S'rîmad Bhâgavatam - Canto 11
Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda his pupils
(for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)
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Canto 11: 'General History'
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Chapter Twenty-seven: Lord Krishna's Instructions on the Process of Deity Worship
TEXT 1
s'rî-uddhava uvâca
kriyâ-yogam samâcakshva
bhavad-ârâdhanam prabho
yasmât tvâm ye yathârcanti
sâtvatâh sâtvatarshabha
s'rî-uddhavah uvâca - S'rî Uddhava said; kriyâ-yogam - the prescribed method of activity; samâcakshva - please explain; bhavat - of You; ârâdhanam - the Deity worship; prabho - O Lord; yasmât - based on what kind of form; tvâm - You; ye - who; yathâ - in what manner; arcanti - they worship; sâtvatâh - the devotees; sâtvata-rishabha - O master of the devotees.
TRANSLATION
S'rî Uddhava said - My dear Lord, O master of the devotees, please explain to me the prescribed method of worshiping You in Your Deity form. What are the qualifications of those devotees who worship the Deity, on what basis is such worship established, and what is the specific method of worship?
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TEXT 2
etad vadanti munayo
muhur nihs'reyasam nrinâm
nârado bhagavân vyâsa
âcâryo 'ngirasah sutah
etat - this; vadanti - they say; munayah - the great sages; muhuh - repeatedly; nihs'reyasam - the highest goal of life; nrinâm - for men; nâradah - Nârada Muni; bhagavân vyâsah - S'rîla Vedavyâsa; âcâryah - my spiritual master; angirasah - of Angirâ; sutah - the son.
TRANSLATION
All the great sages repeatedly declare that such worship brings the greatest benefit possible in human life. This is the opinion of Nârada Muni, the great Vyâsadeva and my own spiritual master, Brihaspati.
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TEXTS 3 - 4
nihsritam te mukhâmbhojâd
yad âha bhagavân ajah
putrebhyo bhrigu-mukhyebhyo
devyai ca bhagavân bhavah
etad vai sarva-varnânâm
âs'ramânâm ca sammatam
s'reyasâm uttamam manye
strî-s'ûdrânâm ca mâna-da
nihsritam - emanated; te - Your; mukha-ambhojât - from the lotus mouth; yat - which; âha - spoke; bhagavân - the great lord; ajah - self-born Brahmâ; putrebhyah - to his sons; bhrigu-mukhyebhyah - headed by Bhrigu; devyai - to the goddess Pârvatî; ca - and; bhagavân bhavah - Lord S'iva;
etat - this (process of Deity worship); vai - indeed; sarva-varnânâm - by all the occupational classes of society; âs'ramânâm - and spiritual orders; ca - also; sammatam - approved; s'reyasâm - of different kinds of benefit in life; uttamam - the topmost; manye - I think; strî - for women; s'ûdrânâm - and low-class workers; ca - also; mâna-da - O magnanimous Lord.
TRANSLATION
O most magnanimous Lord, the instructions on this process of Deity worship first emanated from Your lotus mouth. Then they were spoken by the great Lord Brahmâ to his sons, headed by Bhrigu, and by Lord S'iva to his wife, Pârvatî. This process is accepted by and appropriate for all the occupational and spiritual orders of society. Therefore I consider worship of You in Your Deity form to be the most beneficial of all spiritual practices, even for women and s'ûdras.
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TEXT 5
etat kamala-patrâksha
karma-bandha-vimocanam
bhaktâya cânuraktâya
brûhi vis'ves'vares'vara
etat - this; kamala-patra-aksha - O lotus-eyed Lord; karma-bandha - from the bondage of material work; vimocanam - the means of liberation; bhaktâya - to Your devotee; anuraktâya - who is very attached; brûhi - please speak; vis'va-îs'vara - of all the lords of the universe; îs'vara - O Supreme Lord.
TRANSLATION
O lotus-eyed one, O Supreme Lord of all lords of the universe, please explain to Your devoted servant this means of liberation from the bondage of work.
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TEXT 6
s'rî-bhagavân uvâca
na hy anto 'nanta-pârasya
karma-kândasya coddhava
sankshiptam varnayishyâmi
yathâvad anupûrvas'ah
s'rî-bhagavân uvâca - the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; na - there is not; hi - indeed; antah - any end; ananta-pârasya - of the boundless; karma-kândasya - Vedic prescriptions for the execution of worship; ca - and; uddhava - O Uddhava; sankshiptam - in brief; varnayishyâmi - I shall explain; yathâ-vat - in a suitable manner; anupûrvas'ah - in the appropriate order.
TRANSLATION
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said - My dear Uddhava, there is no end to the innumerable Vedic prescriptions for executing Deity worship; so I shall explain this topic to you briefly, one step at a time.
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TEXT 7
vaidikas tântriko mis'ra
iti me tri-vidho makhah
trayânâm îpsitenaiva
vidhinâ mâm samarcaret
vaidikah - according to the four Vedas; tântrikah - according to practical, explanatory literatures; mis'rah - mixed; iti - thus; me - of Me; tri-vidhah - of three kinds; makhah - sacrifice; trayânâm - of the three; îpsitena - that which one feels to be most suitable; eva - certainly; vidhinâ - by the process; mâm - Me; samarcaret - one should properly worship.
TRANSLATION
One should carefully worship Me by selecting one of the three methods by which I receive sacrifice - Vedic, tantric or mixed.
