Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 33

Arcana-vidhi: The Method of Deity Worship

Vedic, Tantric, and Mixed

Devanagari script

पाद्यमाचमनीयं च गन्धं सुमनसोऽक्षतान् । धूपदीपोपहार्याणि दद्यान्मे श्रद्धयार्चक: ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

pādyam ācamanīyaṁ ca gandhaṁ sumanaso ’kṣatān dhūpa-dīpopahāryāṇi dadyān me śraddhayārcakaḥ

Translation

Ang sumasamba ay dapat, nang may taimtim na pananampalataya, maghandog sa Akin ng tubig na pādya at ācaman, pabango, mga bulaklak at akṣata, pati insenso, ilawan at iba pang alay.

Synonyms

• पाद्यम्: water for washing the feet
• पाद्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आचमनीयम्: water for sipping (ācamanīya)
• आचमनीयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचमनीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• गन्धम्: fragrance/perfume
• गन्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सुमनसः: flowers
• सुमनसः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Vedic/irregular form for 'सुमनांसि/सुमनः'); कर्मपद

• अक्षतान्: unbroken grains (rice)
• अक्षतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• धूप-दीप-उपहार्याणि: incense, lamps, and offerings
• धूप-दीप-उपहार्याणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूप + दीप + उपहार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—समाहार-द्वन्द्व (incense, lamps, and offerings)

• दद्यात्: should give/offer
• दद्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मे: to me / for me
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (possessive)

• श्रद्धया: with faith
• श्रद्धया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अर्चकः: the worshipper
• अर्चकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्चक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Uddhava

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say should be offered in Deity worship (arcana)?

This verse lists standard offerings: water for washing the feet (pādya), sipping water (ācamanīya), fragrance, flowers, unbroken grains (akṣata), incense (dhūpa), lamps (dīpa), and other worship items—offered with faith to the Lord.

Why does Krishna teach Uddhava about offering pādya, ācamanīya, dhūpa, and dīpa?

In Canto 11, Krishna instructs Uddhava on practical bhakti; here He specifies the devotional “upacāras” (services/offerings) by which a worshiper expresses reverence and loving attention in Deity worship.

How can I apply this Bhagavatam teaching on worship offerings in modern life?

Offer simple, clean items with sincerity—like water, a flower, a candle/lamp, and a pleasant fragrance—focusing on śraddhā (faith) and mindful devotion rather than expense.