Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 22

The Six Dvīpas Beyond Jambūdvīpa and the Cosmic Boundary of Lokāloka

Devanagari script

यासामम्भ: पवित्रममलमुपयुञ्जाना: पुरुषऋषभद्रविणदेवकसंज्ञा वर्षपुरुषा आपोमयं देवमपां पूर्णेनाञ्जलिना यजन्ते ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

yāsām ambhaḥ pavitram amalam upayuñjānāḥ puruṣa-ṛṣabha-draviṇa-devaka-saṁjñā varṣa-puruṣā āpomayaṁ devam apāṁ pūrṇenāñjalinā yajante.

Translation

Dùng nước thanh tịnh, trong sạch của các con sông ấy, cư dân Krauñcadvīpa—gồm bốn giai tầng Puruṣa, Ṛṣabha, Draviṇa và Devaka—thờ phụng Đấng Tối Thượng bằng cách dâng một vốc nước đầy nơi đôi chân sen của Varuṇa-deva, vị thiên thần mang hình thể của nước.

Synonyms

• yāsām: of which
• yāsām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/of which)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम

• ambhaḥ: water
• ambhaḥ: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ambhas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र द्वितीया (object of upayuñjānāḥ)

• pavitram: purifying
• pavitram: Visheshana (विशेषण/of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pavitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ambhaḥ)

• amalam: spotless, pure
• amalam: Visheshana (विशेषण/of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ambhaḥ)

• upayuñjānāḥ: using, partaking
• upayuñjānāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√yuj (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (शानच्/वर्तमान कृदन्त, आत्मनेपदभाव), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तरि; ‘using/partaking’

• puruṣa-ṛṣabha-draviṇa-devaka-saṁjñāḥ: bearing the names Puruṣa, Ṛṣabha, Draviṇa, Devaka
• puruṣa-ṛṣabha-draviṇa-devaka-saṁjñāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण/of varṣa-puruṣāḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक) + draviṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + devaka (प्रातिपदिक) + saṁjñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः; विशेषणम् (named Puruṣa, Ṛṣabha, Draviṇa, Devaka)

• varṣa-puruṣāḥ: the presiding persons of the regions
• varṣa-puruṣāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (varṣasya puruṣāḥ)

• āpaḥ-mayam: made of water
• āpaḥ-mayam: Visheshana (विशेषण/of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āpaḥ (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (āpāṁ mayaḥ = made of water); विशेषणम् (qualifying devam)

• devam: the deity
• devam: Karma (कर्म/object of yajante)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• apām: of the waters
• apām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/of)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ap (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• pūrṇena: with full
• pūrṇena: Karana (करण/with)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying añjalinā)

• añjalinā: with a cupped palm/with joined hands
• añjalinā: Karana (करण/with)
• Type: Noun
• Root: añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करणम् (instrumental: with joined palms)

• yajante: worship
• yajante: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yaj (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

Purport

Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura says, āpomayaḥ asmayam: with joined palms the inhabitants of the various sections of Krauñcadvīpa offer the sanctified waters of the rivers to a deity made of stone or iron.

Characters & Entities

• Puruṣa
• Ṛṣabha
• Draviṇa
• Devaka
• Apāṁ Deva (the presiding deity of water)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about worshiping with water offerings (anjali)?

This verse describes devotees using pure river water to worship the Lord as the presiding divinity of waters, offering with joined palms filled with water—showing reverence, purity, and devotion.

Who is speaking this verse in Bhagavatam Canto 5 Chapter 20?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī is describing the cosmic regions and how the inhabitants of specific varṣas worship using sacred waters.

Practical application of the teaching about pure water in modern life?

Approach worship and daily actions with cleanliness and sincerity—using simple offerings with focused devotion, remembering that purity of intent matters along with purity of substance.