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TEXT 8
yadâ sva-nigamenoktam
dvijatvam prâpya pûrushah
yathâ yajeta mâm bhaktyâ
s'raddhayâ tan nibodha me
yadâ - when; sva - specified according to one's qualification; nigamena - by the Vedas; uktam - enjoined; dvijatvam - the status of becoming twice-born; prâpya - achieving; pûrushah - a person; yathâ - in which way; yajeta - he should execute worship; mâm - unto Me; bhaktyâ - with devotion; s'raddhayâ - with faith; tat - that; nibodha - please hear; me - from Me.
TRANSLATION
Now please listen faithfully as I explain exactly how a person who has achieved twice-born status through the relevant Vedic prescriptions should worship Me with devotion.
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TEXT 9
arcâyâm sthandile 'gnau vâ
sûrye vâpsu hridi dvijah
dravyena bhakti-yukto 'rcet
sva-gurum mâm amâyayâ
arcâyâm - within the Deity form; sthandile - in the earth; agnau - in fire; vâ - or; sûrye - in the sun; vâ - or; apsu - in water; hridi - in the heart; dvijah - the brâhmana; dravyena - by various paraphernalia; bhakti-yuktah - endowed with devotion; arcet - he should worship; sva-gurum - his worshipable Lord; mâm - Me; amâyayâ - without any deception.
TRANSLATION
A twice-born person should worship Me, his worshipable Lord, without duplicity, offering appropriate paraphernalia in loving devotion to My Deity form or to a form of Me appearing upon the ground, in fire, in the sun, in water or within the worshiper's own heart.
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TEXT 10
pûrvam snânam prakurvîta
dhauta-danto 'nga-s'uddhaye
ubhayair api ca snânam
mantrair mrid-grahanâdinâ
pûrvam - first; snânam - bath; prakurvîta - one should perform; dhauta - having cleaned; dantah - his teeth; anga - of the body; s'uddhaye - for purification; ubhayaih - with both kinds; api ca - also; snânam - bathing; mantraih - with mantras; mrit-grahana-âdinâ - by smearing with earth and so on.
TRANSLATION
One should first purify his body by cleansing his teeth and bathing. Then one should perform a second cleansing by smearing the body with earth and chanting both Vedic and tantric mantras.
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TEXT 11
sandhyopâstyâdi-karmâni
vedenâcoditâni me
pûjâm taih kalpayet samyak-
sankalpah karma-pâvanîm
sandhyâ - at the three junctures of the day (dawn, noon and sunset); upâsti - worship (by chanting the Gâyatrî mantra); âdi - and so on; karmâni - prescribed duties; vedena - by the Vedas; âcoditâni - recommended; me - My; pûjâm - worship; taih - by these activities; kalpayet - one should perform; samyak-sankalpah - who has perfectly fixed his determination (that the object of his endeavor will be the Personality of Godhead); karma - the reaction of fruitive work; pâvanîm - which eradicates.
TRANSLATION
Fixing the mind on Me, one should worship Me by his various prescribed duties, such as chanting the Gâyatrî mantra at the three junctures of the day. Such performances are enjoined by the Vedas and purify the worshiper of reactions to fruitive activities.
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TEXT 12
s'ailî dâru-mayî lauhî
lepyâ lekhyâ ca saikatî
mano-mayî mani-mayî
pratimâstha-vidhâ smritâ
s'ailî - made of stone; dâru-mayî - made of wood; lauhî - made of metal; lepyâ - made of clay, sandalwood and other substances laid down as a paste; lekhyâ - painted; ca - and; saikatî - made of sand; manah-mayî - conceived of in the mind; mani-mayî - made of jewels; pratimâ - the Deity; astha-vidhâ - in eight varieties; smritâ - it is remembered.
TRANSLATION
The Deity form of the Lord is said to appear in eight varieties - stone, wood, metal, earth, paint, sand, the mind or jewels.
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TEXT 13
calâcaleti dvi-vidhâ
pratisthhâ jîva-mandiram
udvâsâvâhane na stah
sthirâyâm uddhavârcane
calâ - movable; acalâ - immovable; iti - thus; dvi-vidhâ - of two varieties; pratisthâ - the installation; jîva-mandiram - of the Deity, who is the shelter of all living entities; udvâsa - sending away; âvâhane - and calling forth; na stah - are not done; sthirâyâm - for the permanently established Deity; uddhava - My dear Uddhava; arcane - in His worship.
TRANSLATION
The Deity form of the Lord, who is the shelter of all living entities, can be established in two ways - temporarily or permanently. But a permanent Deity, having been called, can never be sent away, My dear Uddhava.
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TEXT 14
asthirâyâm vikalpah syât
sthandile tu bhaved dvayam
snapanam tv avilepyâyâm
anyatra parimârjanam
asthirâyâm - in the case of the temporarily installed Deity; vikalpah - an option (as to whether the Deity is to be called and sent away); syât - there is; sthandile - in the case of the Deity traced upon the ground; tu - but; bhavet - do occur; dvayam - these two rituals; snapanam - the bathing; tu - but; avilepyâyâm - in the case when the Deity is not made out of clay (or paint or wood); anyatra - in the other cases; parimârjanam - thorough cleansing, but without water.
TRANSLATION
The Deity that is temporarily established can optionally be called forth and sent away, but these two rituals should always be performed when the Deity is traced upon the ground. Bathing should be done with water except if the Deity is made of clay, paint or wood, in which cases a thorough cleansing without water is enjoined.
