring/stream), while reciting the appropriate mantra.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe these ritual steps in Canto 8, Chapter 16?

He is detailing the proper method of a sacred vow (vrata), emphasizing external purity and mantra-recitation as supportive disciplines for focused devotion.

Practical application of this purification teaching in modern life?

Maintain cleanliness and intentionality during spiritual practice—begin with a purifying routine (bath/clean space) and recite a chosen mantra with attention and sincerity.