Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 20

Arcana-vidhi: The Method of Deity Worship

Vedic, Tantric, and Mixed

Devanagari script

कृतन्यास: कृतन्यासां मदर्चां पाणिना मृजेत् । कलशं प्रोक्षणीयं च यथावदुपसाधयेत् ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

kṛta-nyāsaḥ kṛta-nyāsāṁ mad-arcāṁ pāṇināmṛjet kalaśaṁ prokṣaṇīyaṁ ca yathāvad upasādhayet

Translation

Sau khi làm nyāsa, người bhakta nên chạm vào các phần thân thể và tụng mantra để thánh hóa. Cũng làm như vậy với Thánh tượng (arca) của Ta, rồi dùng tay gỡ bỏ hoa cũ và phần dư của lễ vật trước để lau sạch Thánh tượng. Kế đó, hãy chuẩn bị đúng nghi thức bình kalaśa và bình nước prokṣaṇīya để rảy tịnh.

Synonyms

• kṛta-nyāsaḥ: having performed nyāsa
• kṛta-nyāsaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ (धातु)) + nyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; विशेषण; (kṛto nyāsaḥ yena)

• kṛta-nyāsām: (the image) on which nyāsa has been done
• kṛta-nyāsām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ) + nyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana; विशेषण (qualifying arcām)

• mat-arcām: my deity-image
• mat-arcām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + arcā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (mad-arcā = my image)

• pāṇinā: with the hand
• pāṇinā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instrumental/3rd), Ekavacana

• mṛjet: should wipe/clean
• mṛjet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √mṛj (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (Optative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• kalaśam: the water-pot
• kalaśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana

• prokṣaṇīyam: fit for sprinkling (to be used for sprinkling)
• prokṣaṇīyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prokṣaṇīya (कृदन्त; √ukṣ/√prokṣ (धातु) with niyya/ṇīya suffix)
• Form: Napुṁsakaliṅga (Neuter), Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; gerundive (भाव्य/णीय) qualifying kalaśam

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

• yathāvat: properly, as prescribed
• yathāvat: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (manner)

• upasādhayet: should prepare/arrange
• upasādhayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√sādh (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (Optative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

Purport

Before beginning the process of worship mentioned here, one should offer obeisances to one’s spiritual master, the Deity and other worshipable personalities.

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Uddhava

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about preparing for Deity worship (arcana)?

This verse says that after nyāsa, a devotee should cleanse the Lord’s Deity form by hand and then properly prepare the kalaśa (water-pot) and the prokṣaṇīya (sprinkling vessel) according to prescribed rules.

Why did Krishna teach arcana-vidhi to Uddhava in Canto 11?

In the Uddhava-gītā section, Kṛṣṇa instructs Uddhava on practical bhakti—especially Deity worship—so devotion is expressed through disciplined, reverent service and purified daily practice.

How can I apply this Bhagavatam teaching in modern life?

Approach worship and spiritual routines with cleanliness, preparation, and mindfulness—setting up a simple, orderly space and following a consistent method to cultivate steadiness and devotion.