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TEXT 15
dravyaih prasiddhair mad-yâgah
pratimâdishv amâyinah
bhaktasya ca yathâ-labdhair
hridi bhâvena caiva hi
dravyaih - with items of paraphernalia; prasiddhaih - excellent; mat-yâgah - My worship; pratimâ-âdishu - in the different Deity forms; amâyinah - who has no material desire; bhaktasya - of a devotee; ca - and; yathâ-labdhaih - by whatever paraphernalia he can easily obtain; hridi - in the heart; bhâvena - by mental conception; ca - and; eva hi - certainly.
TRANSLATION
One should worship Me in My Deity forms by offering the most excellent paraphernalia. But a devotee completely freed from material desire may worship Me with whatever he is able to obtain, and may even worship Me within his heart with mental paraphernalia.
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TEXTS 16 - 17
snânâlankaranam presthham
arcâyâm eva tûddhava
sthandile tattva-vinyâso
vahnâv âjya-plutam havih
sûrye câbhyarhanam presthham
salile salilâdibhih
s'raddhayopâhritam presthham
bhaktena mama vâry api
snâna - bathing; alankaranam - and decorating with clothing and ornaments; presthham - is most appreciated; arcâyâm - for the Deity form; eva - certainly; tu - and; uddhava - O Uddhava; sthandile - for the Deity drawn upon the ground; tattva-vinyâsah - establishing the expansions and potencies of the Lord within the various limbs of the Deity by chanting the respective mantras; vahnau - for the sacrificial fire; âjya - in ghee; plutam - drenched; havih - the oblations of sesame, barley and so on;
sûrye - for the sun; ca - and; abhyarhanam - the yoga meditation of twelve âsanas and offerings of arghya; presthham - most dear; salile - for the water; salila-âdibhih - by offerings of water and so on; s'raddhayâ - with faith; upâhritam - presented; presthham - most dear; bhaktena - by the devotee; mama - My; vâri - water; api - even.
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-vinyâsa is most dear. Oblations of sesame and barley soaked in ghee are the preferred offering to the sacrificial fire, whereas worship consisting of upasthâna 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.
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TEXT 18
bhûry apy abhaktopâhritam
na me toshâya kalpate
gandho dhûpah sumanaso
dîpo 'nnâdyam ca kim punah
bhûri - opulent; api - even; abhakta - by a nondevotee; upâhritam - offered; na - does not; me - My; toshâya - satisfaction; kalpate - create; gandhah - fragrance; dhûpah - incense; sumanasah - flowers; dîpah - lamps; anna-âdyam - foodstuffs; ca - and; kim punah - what to speak of.
TRANSLATION
Even very opulent presentations do not satisfy Me if they are offered by nondevotees. But I am pleased by any insignificant offering made by My loving devotees, and I am certainly most pleased when nice presentations of fragrant oil, incense, flowers and palatable foods are offered with love.
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TEXT 19
s'ucih sambhrita-sambhârah
prâg-darbhaih kalpitâsanah
âsînah prâg udag vârced
arcâyâm tv atha sammukhah
s'ucih - clean; sambhrita - having collected; sambhârah - the paraphernalia; prâk - their tips facing the east; darbhaih - with blades of kus'a grass; kalpita - having arranged; âsanah - his own seat; âsînah - sitting; prâk - facing the east; udak - facing the north; vâ - or; arcet - he should perform the worship; arcâyâm - of the Deity; tu - but; atha - or else; sammukhah - directly facing.
TRANSLATION
After cleansing himself and collecting all the paraphernalia, the worshiper should arrange his own seat with blades of kus'a grass whose tips point eastward. He should then sit facing either east or north, or else, if the Deity is fixed in one place, he should sit directly facing the Deity.
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TEXT 20
krita-nyâsah krita-nyâsâm
mad-arcâm pâninâmrijet
kalas'am prokshanîyam ca
yathâvad upasâdhayet
krita-nyâsah - having sanctified his own body (by touching various parts and chanting appropriate mantras while meditating on the corresponding forms of the Supreme Lord); krita-nyâsâm - (the Deity) upon which the same process has been applied; mat-arcâm - My Deity manifestation; pâninâ - with his hand; âmrijet - should clean (by removing remnants of old offerings); kalas'am - the ritual pot filled with auspicious substances; prokshanîyam - the vessel containing water for sprinkling; ca - and; yathâ-vat - appropriately; upasâdhayet - he should prepare.
TRANSLATION
The devotee should sanctify the various parts of his body by touching them and chanting mantras. He should do the same for My Deity forms and then with his hands he should clean the Deity of old flowers and the remnants of previous offerings. He should properly prepare the sacred pot and the vessel containing water for sprinkling.
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TEXT 21
tad-adbhir deva-yajanam
dravyâny âtmânam eva ca
prokshya pâtrâni trîny adbhis
tais tair dravyais' ca sâdhayet
tat - of the vessel for sprinkling; adbhih - with the water; deva-yajanam - the place where the Deity is worshiped; dravyâni - the paraphernalia; âtmânam - one's own body; eva - indeed; ca - also; prokshya - sprinkling; pâtrâni - the vessels; trîni - three; adbhih - with water; taih taih - with those available; dravyaih - auspicious items; ca - and; sâdhayet - he should arrange.
TRANSLATION
Then, with the water of that prokshanîya vessel he should sprinkle the area where the Deity is being worshiped, the offerings that are going to be presented, and his own body. Next he should decorate with various auspicious substances three vessels filled with water.
