Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 47

Aditi’s Lament and Kaśyapa’s Instruction of the Payo-vrata (Milk Vow) to Please Keśava

Devanagari script

एवं त्वहरह: कुर्याद्‌द्वादशाहं पयोव्रतम् । हरेराराधनं होममर्हणं द्विजतर्पणम् ॥ ४७ ॥

Transliteration

evaṁ tv ahar ahaḥ kuryād dvādaśāhaṁ payo-vratam harer ārādhanaṁ homam arhaṇaṁ dvija-tarpaṇam

Translation

如是日复一日，满十二日当行此乳誓（payo-vrata）：每日礼敬哈利，行火供（homa），作供奉，并以饮食使婆罗门得满足。

Synonyms

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (thus/in this manner)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयार्थक अव्यय (but/indeed)

• अहर्-अहः: day by day
• अहर्-अहः: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (iterative: day after day), अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोग (adverbial usage)

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; धातु: कृ—करणे (to do/perform)

• द्वादश-अहम्: (for) twelve days
• द्वादश-अहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (a period of twelve days)

• पयः-व्रतम्: the milk-vow
• पयः-व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (milk-vow)

• हरेः: of Hari
• हरेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case/genitive), एकवचन

• आराधनम्: worship/propitiation
• आराधनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ-राध् (धातु) + ल्युट् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: ल्युट्-प्रत्ययान्त क्रियानाम (verbal noun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• होमम्: fire-offering
• होमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अर्हणम्: honoring
• अर्हणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु) + ल्युट् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: ल्युट्-प्रत्ययान्त क्रियानाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अर्थ: पूजन/सत्कार (honoring)

• द्विज-तर्पणम्: satiating the twice-born (brāhmaṇas)
• द्विज-तर्पणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + तर्पण (तृप्/तर्प् धातु + ल्युट्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तर्पण = ल्युट्-क्रियानाम (satiating/oblations to)

Characters & Entities

• Kashyapa
• Aditi
• Hari (Vishnu)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the payo-vrata?

This verse states that the payo-vrata should be observed for twelve days, with daily worship of Lord Hari, performance of homa (fire-offerings), proper honoring through worship, and satisfying brāhmaṇas with respectful offerings.

Why did Kashyapa Muni instruct Aditi to perform this vow?

In the narrative of Canto 8, Kashyapa guides Aditi to follow a focused devotional vow to please Lord Vishnu, so that divine help and protection may be obtained for the devas through the Lord’s grace.

How can one apply the teaching of this shloka in modern life?

Practice steady daily devotion (consistent worship), add disciplined spiritual observances (a simple vrata or regulated sādhana), and cultivate respect for sacred learning and service-minded charity (supporting sincere spiritual practitioners).