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

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Canto 8 · Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations · 24 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.
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Canto 8 · Chapter 16: Executing the Payo-vrata Process of Worship
8.16.248.16.26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.16.25

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śrī Kaśyapa Munisince 8.16.24inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

फाल्गुनस्यामले पक्षे द्वादशाहं पयोव्रतम् ।

अर्चयेदरविन्दाक्षं भक्त्या परमयान्वित: ॥ २५ ॥

phālgunasyāmale pakṣe

dvādaśāhaṁ payo-vratam

arcayed aravindākṣaṁ

bhaktyā paramayānvitaḥ

Translation

In the bright fortnight of the month of Phālguna [February and March], for twelve days ending with Dvādaśī, one should observe the vow of subsisting only on milk and should worship the lotus-eyed Supreme Personality of Godhead with all devotion.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Worship With a Pure Devotional Attitude

  1. 1

    The prescribed payo-vrata lasts twelve days in the bright fortnight of Phālguna, ending with Dvādaśī. It combines subsisting on milk with devoted worship of the Supreme Lord.

  2. 2

    Deity worship includes dressing and decorating Lord Viṣṇu or Kṛṣṇa and offering fruits, flowers, prepared food, a flame and incense as prescribed.

  3. 3

    Both the vow and worship must be performed with a pure devotional attitude. Through bhakti, one can know the Supreme Personality of Godhead and understand how He is satisfied.

Key points from the purport
  • Payo-vrata and arcana devotional service to the Supreme Lord should be performed with a pure devotional attitude (bhaktyā).
  • Without bhakti, one cannot worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • As recommended here also, bhaktyā paramayānvitaḥ: one should be surcharged with unalloyed devotional service.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Loss and hope → Revelation. A shift in fortune sets up a spiritual test.

Chapters 15–18 of Canto 8: Bali, Aditi and Vāmana's appearance. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 16: Executing the Payo-vrata Process of Worship

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

When Aditi then expressed her desire to worship Lord Vāsudeva, Prajāpati Kaśyapa told her about a process of worship known as payo-vrata, which is executed in twelve days. Lord Brahmā had instructed him how to satisfy Lord Kṛṣṇa by this process, and thus he advised his wife to observe this vow and its regulative principles.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. phālgunasyaof the month of Phālguna (February and March)
  2. amaleduring the bright
  3. pakṣefortnight
  4. dvādaśa-ahamfor twelve days, ending with Dvādaśī, the day after Ekādaśī
  5. payaḥ-vratamaccepting the vow of taking only milk
  6. arcayetone should worship
  7. aravinda-akṣamthe lotus-eyed Supreme Personality of Godhead
  8. bhaktyāwith devotion
  9. paramayāunalloyed
  10. anvitaḥsurcharged
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 8.16

    In this verse: “devotion”, “worship”, “devotional”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 8.16

    In this verse: “understand”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I giving attention to devotion as well as the outward details of worship?

Practice

Offer a flower or fruit to Kṛṣṇa today with a sincere desire to please Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayWorship With a Pure Devotional AttitudeThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

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

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