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TEXT 22
pâdyârghyâcamanîyârtham
trîni pâtrâni des'ikah
hridâ s'îrshnâtha s'ikhayâ
gâyatryâ câbhimantrayet
pâdya - of the water offered to the Lord for bathing His feet; arghya - the water offered to the Lord as a token of respectful greeting; âcamanîya - and the water offered to the Lord for washing His mouth; artham - placed there for the purpose; trîni - three; pâtrâni - the vessels; des'ikah - the worshiper; hridâ - by the 'heart' mantra; s'îrshnâ - by the 'head' mantra; atha - and; s'ikhayâ - by the 'crown' mantra; gâyatryâ - and by the Gâyatrî mantra; ca - also; abhimantrayet - he should perform purification by chanting.
TRANSLATION
The worshiper should then purify those three vessels. He should sanctify the vessel holding water for washing the Lord's feet by chanting hridayâya namah, the vessel containing water for arghya by chanting s'irase svâhâ, and the vessel containing water for washing the Lord's mouth by chanting s'ikhâyai vashath. Also, the Gâyatrî mantra should be chanted for all three vessels.
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TEXT 23
pinde vâyv-agni-sams'uddhe
hrit-padma-sthâm parâm mama
anvîm jîva-kalâm dhyâyen
nâdânte siddha-bhâvitâm
pinde - within the body; vâyu - by air; agni - and by fire; sams'uddhe - which has become completely purified; hrit - of the heart; padma - upon the lotus; sthâm - situated; parâm - the transcendental form; mama - of Mine; anvîm - very subtle; jîva-kalâm - the Personality of Godhead, from whom all living entities expand; dhyâyet - he should meditate upon; nâda-ante - at the end of the vibration of om; siddha - by perfected sages; bhâvitâm - experienced.
TRANSLATION
The worshiper should meditate upon My subtle form - which is situated within the worshiper's own body, now purified by air and fire - as the source of all living entities. This form of the Lord is experienced by self-realized sages in the last part of the vibration of the sacred syllable om.
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TEXT 24
tayâtma-bhûtayâ pinde
vyâpte sampûjya tan-mayah
âvâhyârcâdishu sthâpya
nyastângam mâm prapûjayet
tayâ - by that form meditated upon; âtma-bhûtayâ - conceived of according to one's own realization; pinde - in the physical body; vyâpte - which has become pervaded; sampûjya - perfectly worshiping that form; tat-mayah - surcharged by His presence; âvâhya - inviting; arcâ-âdishu - within the various Deities being worshiped; sthâpya - establishing Him; nyasta-angam - having touched the Deity's various limbs with the chanting of appropriate mantras; mâm - to Me; prapûjayet - he should carry out all the details of worship.
TRANSLATION
The devotee conceives of the Supersoul, whose presence surcharges the devotee's body, in the form corresponding to his realization. Thus the devotee worships the Lord to his full capacity and becomes fully absorbed in Him. By touching the various limbs of the Deity and chanting appropriate mantras, the devotee should invite the Supersoul to join the Deity's form, and then the devotee should worship Me.
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TEXTS 25 - 26
pâdyopaspars'ârhanâdîn
upacârân prakalpayet
dharmâdibhis' ca navabhih
kalpayitvâsanam mama
padmam astha-dalam tatra
karnikâ-kesarojjvalam
ubhâbhyâm veda-tantrâbhyâm
mahyam tûbhaya-siddhaye
pâdya - water for washing the Lord's feet; upaspars'a - water for washing the Lord's mouth; arhana - water presented as arghya; âdîn - and other paraphernalia; upacârân - the offerings; prakalpayet - one should make; dharma-âdibhih - with the personifications of religion, knowledge, renunciation and opulence; ca - and; navabhih - with the nine (energies of the Lord); kalpayitvâ - having imagined; âsanam - the seat; mama - My;
padmam - a lotus; astha-dalam - having eight petals; tatra - therein; karnikâ - in the whorl; kesara - with saffron filaments; ujjvalam - effulgent; ubhâbhyâm - by both means; veda-tantrâbhyâm - of the Vedas and tantras; mahyam - to Me; tu - and; ubhaya - of both (enjoyment and liberation); siddhaye - for the achievement.
TRANSLATION
The worshiper should first imagine My seat as decorated with the personified deities of religion, knowledge, renunciation and opulence and with My nine spiritual energies. He should think of the Lord's sitting place as an eight-petaled lotus, effulgent on account of the saffron filaments within its whorl. Then, following the regulations of both the Vedas and the tantras, he should offer Me water for washing the feet, water for washing the mouth, arghya and other items of worship. By this process he achieves both material enjoyment and liberation.
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TEXT 27
sudars'anam pâñcajanyam
gadâsîshu-dhanur-halân
mushalam kaustubham mâlâm
s'rîvatsam cânupûjayet
sudars'anam - the Lord's disc; pâñcajanyam - the Lord's conchshell; gadâ - His club; asi - sword; ishu - arrows; dhanuh - bow; halân - and plow; mushalam - His mushala weapon; kaustubham - the Kaustubha gem; mâlâm - His garland; s'rîvatsam - the decoration of S'rîvatsa on His chest; ca - and; anupûjayet - one should worship one after another.
TRANSLATION
One should worship, in order, the Lord's Sudars'ana disc, His Pâñcajanya conchshell, His club, sword, bow, arrows and plow, His mushala weapon, His Kaustubha gem, His flower garland and the S'rîvatsa curl of hair on His chest.
