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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 11 · General History · 31 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 11.27.16-17

स्‍नानालङ्करणं प्रेष्ठमर्चायामेव तूद्धव ।

स्थण्डिले तत्त्वविन्यासो वह्नावाज्यप्लुतं हवि: ॥ १६ ॥

सूर्ये चाभ्यर्हणं प्रेष्ठं सलिले सलिलादिभि: ।

श्रद्धयोपाहृतं प्रेष्ठं भक्तेन मम वार्यपि ॥ १७ ॥

snānālaṅkaraṇaṁ preṣṭham

arcāyām eva tūddhava

sthaṇḍile tattva-vinyāso

vahnāv ājya-plutaṁ haviḥ

sūrye cābhyarhaṇaṁ preṣṭhaṁ

salile salilādibhiḥ

śraddhayopāhṛtaṁ preṣṭhaṁ

bhaktena mama vāry api

Translation

In worshiping the temple Deity, my dear Uddhava, bathing and decoration are the most pleasing offerings. For the Deity traced on sacred ground, the process of tattva-vinyāsa is most dear. Oblations of sesame and barley soaked in ghee are the preferred offering to the sacrificial fire, whereas worship consisting of upasthāna and arghya is preferred for the sun. One should worship Me in the form of water by offering water itself. Actually, whatever is offered to Me with faith by My devotee — even if only a little water — is most dear to Me.

Read the purport on Vedabase.io

From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Faith Makes Every Offering Dear

  1. 1

    Bathing and decoration are especially pleasing offerings to the temple Deity. Other manifestations of the Lord have their own prescribed methods of worship.

  2. 2

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead is present everywhere. Vedic culture provides various rituals for worshiping Him in His various manifestations.

  3. 3

    The worshiper’s faith and devotion are the principal elements; without them, everything else is useless. Even a little water offered with faith is most dear to the Lord.

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.