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Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 4

Arcana-vidhi: The Method of Deity Worship

Vedic, Tantric, and Mixed

नि:सृतं ते मुखाम्भोजाद् यदाह भगवानज: । पुत्रेभ्यो भृगुमुख्येभ्यो देव्यै च भगवान् भव: ॥ ३ ॥ एतद् वै सर्ववर्णानामाश्रमाणां च सम्मतम् । श्रेयसामुत्तमं मन्ये स्‍त्रीशूद्राणां च मानद ॥ ४ ॥

niḥsṛtaṁ te mukhāmbhojād yad āha bhagavān ajaḥ putrebhyo bhṛgu-mukhyebhyo devyai ca bhagavān bhavaḥ

至仁至厚的大主啊,关于礼拜神像(Arca)的法门,最初从您莲华般的口中流出;随后无生者梵天(Brahmā)传与以婆利古(Bhṛgu)为首的诸子,主湿婆亦将此教示予女神帕尔瓦蒂(Pārvatī)。此法为一切种姓与一切住期(āśrama)所共许且相应;因此我认为,即便对妇女与首陀罗而言,礼拜您之神像形相亦是诸修行中最上之利益。

etatthis
etat:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootetad (प्रातिपदिक)
Formएतद्-सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here nominative as subject
vaiindeed
vai:
Nipata (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootvai (अव्यय)
Formनिश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)
sarva-varṇānāmof all social classes
sarva-varṇānām:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootsarva (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formकर्मधारय-समास ('all varṇas'); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन
āśramāṇāmof (all) āśramas (life-stages)
āśramāṇām:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootāśrama (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन
caand
ca:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)
sammatamapproved, accepted
sammatam:
Pradhana-kriya-visheshana (विधेयविशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootsam√man (धातु) → sammata (कृदन्त)
Formभूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; predicate adjective
śreyasāmof auspicious goods/benefits
śreyasām:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootśreyas (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (often), षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन
uttamamthe highest
uttamam:
Pradhana-kriya-visheshana (विधेयविशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootuttama (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; superlative used predicatively
manyeI consider
manye:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√man (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद
strī-śūdrāṇāmof women and śūdras
strī-śūdrāṇām:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootstrī (प्रातिपदिक) + śūdra (प्रातिपदिक)
Formद्वन्द्व-समास (itaretara); पुं/स्त्री-समाहार, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन
caalso/and
ca:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)
mānadaO giver of honor (respected one)
mānada:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootmānada (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; संबोधन-प्रयोग
K
Kṛṣṇa
B
Brahmā (Aja)
B
Bhṛgu
Ś
Śiva (Bhava)
P
Pārvatī (Devī)

FAQs

In 11.27.4 Uddhava says the Lord’s teaching on worship is accepted by all varṇas and āśramas, and is especially beneficial for women and śūdras—showing bhakti practices are universally accessible.

He is establishing the authority and lineage of the teaching: it comes from Kṛṣṇa, was spoken by Brahmā to sages like Bhṛgu, and also taught by Śiva to the Goddess—confirming it as a widely honored, traditional path.

Adopt a steady, simple bhakti routine—such as offering food, chanting, and respectful worship—knowing the Bhagavatam presents devotional practice as a highest good for all people, regardless of background.