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TEXT 28
nandam sunandam garudam
pracandam candam eva ca
mahâbalam balam caiva
kumudam kamudekshanam
nandam sunandam garudam - named Nanda, Sunanda and Garuda; pracandam candam - Pracanda and Canda; eva - indeed; ca - also; mahâ-balam balam - Mahâbala and Bala; ca - and; eva - indeed; kumudam kumuda-îkshanam - Kumuda and Kumudekshana.
TRANSLATION
One should worship the Lord's associates Nanda and Sunanda, Garuda, Pracanda and Canda, Mahâbala and Bala, and Kumuda and Kumudekshana.
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TEXT 29
durgâm vinâyakam vyâsam
vishvakshenam gurûn surân
sve sve sthâne tv abhimukhân
pûjayet prokshanâdibhih
durgâm - the Lord's spiritual energy; vinâyakam - the original Ganes'a; vyâsam - the compiler of the Vedas; vishvaksenam - Vishvaksena; gurûn - one's spiritual masters; surân - the demigods; sve sve - each in his own; sthâne - place; tu - and; abhimukhân - all facing the Deity; pûjayet - one should worship; prokshana-âdibhih - by the various prescriptions beginning with sprinkling of water for purification.
TRANSLATION
With offerings such as prokshana one should worship Durgâ, Vinâyaka, Vyâsa, Vishvaksena, the spiritual masters and the various demigods. All these personalities should be in their proper places facing the Deity of the Lord.
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TEXTS 30 - 31
candanos'îra-karpûra-
kunkumâguru-vâsitaih
salilaih snâpayen mantrair
nityadâ vibhave sati
svarna-gharmânuvâkena
mahâpurusha-vidyayâ
paurushenâpi sûktena
sâmabhî râjanâdibhih
candana - with sandalwood paste; us'îra - the fragrant us'îra root; karpûra - camphor; kunkuma - vermilion; aguru - aloes wood; vâsitaih - which are perfumed; salilaih - by different kinds of water; snâpayet - one should bathe the Deity; mantraih - with mantras; nityadâ - every day; vibhave - assets; sati - to the extent that there are;
svarna-gharma-anuvâkena - by the chapter of the Vedas known as Svarna-gharma; mahâ-purusha-vidyayâ - by the incantation called Mahâpurusha; paurushena - by the Purusha-sûkta; api - also; sûktena - the Vedic hymn; sâmabhih - by songs from the Sâma Veda; râjana-âdibhih - known as Râjana and so on.
TRANSLATION
The worshiper should bathe the Deity every day, as opulently as his assets permit, using waters scented with sandalwood, us'îra root, camphor, kunkuma and aguru. He should also chant various Vedic hymns, such as the anuvâka known as Svarna-gharma, the Mahâpurusha-vidyâ, the Purusha-sûkta and various songs of the Sâma Veda, such as the Râjana and the Rohinya.
PURPORT
The Purusha-sûkta prayer, beginning om sahasra-s'îrshâ-purushah sahasrâkshah sahasra-pât, is contained within the Rig Veda.
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TEXT 32
vastropavîtâbharana-
patra-srag-gandha-lepanaih
alankurvîta sa-prema
mad-bhakto mâm yathocitam
vastra - with clothing; upavîta - a brâhmana thread; âbharana - ornaments; patra - decorations drawn on various parts of the body with tilaka; srak - garlands; gandha-lepanaih - and smearing of fragrant oils; alankurvîta - he should decorate; sa-prema - with love; mat-bhaktah - My devotee; mâm - Me; yathâ ucitam - as is enjoined.
TRANSLATION
My devotee should then lovingly decorate Me with clothing, a brâhmana thread, various ornaments, marks of tilaka and garlands, and he should anoint My body with fragrant oils, all in the prescribed manner.
******
TEXT 33
pâdyam âcamanîyam ca
gandham sumanaso 'kshatân
dhûpa-dîpopahâryâni
dadyân me s'raddhayârcakah
pâdyam - water for washing the feet; âcamanîyam - water for washing the mouth; ca - and; gandham - fragrances; sumanasah - flowers; akshatân - unbroken grains; dhûpa - incense; dîpa - lamps; upahâryâni - such items of paraphernalia; dadyât - he should present; me - to Me; s'raddhayâ - with faith; arcakah - the worshiper.
TRANSLATION
The worshiper should faithfully present Me with water for washing My feet and mouth, fragrant oils, flowers and unbroken grains, along with incense, lamps and other offerings.
******
TEXT 34
guda-pâyasa-sarpîmshi
s'ashkuly-âpûpa-modakân
samyâva-dadhi-sûpâms' ca
naivedyam sati kalpayet
guda - sugar candy; pâyasa - sweet rice; sarpîmshi - and ghee; s'ashkulî - a kind of large, ear-shaped cake made of rice flour, sugar and sesame and fried in ghee; âpûpa - various kinds of sweet cakes; modakân - small conical steamed dumplings made of rice flour and filled with sweet coconut and sugar; samyâva - an oblong cake made of wheat, ghee and milk and covered with sugar and spices; dadhi - yogurt; sûpân - vegetable soups; ca - and; naivedyam - offerings of food; sati - if he has sufficient means; kalpayet - the devotee should arrange.
TRANSLATION
Within his means, the devotee should arrange to offer Me sugar candy, sweet rice, ghee, s'ashkulî [rice-flour cakes], âpûpa [various sweet cakes], modaka [steamed rice-flour dumplings filled with sweet coconut and sugar], samyâva [wheat cakes made with ghee and milk and covered with sugar and spices], yogurt, vegetable soups and other palatable foods.
