Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 10

Kurukṣetra Pilgrimage: Sages Praise Kṛṣṇa; Vasudeva Inquires on Karma; Viṣṇu-yajña Performed

Devanagari script

किं स्वल्पतपसां नृणामर्चायां देवचक्षुषाम् । दर्शनस्पर्शनप्रश्न‍प्रह्वपादार्चनादिकम् ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

kiṁ svalpa-tapasāṁ nṝṇām arcāyāṁ deva-cakṣuṣām darśana-sparśana-praśna- prahva-pādārcanādikam

Translation

我们这些少有苦行的人，只在寺中圣像（阿尔恰）里认知神；如今却能见你们、触你们、向你们请问、向你们俯伏、礼拜你们的莲足并以诸般方式侍奉——这究竟如何可能？

Synonyms

• kim: what (use)
• kim: Prayojana/Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; interrogative ‘what (use)?’

• svalpa-tapasām: of those with little austerity
• svalpa-tapasām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svalpa (प्रातिपदिक) + tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: ‘svalpaṁ tapaḥ’ (little austerity); Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; dependent on nṝṇām

• nṝṇām: of men
• nṝṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• arcāyām: in the deity-image (arcā)
• arcāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arcā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; ‘in the deity-image/arcā’

• deva-cakṣuṣām: of the divine-eyed (or: of divine eyes)
• deva-cakṣuṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + cakṣus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: ‘devānāṁ cakṣūṁṣi’ (divine eyes); Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; qualifying/relating to arcāyām (as seen by divine eyes)

• darśana-sparśana-praśna-prahva-pāda-arcana-ādikam: seeing, touching, questioning, bowing, worship of the feet, etc.
• darśana-sparśana-praśna-prahva-pāda-arcana-ādikam: Karma/Viṣaya (कर्म/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: darśana (प्रातिपदिक) + sparśana (प्रातिपदिक) + praśna (प्रातिपदिक) + prahva (प्रातिपदिक) + pāda (प्रातिपदिक) + arcana (प्रातिपदिक) + ādika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāhāra-dvandva (collective copulative) ending in neuter -am; Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; list: seeing, touching, questioning, bowing, (touching) feet, worship, etc.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Deity worship (arcana) and darshan?

This verse highlights simple, accessible devotional acts—seeing the Lord, touching, asking about Him, bowing, and worshiping His feet—as meaningful ways to approach the arcā-vigraha, even for ordinary people.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī emphasize humility and simple acts like bowing and worshiping the feet?

In the Bhagavatam’s bhakti framework, sincere humility and direct devotional engagement—especially reverence for the Lord’s feet—are powerful, practical expressions of devotion that do not depend on extraordinary austerities.

Practical application of arcana-bhakti in modern life?

Regular darshan, offering respectful obeisances, learning by inquiry, and simple worship (even brief daily worship at home or in a temple) can steadily cultivate devotion and remembrance of Kṛṣṇa.