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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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 8 · Chapter 16: Executing the Payo-vrata Process of Worship
8.16.388.16.40

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.16.39

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Kaśyapa Munisince 8.16.38inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अर्चित्वा गन्धमाल्याद्यै: पयसा स्‍नपयेद् विभुम् ।

वस्त्रोपवीताभरणपाद्योपस्पर्शनैस्तत: ।

गन्धधूपादिभिश्चार्चेद्‌द्वादशाक्षरविद्यया ॥ ३९ ॥

arcitvā gandha-mālyādyaiḥ

payasā snapayed vibhum

vastropavītābharaṇa-

pādyopasparśanais tataḥ

gandha-dhūpādibhiś cārced

dvādaśākṣara-vidyayā

Translation

In the beginning, the devotee should chant the dvādaśākṣara-mantra and offer flower garlands, incense and so on. After worshiping the Lord in this way, one should bathe the Lord with milk and dress Him with proper garments, a sacred thread, and ornaments. After offering water to wash the Lord’s feet, one should again worship the Lord with fragrant flowers, incense and other paraphernalia.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Worship the Lord With Attentive Offerings

  1. 1

    Worship begins with the dvādaśākṣara-mantra: oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. The devotee offers flower garlands, incense and other items.

  2. 2

    Śrīla Prabhupāda instructs the worshiper to ring a bell with the left hand while offering the items of Deity worship.

  3. 3

    The Lord should be bathed with milk and dressed with proper garments, a sacred thread and ornaments. After offering water for His feet, one worships Him again with fragrant flowers, incense and other paraphernalia.

Key points from the purport
  • While worshiping the Deity, one should ring a bell with his left hand and offer pādya, arghya, vastra, gandha, mālā, ābharaṇa, bhūṣaṇa and so on.
  • In this way, one should bathe the Lord with milk, dress Him and again worship Him with all paraphernalia.

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:

But when he saw that Aditi was not satisfied even after he had given these instructions, he advised her to worship Vāsudeva, Janārdana. He assured her that only Lord Vāsudeva could satisfy her and fulfill all her desires.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. arcitvāworshiping in this way
  2. gandha-mālya-ādyaiḥwith incense, flower garlands, etc.
  3. payasāwith milk
  4. snapayetshould bathe
  5. vibhumthe Lord
  6. vastradress
  7. upavītasacred thread
  8. ābharaṇaornaments
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: “devotee”, “worshiping”, “worship”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 8.16

    In this verse: “chant”

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

How can careful attention to each offering help me worship the Lord more thoughtfully?

Practice

Chant oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya slowly and attentively today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayWorship the Lord With Attentive OfferingsThis 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.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 8.16.39? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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