******
TEXT 35
abhyangonmardanâdars'a-
danta-dhâvâbhishecanam
annâdya-gîta-nrityâni
parvani syur utânv-aham
abhyanga - with ointment; unmardana - massaging; âdars'a - offering a mirror; danta-dhâva - washing the teeth; abhishecanam - bathing; anna - offering food that can be eaten without chewing; âdya - offering food that is chewed; gîtâ - singing; nrityâni - and dancing; parvani - on special holidays; syuh - these offerings should be made; uta - or else (if it is within one's means); anu-aham - every day.
TRANSLATION
On special occasions, and daily if possible, the Deity should be massaged with ointment, shown a mirror, offered a eucalyptus stick for brushing His teeth, bathed with the five kinds of nectar, offered all kinds of opulent foods, and entertained with singing and dancing.
******
TEXT 36
vidhinâ vihite kunde
mekhalâ-garta-vedibhih
agnim âdhâya paritah
samûhet pâninoditam
vidhinâ - according to scriptural injunctions; vihite - constructed; kunde - in the sacrificial arena; mekhalâ - with the paraphernalia of the sacred belt; garta - the sacrificial pit; vedibhih - and the altar mound; agnim - the fire; âdhâya - establishing; paritah - on all sides; samûhet - one should build up; pâninâ - with his hands; uditam - blazing.
TRANSLATION
In an arena constructed according to scriptural injunctions, the devotee should perform a fire sacrifice, utilizing the sacred belt, the sacrificial pit and the altar mound. When igniting the sacrificial fire, the devotee should bring it to a blaze with wood piled up by his own hands.
******
TEXT 37
paristîryâtha paryukshed
anvâdhâya yathâ-vidhi
prokshanyâsâdya dravyâni
prokshyâgnau bhâvayeta mâm
paristîrya - scattering (kus'a grass); atha - then; paryukshet - he should sprinkle with water; anvâdhâya - performing the ritual of anvâdhâna (placing wood into the fire with recitations of om bhûr bhuvah svah); yathâ-vidhi - according to the standard prescription; prokshanyâ - by the water in the âcamana vessel; âsâdya - having arranged; dravyâni - the items to be offered as oblations; prokshya - sprinkling them; agnau - within the fire; bhâvayeta - he should meditate; mâm - on Me.
TRANSLATION
After spreading kus'a grass on the ground and sprinkling it with water, one should perform the anvâdhâna ritual according to the prescribed rules. Then one should arrange the items to be offered as oblations and should sanctify them with water from the sprinkling vessel. The worshiper should next meditate upon Me within the fire.
******
TEXTS 38 - 41
tapta-jâmbûnada-prakhyam
s'ankha-cakra-gadâmbujaih
lasac-catur-bhujam s'ântam
padma-kiñjalka-vâsasam
sphurat-kirîtha-kathaka
kathi-sûtra-varângadam
s'rîvatsa-vakshasam bhrâjat-
kaustubham vana-mâlinam
dhyâyann abhyarcya dârûni
havishâbhighritâni ca
prâsyâjya-bhâgâv âghârau
dattvâ câjya-plutam havih
juhuyân mûla-mantrena
shodas'arcâvadânatah
dharmâdibhyo yathâ-nyâyam
mantraih svisthi-kritam budhah
tapta - molten; jâmbû-nada - of gold; prakhyam - the color; s'ankha - with His conchshell; cakra - disc; gadâ - club; ambujaih - and lotus flower; lasat - brilliant; catuh-bhujam - having four arms; s'ântam - peaceful; padma - of a lotus; kiñjalka - colored like the filaments; vâsasam - His garment;
sphurat - shining; kirîtha - helmet; kathaka - bracelets; kati-sûtra - belt; vara-angadam - fine ornaments on the arms; s'rî-vatsa - the emblem of the goddess of fortune; vakshasam - upon His chest; bhrâjat - effulgent; kaustubham - the Kaustubha gem; vana-mâlinam - wearing a flower garland;
dhyâyan - meditating upon Him; abhyarcya - performing worship of Him; dârûni - pieces of dry wood; havishâ - with the purified butter; abhighritâni - soaked; ca - and; prâsya - throwing into the fire; âjya - of the ghee; bhâgau - the two designated portions; âghârau - in the course of performing the âghâra ritual; dattvâ - offering; ca - and; âjya - with ghee; plutam - drenched; havih - various oblations;
juhuyât - one should offer into the fire; mûla-mantrena - with the primary mantras naming each deity; shodas'a-ricâ - with the hymn Purusha-sûkta, consisting of sixteen lines of verse; avadânatah - pouring an oblation after each line; dharma-âdibhyah - to the demigods, beginning with Yamarâja; yathâ-nyâyam - in the proper order; mantraih - with the specific mantras naming each demigod; svisthi-kritam - the ritual of this name; budhah - the intelligent devotee.
TRANSLATION
The intelligent devotee should meditate upon that form of the Lord whose color is like molten gold, whose four arms are resplendent with the conchshell, disc, club and lotus flower, and who is always peaceful and dressed in a garment colored like the filaments within a lotus flower. His helmet, bracelets, belt and fine arm ornaments shine brilliantly. The symbol of S'rîvatsa is on His chest, along with the glowing Kaustubha gem and a garland of forest flowers. The devotee should then worship that Lord by taking pieces of firewood soaked in the sacrificial ghee and throwing them into the fire. He should perform the ritual of âghâra, presenting into the fire the various items of oblation drenched in ghee. He should then offer to sixteen demigods, beginning with Yamarâja, the oblation called svisthi-krit, reciting the basic mantras of each deity and the sixteen-line Purusha-sûkta hymn. Pouring one oblation after each line of the Purusha-sûkta, he should utter the particular mantra naming each deity.
