Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 19

Arcana-vidhi: The Method of Deity Worship

Vedic, Tantric, and Mixed

Devanagari script

शुचि: सम्भृतसम्भार: प्राग्दर्भै: कल्पितासन: । आसीन: प्रागुदग् वार्चेदर्चायां त्वथ सम्मुख: ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

śuciḥ sambhṛta-sambhāraḥ prāg-darbhaiḥ kalpitāsanaḥ āsīnaḥ prāg udag vārced arcāyāṁ tv atha sammukhaḥ

Translation

เมื่อชำระกายให้บริสุทธิ์และรวบรวมเครื่องบูชาทั้งหมดแล้ว ผู้บูชาควรจัดที่นั่งของตนด้วยหญ้ากุศะ โดยให้ปลายหญ้าชี้ไปทางทิศตะวันออก จากนั้นให้นั่งหันหน้าไปทางทิศตะวันออกหรือทิศเหนือ; หรือหากเทวรูปประดิษฐานอยู่กับที่ ก็ให้นั่งตรงเผชิญหน้าเทวรูปนั้น

Synonyms

• śuciḥ: pure, clean
• śuciḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana (Singular); विशेषण (adjectival)

• sambhṛta-sambhāraḥ: having gathered the requisites
• sambhṛta-sambhāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sambhṛta (कृदन्त; √bhṛ (धातु) + sam-) + sambhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; समासान्त पदम्; विशेषण

• prāk: towards the east
• prāk: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prāk (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; dik-avyaya (directional adverb)

• darbhaiḥ: with darbha-grass
• darbhaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: darbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental/3rd), Bahuvacana (Plural)

• kalpita-āsanaḥ: whose seat is arranged/prepared
• kalpita-āsanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kalpita (कृदन्त; √kḷp (धातु)) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; विशेषण; (kalpitaṃ āsanaṃ yasya)

• āsīnaḥ: seated
• āsīnaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āsīna (कृदन्त; √ās (धातु)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; vartamāna-kṛdanta (past passive participle used adjectivally): 'seated'

• prāk: eastward
• prāk: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prāk (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; dik-avyaya

• udak: northward
• udak: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: udak (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; dik-avyaya (northward)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; vikalpa (alternative particle)

• arcet: should worship
• arcet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arc (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (Optative/विधिलिङ्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• arcāyām: in the deity-image (arcā)
• arcāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arcā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine), Saptamī vibhakti (Locative/7th), Ekavacana

• tu: indeed, but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic/contrastive particle

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; sequence marker

• sammukhaḥ: facing (towards it), in front
• sammukhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sammukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; विशेषण

Purport

The word sambhṛta-sambhāra means that before beginning the Deity worship one should place all necessary paraphernalia nearby. In this way one will not have to get up continually to search for different items. If the Deity has been permanently installed, then one should sit facing the Deity.

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Uddhava

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about cleanliness and preparation before Deity worship?

This verse teaches that one should be clean, collect the needed items, prepare a proper seat (traditionally with darbha grass), and only then begin worship of the Deity.

Why does Krishna instruct Uddhava to face east or north during arcana (Deity worship)?

Krishna is outlining an orderly arcana-vidhi: sitting in an auspicious orientation (east or north) and worshiping while directly facing the Deity, emphasizing attentiveness and proper ritual focus.

How can I apply Bhagavatam 11.27.19 in modern home worship?

Keep yourself and the worship space clean, gather your items before starting, sit in a steady place (a simple mat works), face east or north if possible, and worship with full attention facing the Deity.