Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 25

Arcana-vidhi: The Method of Deity Worship

Vedic, Tantric, and Mixed

Devanagari script

पाद्योपस्पर्शार्हणादीनुपचारान् प्रकल्पयेत् । धर्मादिभिश्च नवभि: कल्पयित्वासनं मम ॥ २५ ॥ पद्ममष्टदलं तत्र कर्णिकाकेसरोज्ज्वलम् । उभाभ्यां वेदतन्त्राभ्यां मह्यं तूभयसिद्धये ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

pādyopasparśārhaṇādīn upacārān prakalpayet dharmādibhiś ca navabhiḥ kalpayitvāsanaṁ mama

Translation

礼拜者应备办洗足水、漱口水、阿尔伽（arghya）等诸供养。先观想我的座位由法、智、离欲、富贵等人格化神祇与我九种灵性能量所庄严；其座如八瓣莲华，因莲心藏红花丝而光耀。随后依吠陀与密续两种仪轨，奉献洗足水、漱口水、阿尔伽等；由此成就世间受用与解脱二者。

Synonyms

• पाद्य: water for washing the feet
• पाद्य: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सामान्यतः), द्वितीया, बहुवचन (समासाङ्गत्वेन); ‘foot-water’

• उपस्पर्श: water for sipping/touching (purificatory)
• उपस्पर्श: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपस्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (समासाङ्गत्वेन); ‘touching/ablution’

• अर्हण: honouring (offerings)
• अर्हण: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्हण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (समासाङ्गत्वेन); ‘honouring’

• आदीन्: and the rest
• आदीन्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘and others’ (enumerative)

• उपचारान्: services/attendances (ritual offerings)
• उपचारान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन

• प्रकल्पयेत्: should arrange/prepare
• प्रकल्पयेत्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कल्प् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• धर्मादिभिः: with dharma and the rest
• धर्मादिभिः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘with dharma etc.’)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• नवभिः: with nine
• नवभिः: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक विशेषण

• कल्पयित्वा: having prepared
• कल्पयित्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कल्प् (धातु) → कल्पयित्वा (णिच् causative + क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा (Gerund/Absolutive); causative sense ‘having arranged/made’

• आसनम्: a seat
• आसनम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• मम: for me/of me
• मम: सम्बन्ध (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), एकवचन

Purport

According to Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī, religion, knowledge, renunciation and opulence are the legs of the Lord’s sitting platform and occupy the four corners, beginning with the southeast. Irreligion, ignorance, attachment and wretchedness are the intermediate legs, standing in the four directions beginning with the east. The nine śaktis, or potencies, of the Lord are Vimalā, Utkarṣiṇī, Jñānā, Kriyā, Yogā, Prahvī, Satyā, Īśānā and Anugrahā.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Uddhava

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about preparing offerings in deity worship (arcana)?

This verse says a devotee should thoughtfully arrange the upacāras—such as pādya (water for the Lord’s feet) and other respectful offerings—and then prepare the Lord’s seat as part of proper arcana.

Why did Krishna teach Uddhava these details of deity worship in Canto 11?

In the Uddhava Gītā, Kṛṣṇa gives Uddhava practical, systematic guidance for bhakti in daily life; deity worship is a concrete way to focus the mind, express reverence, and cultivate steady devotion.

Practical application of arcana principles in modern life?

Even with a simple home altar, one can offer clean water, a respectful seat, and heartfelt attention—turning routine actions into disciplined devotion and remembrance of God.