******
TEXT 42
abhyarcyâtha namaskritya
pârshadebhyo balim haret
mûla-mantram japed brahma
smaran nârâyanâtmakam
abhyarcya - having thus worshiped; atha - then; namaskritya - offering his obeisances by bowing down; pârshadebhyah - unto the Lord's personal associates; balim - offerings; haret - he should present; mûla-mantram - the basic mantra for the Deity; japet - he should chant quietly; brahma - the Absolute Truth; smaran - remembering; nârâyana-âtmakam - as the Supreme Personality, Lord Nârâyana.
TRANSLATION
Having thus worshiped the Lord in the sacrificial fire, the devotee should offer his obeisances to the Lord's personal associates by bowing down and should then present offerings to them. He should then chant quietly the mûla-mantra of the Deity of the Lord, remembering the Absolute Truth as the Supreme Personality, Nârâyana.
******
TEXT 43
dattvâcamanam ucchesham
vishvakshenâya kalpayet
mukha-vâsam surabhimat
tâmbûlâdyam athârhayet
dattvâ - offering; âcamanam - water for washing the Lord's mouth; ucchesham - the remnants of His food; vishvaksenâya - to the personal associate of Lord Vishnu, Vishvaksena; kalpayet - one should give; mukha-vâsam - cologne for the mouth; surabhi-mat - fragrant; tâmbûla-âdyam - betel-nut preparation; atha - then; arhayet - one should present.
TRANSLATION
Once again he should offer the Deity water for washing His mouth, and he should give the remnants of the Lord's food to Vishvaksena. Then he should present the Deity with fragrant perfume for the mouth and prepared betel nut.
******
TEXT 44
upagâyan grinan nrityan
karmâny abhinayan mama
mat-kathâh s'râvayan s'rinvan
muhûrtam kshaniko bhavet
upagâyan - singing along; grinan - loudly vibrating; nrityan - dancing; karmâni - transcendental activities; abhinayan - imitating by acting out; mama - My; mat-kathâh - stories about Me; s'râvayan - causing others to hear; s'rinvan - hearing himself; muhûrtam - for some time; kshanikah - absorbed in the celebration; bhavet - he should become.
TRANSLATION
Singing along with others, chanting loudly and dancing, acting out My transcendental pastimes, and hearing and telling stories about Me, the devotee should for some time absorb himself in such festivity.
******
TEXT 45
stavair uccâvacaih stotraih
paurânaih prâkritair api
stutvâ prasîda bhagavann
iti vandeta danda-vat
stavaih - with prayers from the scriptures; ucca-avacaih - of greater and lesser varieties; stotraih - and with prayers written by human authors; paurânaih - from the Purânas; prâkritaih - from ordinary sources; api - also; stutvâ - thus praying to the Lord; prasîda - please show Your mercy; bhagavan - O Lord; iti - thus saying; vandeta - one should pay homage; danda-vat - falling down on the ground like a rod.
TRANSLATION
The devotee should offer homage to the Lord with all kinds of hymns and prayers, both from the Purânas and from other ancient scriptures, and also from ordinary traditions. Praying, 'O Lord, please be merciful to me! 'he should fall down flat like a rod to offer his obeisances.
******
TEXT 46
s'iro mat-pâdayoh kritvâ
bâhubhyâm ca parasparam
prapannam pâhi mâm îs'a
bhîtam mrityu-grahârnavât
s'irah - his head; mat-pâdayoh - at My two feet; kritvâ - placing; bâhubhyâm - with the hands; ca - and; parasparam - together (grasping the feet of the Deity); prapannam - who am surrendered; pâhi - please protect; mâm - me; îs'a - O Lord; bhîtam - afraid; mrityu - of death; graha - the mouth; arnavât - of this material ocean.
TRANSLATION
Placing his head at the feet of the Deity, he should then stand with folded hands before the Lord and pray, 'O my Lord, please protect me, who am surrendered unto You. I am most fearful of this ocean of material existence, standing as I am in the mouth of death.'
******
TEXT 47
iti s'eshâm mayâ dattâm
s'irasy âdhâya sâdaram
udvâsayec ced udvâsyam
jyotir jyotishi tat punah
iti - thus praying; s'eshâm - the remnants; mayâ - by Me; dattâm - given; s'irasi - on one's head; âdhâya - placing; sa-âdaram - respectfully; udvâsayet - should send the Deity away; cet - if; udvâsyam - if such is meant to be performed; jyotih - the light; jyotishi - within the light; tat - that; punah - once again.
TRANSLATION
Praying in this way, the devotee should respectfully place upon his head the remnants I offer to him. And if the particular Deity is meant to be sent away at the end of the worship, then this should be performed, the devotee once again placing the light of the Deity's presence inside the light of the lotus within his own heart.
******
TEXT 48
arcâdishu yadâ yatra
s'raddhâ mâm tatra cârcayet
sarva-bhûteshv âtmani ca
sarvâtmâham avasthitah
arcâ-âdishu - in the Deity form and other manifestations of the Supreme Lord; yadâ - whenever; yatra - in whichever form; s'raddhâ - faith develops; mâm - Me; tatra - there; ca - and; arcayet - he should worship; sarva-bhûteshu - within all created beings; âtmani - separately, in My original form; ca - also; sarva-âtmâ - the original soul of all; aham - I am; avasthitah - so situated.
