Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 22

Arcana-vidhi: The Method of Deity Worship

Vedic, Tantric, and Mixed

Devanagari script

पाद्यार्घ्याचमनीयार्थं त्रीणि पात्राणि देशिक: । हृदा शीर्ष्णाथ शिखया गायत्र्या चाभिमन्त्रयेत् ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

pādyārghyācamanīyārthaṁ trīṇi pātrāṇi deśikaḥ hṛdā śīrṣṇātha śikhayā gāyatryā cābhimantrayet

Translation

สำหรับน้ำล้างพระบาท (ปาทยะ) น้ำอรฆยะ และน้ำอาจมนียะ ผู้บูชาควรจัดภาชนะสามใบ แล้วทำให้บริสุทธิ์ด้วยมนต์: ภาชนะปาทยะด้วย “หฤทยายะ นมะห์”, ภาชนะอรฆยะด้วย “ศิระเส สวาหา”, ภาชนะอาจมนียะด้วย “ศิขายัย วษฏ์”; และสวดมนต์คายตรีสำหรับทั้งสามภาชนะด้วย

Synonyms

• pādya-arghya-ācamanīya-artham: for (water for) foot-washing, offering, and sipping
• pādya-arghya-ācamanīya-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pādya (प्रातिपदिक) + arghya (प्रातिपदिक) + ācamanīya (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṁsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana; samāhāra-dvandva + artham (purpose) sense: 'for the purpose of pādya, arghya, and ācamanīya'

• trīṇi: three
• trīṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṁsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; numeral adjective

• pātrāṇi: vessels
• pātrāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṁsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

• deśikaḥ: the officiant/teacher (priest)
• deśikaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana

• hṛdā: with (the mantra of) the heart
• hṛdā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛd (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṁsakaliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instrumental/3rd), Ekavacana; mantra-nyāsa instrument

• śīrṣṇā: with (the mantra of) the head
• śīrṣṇā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śīrṣan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṁsakaliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana (Vedic/irregular instrumental form śīrṣṇā)

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

• śikhayā: with (the mantra of) the tuft
• śikhayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śikhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana

• gāyatryā: with the Gāyatrī (mantra)
• gāyatryā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gāyatrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• abhimantrayet: should consecrate by mantra / should chant over
• abhimantrayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√mantr (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (Optative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Uddhava

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about pādya, arghya, and ācamanīya in deity worship?

In Canto 11, Kṛṣṇa explains that the worshiper should keep three separate vessels for pādya (washing the Lord’s feet), arghya (respectful offering), and ācamanīya (sipping water), and consecrate them with mantra, including the Gāyatrī.

Why does Krishna teach these arcana details to Uddhava in Canto 11?

As part of the Uddhava Gītā, Kṛṣṇa gives Uddhava practical, sādhana-focused guidance for sustaining pure bhakti—showing how external worship (arcana) can be performed with inner sanctity and mantra-consciousness.

Practical application of this verse in modern life?

Even if one’s worship is simple, keep offerings clean and intentional, and sanctify actions with remembrance (mantra/japa). The verse emphasizes purity, mindfulness, and devotion in every step of spiritual practice.