Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 54

Nimi Questions the Yogendras: Māyā, Cosmic Dissolution, Guru-Śaraṇāgati, Bhakti, and Deity Worship

Devanagari script

आत्मानम् तन्मयं ध्यायन् मूर्तिं सम्पूजयेद्धरे: । शेषामाधाय शिरसा स्वधाम्न्युद्वास्य सत्कृतम् ॥ ५४ ॥

Transliteration

ātmānam tan-mayam dhyāyan mūrtiṁ sampūjayed dhareḥ śeṣām ādhāya śirasā sva-dhāmny udvāsya sat-kṛtam

Translation

礼拜者应观想自己是主的永恒仆从，令心与主相应，如是圆满供奉哈利的圣像，并忆念圣像亦住于自心。随后将花鬘等供具余福顶戴于头，以恭敬将圣像安置回祂本座，从而结束礼拜。

Synonyms

• आत्मानम्: the self
• आत्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (masculine, accusative singular)

• तत्-मयम्: consisting of That (absorbed in Him)
• तत्-मयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (neuter, accusative singular; adjective)

• ध्यायन्: meditating
• ध्यायन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (present active participle, masc. nom. sg.)

• मूर्तिम्: the form (icon)
• मूर्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (feminine, accusative singular)

• सम्पूजयेत्: should worship fully
• सम्पूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम् (optative, 3rd person singular)

• हरेः: of Hari
• हरेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन (masculine, genitive singular)

• शेषाम्: the remainder (leftover offerings)
• शेषाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शेषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (feminine, accusative singular)

• आधाय: having placed (taken)
• आधाय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); पूर्वक्रिया (absolutive: 'having placed/taken up')

• शिरसा: with (upon) the head
• शिरसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन (neuter, instrumental singular)

• स्व-धाम्नि: in one’s own place (proper spot)
• स्व-धाम्नि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + धामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन (neuter, locative singular)

• उद्वास्य: having dismissed (the deity)
• उद्वास्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + वस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); causative sense in pūjā-context: 'having dismissed/sent off' (absolutive)

• सत्-कृतम्: (that which is) duly honoured
• सत्-कृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत (कृ-धातु, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (past passive participle used adjectivally: 'well-honoured')

Purport

The word tan-mayam in this verse is significant. One who is purified by worshiping the Deity form of the Lord can understand that he, the worshiper, is an eternal servant of the Lord and is qualitatively one with the Lord, being like a tiny spark of the original fire, the Personality of Godhead. Śrīla Madhvācārya has stated in this regard:

Characters & Entities

• Hari

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about concluding deity worship (udvāsana)?

This verse teaches that after complete worship of Hari’s form, one should bow, respectfully handle the remaining offerings, and formally conclude by bidding the Lord farewell to His own abode—ending the ritual with honor and devotion.

Why did Krishna say this to Uddhava in Canto 11?

In the Uddhava-gītā section, Kṛṣṇa instructs Uddhava on practical bhakti disciplines; here He outlines the inner mood (tan-maya meditation) and the proper completion of arcana (deity worship) with reverence.

How can I apply tan-maya meditation and respectful worship in modern life?

Worship with the mood that your consciousness belongs to God, treat sacred offerings with care, and end daily practice deliberately—by offering gratitude, bowing, and keeping a respectful closure rather than rushing or treating worship casually.