TRANSLATION
Whenever one develops faith in Me - in My form as the Deity or in other bona fide manifestations - one should worship Me in that form. I certainly exist both within all created beings and also separately in My original form, since I am the Supreme Soul of all.
******
TEXT 49
evam kriyâ-yoga-pathaih
pumân vaidika-tântrikaih
arcann ubhayatah siddhim
matto vindaty abhîpsitâm
evam - in this way; kriyâ-yoga - of regulated Deity worship; pathaih - by the processes; pumân - a person; vaidika-tântrikaih - presented in the Vedas and tantras; arcan - worshiping; ubhayatah - in both this life and the next; siddhim - perfection; mattah - from Me; vindati - he achieves; abhîpsitâm - desired.
TRANSLATION
By worshiping Me through the various methods prescribed in the Vedas and tantras, one will gain from Me his desired perfection in both this life and the next.
******
TEXT 50
mad-arcâm sampratisthhâpya
mandiram kârayed dridham
pushpodyânâni ramyâni
pûjâ-yâtrotsavâs'ritân
mat-arcâm - My Deity form; sampratisthhâpya - properly establishing; mandiram - a temple; kârayet - he should construct; dridham - strong; pushpa-udyânâni - flower gardens; ramyâni - beautiful; pûjâ - for regular, daily worship; yâtrâ - special festivals; utsava - and yearly holidays; âs'ritân - set aside.
TRANSLATION
The devotee should more fully establish My Deity by solidly constructing a temple, along with beautiful gardens. These gardens should be set aside to provide flowers for the regular daily worship, special Deity processions and holiday observances.
******
TEXT 51
pûjâdînâm pravâhârtham
mahâ-parvasv athânv-aham
kshetrâpana-pura-grâmân
dattvâ mat-sârsthitâm iyât
pûjâ-âdînâm - of the regular worship and special festivals; pravâha-artham - in order to assure the continuance; mahâ-parvasu - on auspicious occasions; atha - and; anu-aham - daily; kshetra - land; âpana - shops; pura - cities; grâmân - and villages; dattvâ - bestowing as a gift to the Deity; mat-sârsthitâm - opulence equal to Mine; iyât - he achieves.
TRANSLATION
One who offers the Deity gifts of land, markets, cities and villages so that the regular daily worship and special festivals of the Deity may go on continually will achieve opulence equal to My own.
******
TEXT 52
pratisthhayâ sârvabhaumam
sadmanâ bhuvana-trayam
pûjâdinâ brahma-lokam
tribhir mat-sâmyatâm iyât
pratisthhayâ - by having installed the Deity; sârva-bhaumam - sovereignty over the entire earth; sadmanâ - by building a temple for the Lord; bhuvana-trayam - rulership over the three worlds; pûjâ-âdinâ - by worship and other service; brahma-lokam - the planet of Lord Brahmâ; tribhih - by all three; mat-sâmyatâm - the status of equality with Me (by having a transcendental, spiritual body similar to Mine); iyât - he attains.
TRANSLATION
By installing the Deity of the Lord one becomes king of the entire earth, by building a temple for the Lord one becomes ruler of the three worlds, by worshiping and serving the Deity one goes to the planet of Lord Brahmâ, and by performing all three of these activities one achieves a transcendental form like My own.
******
TEXT 53
mâm eva nairapekshyena
bhakti-yogena vindati
bhakti-yogam sa labhata
evam yah pûjayeta mâm
mâm - Me; eva - indeed; nairapekshyena - by being free from motivation; bhakti-yogena - by the performance of devotional service; vindati - achieves; bhakti-yogam - devotional service; sah - he; labhate - receives; evam - thus; yah - whom; pûjayeta - worships; mâm - Me.
TRANSLATION
But one who simply engages in devotional service with no consideration of fruitive results attains Me. Thus whoever worships Me according to the process I have described will ultimately attain pure devotional service unto Me.
******
TEXT 54
yah sva-dattâm parair dattâm
hareta sura-viprayoh
vrittim sa jâyate vid-bhug
varshânâm ayutâyutam
yah - who; sva-dattâm - given previously by himself; paraih - by others; dattâm - given; hareta - takes away; sura-viprayoh - belonging to the demigods or brâhmanas; vrittim - property; sah - he; jâyate - takes birth; vith-bhuk - as a stool-eating worm; varshânâm - for years; ayuta - ten thousand; ayutam - times ten thousand.
TRANSLATION
Anyone who steals the property of the demigods or the brâhmanas, whether originally given to them by himself or someone else, must live as a worm in stool for one hundred million years.
******
TEXT 55
kartus' ca sârather hetor
anumoditur eva ca
karmanâm bhâginah pretya
bhûyo bhûyasi tat-phalam
kartuh - of the performer; ca - and; sâratheh - of the assistant; hetoh - of the instigator; anumodituh - of the person who approves; eva ca - also; karmanâm - of the fruitive reactions; bhâginah - of the shareholder; pretya - in the next life; bhûyah - more grievously; bhûyasi - to the extent that the action is grievous; tat - (must suffer) of that; phalam - the result.
TRANSLATION
Not only the performer of the theft but also anyone who assists him, instigates the crime, or simply approves of it must also share the reaction in the next life. According to their degree of participation, they each must suffer a proportionate consequence.
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