Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 26

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

• पद्मम्: a lotus
• पद्मम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• अष्टदलम्: eight-petaled
• अष्टदलम्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + दल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (‘eight-petaled’)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• कर्णिका: pericarp
• कर्णिका: विशेषण-अङ्ग (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्णिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया/सप्तमी? (समासाङ्गत्वेन अव्यक्त); अत्र समासाङ्ग (lotus-pericarp)

• केसर: filaments/stamens
• केसर: विशेषण-अङ्ग (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केसर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, (समासाङ्गत्वेन)

• उज्ज्वलम्: bright (with pericarp and stamens)
• उज्ज्वलम्: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उज्ज्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (कर्णिका-केसर-उज्ज्वलम्) बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘bright with pericarp and stamens’

• उभाभ्याम्: with both
• उभाभ्याम्: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), द्विवचन; ‘with both’

• वेदतन्त्राभ्याम्: with (the methods of) Veda and Tantra
• वेदतन्त्राभ्याम्: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + तन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (‘with the Veda and the Tantra’)

• मह्यम्: to me
• मह्यम्: सम्प्रदान (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान/Dative), एकवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण/विरोधार्थक-अव्यय (particle: indeed/however)

• उभयसिद्धये: for success in both (worldly and spiritual)
• उभयसिद्धये: प्रयोजन (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभय (प्रातिपदिक) + सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (प्रयोजन/Dative of purpose), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘for the accomplishment of both’)

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 the basic upacharas (offerings) in deity worship?

This verse states that one should prepare standard worship offerings such as pādya (water for the Lord’s feet), cleansing water, respectful reception, and other upacāras as part of proper deity worship.

Why did Krishna teach Uddhava about arranging a seat and offerings for worship?

In Canto 11, Krishna instructs Uddhava in practical bhakti—showing how devotion is expressed through orderly, respectful deity worship that engages body and mind.

Practical application of deity-worship principles in modern life?

Keep worship simple but respectful: offer clean water, maintain cleanliness, and cultivate dharma-like qualities (integrity, self-control) as the inner “seat” for devotion.