Previous Verse
Next Verse

Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 45

Arcana-vidhi: The Method of Deity Worship

Vedic, Tantric, and Mixed

स्तवैरुच्चावचै: स्तोत्रै: पौराणै: प्राकृतैरपि । स्तुत्वा प्रसीद भगवन्निति वन्देत दण्डवत् ॥ ४५ ॥

stavair uccāvacaiḥ stotraiḥ paurāṇaiḥ prākṛtair api stutvā prasīda bhagavann iti vandeta daṇḍa-vat

奉献者应以种种赞歌与祈祷向主致敬——既有出自《往世书》与其他古圣典者,也有源于民间传统者。并祈求道:“噢,薄伽梵,请垂怜我!”随即以杖伏礼全身投地顶礼。

stavaiḥwith hymns
stavaiḥ:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootstava (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural
uccāvacaiḥhigh and low (various)
uccāvacaiḥ:
Visheshana (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootuccāvaca (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural
stotraiḥwith prayers
stotraiḥ:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootstotra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural
paurāṇaiḥfrom the Puranas
paurāṇaiḥ:
Visheshana (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootpaurāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural
prākṛtaiḥin common language (Prakrit)
prākṛtaiḥ:
Visheshana (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootprākṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural
apialso/even
api:
null
TypeIndeclinable
Rootapi (अव्यय)
FormConjunction/Particle
stutvāhaving praised
stutvā:
Purvakala-Kriya (Prior Action)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootstu (धातु)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (Ktva/क्त्वा)
prasīdabe pleased
prasīda:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootpra-sad (धातु)
FormImperative (Lot/लोट्), 2nd Person (Madhyama), Singular
bhagavanO Lord
bhagavan:
Sambodhya (Addressee)
TypeNoun
Rootbhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Vocative (Sambodhana), Singular
itithus
iti:
null
TypeIndeclinable
Rootiti (अव्यय)
FormParticle (Quotative)
vandetashould offer obeisance
vandeta:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootvand (धातु)
FormOptative (Vidhilin/विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person (Prathama), Singular, Atmanepada
daṇḍa-vatlike a stick (prostrated)
daṇḍa-vat:
Kriya-Visheshana (Adverb)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootdaṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormAdverbial Suffix (Vati/वति)
K
Krishna
U
Uddhava

FAQs

This verse affirms that one may praise the Lord not only with refined, scriptural hymns but also with ordinary, heartfelt words—what matters is sincere glorification and the prayer, “Be pleased, O Bhagavān.”

In the Uddhava-gītā section, Kṛṣṇa teaches practical bhakti, including deity worship (arcana). Here He explains that worship is accessible: one can glorify Him with many kinds of prayers and then offer full prostration.

Offer daily gratitude and prayer—whether by reciting traditional stotras or speaking simply from the heart—and cultivate humility through respectful obeisance (physically, when appropriate, or mentally), asking the Lord to be pleased.