Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 16

Puṁsavana / Viṣṇu-vrata: Worship of Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa for Auspicious Progeny and Fortune

Devanagari script

तत: स्तुवीत स्तोत्रेण भक्तिप्रह्वेण चेतसा । यज्ञोच्छिष्टमवघ्राय पुनरभ्यर्चयेद्धरिम् ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

tataḥ stuvīta stotreṇa bhakti-prahveṇa cetasā yajñocchiṣṭam avaghrāya punar abhyarcayed dharim

Translation

Sau đó, với tâm khiêm cung vì lòng bhakti, hãy tụng stotra tán dương Chúa và Mẹ Lakṣmī. Rồi ngửi hương phần prasāda còn lại của yajña, và lại thờ phụng Hari cùng Lakṣmījī một lần nữa.

Synonyms

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (तदर्थक-अव्यय)

• स्तुवीत: should praise
• स्तुवीत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; √स्तु (स्तु—स्तुतौ)

• स्तोत्रेण: with a hymn
• स्तोत्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• भक्तिप्रह्वेण: humbled by devotion
• भक्तिप्रह्वेण: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ति + प्रह्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular; adjective qualifying चेतसा; 'made humble by devotion'

• चेतसा: with the mind
• चेतसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• यज्ञोच्छिष्टम्: sacrificial remnants
• यज्ञोच्छिष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ + उच्छिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; 'remnant of sacrifice'

• अवघ्राय: having smelled
• अवघ्राय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + घ्रा (धातु) → अवघ्राय (ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: Gerund/absolutive (ल्यप्), from √घ्रा (घ्रा—घ्राणे) with prefix अव; 'having smelled'

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक-अव्यय)

• अभ्यर्चयेत्: should worship again
• अभ्यर्चयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person, Singular; √अर्च् (पूजायाम्) with prefix अभि

• हरिम्: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Characters & Entities

• Hari

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about offering prayers and hymns to Lord Hari?

This verse teaches that one should praise the Lord through stotras (hymns) with a heart softened and humbled by devotion, making prayer an essential limb of worship.

Why does the Bhagavatam mention smelling the remnants of sacrifice (yajñocchiṣṭa)?

It highlights reverence for sanctified remnants—accepting them as sacred and purifying—before continuing one’s worship of Hari with renewed devotion.

Practical application of devotional humility (bhakti-prahva) in modern life?

Approach spiritual practice with sincerity and humility—offer daily prayers, honor sanctified food (prasāda) respectfully, and return to worship with a cleansed, grateful mindset.