Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 25

Akrūra’s Journey to Vraja and His Devotional Vision of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma

Devanagari script

पदानि तस्याखिललोकपाल- किरीटजुष्टामलपादरेणो: । ददर्श गोष्ठे क्षितिकौतुकानि विलक्षितान्यब्जयवाङ्कुशाद्यै: ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

padāni tasyākhila-loka-pāla- kirīṭa-juṣṭāmala-pāda-reṇoḥ dadarśa goṣṭhe kṣiti-kautukāni vilakṣitāny abja-yavāṅkuśādyaiḥ

Translation

In the cowherd pasture Akrūra saw the footprints of those feet whose pure dust the rulers of all the planets in the universe hold on their crowns. Those footprints of the Lord, distinguished by such marks as the lotus, barleycorn and elephant goad, made the ground wonderfully beautiful.

Synonyms

• पदानि: footprints/steps
• पदानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; अत्र कर्मत्वे (object)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अखिल-लोक-पाल-किरीट-जुष्ट-अमल-पाद-रेणोः: of the dust of (his) pure feet, honored by the crowns of all world-protectors
• अखिल-लोक-पाल-किरीट-जुष्ट-अमल-पाद-रेणोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + पाल (प्रातिपदिक) + किरीट (प्रातिपदिक) + जुष्ट (कृदन्त, √जुष्) + अमल (प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + रेणु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (अखिलानां लोकपालानां किरीटैः जुष्टः; अमलस्य पादस्य रेणुः)

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• गोष्ठे: in the cowherd-settlement
• गोष्ठे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• क्षिति-कौतुकानि: wondrous marks on the ground
• क्षिति-कौतुकानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षिति (प्रातिपदिक) + कौतुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (क्षितेः कौतुकानि = wonders on earth/ground)

• विलक्षितानि: distinguished/marked
• विलक्षितानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + लक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; पदानि/कौतुकानि इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• अब्ज-यव-अङ्कुश-आद्यैः: by lotus, barley, goad, etc. (symbols)
• अब्ज-यव-अङ्कुश-आद्यैः: Karana (करण/लक्षण-हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अब्ज (प्रातिपदिक) + यव (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्कुश (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (lotus, barley-corn, goad, etc.)

Characters & Entities

• Akrūra
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the marks on Krishna’s footprints?

This verse says Kṛṣṇa’s footprints in Vraja are visibly distinguished by auspicious symbols like the lotus, barleycorn, and goad, revealing His divine nature even through His traces on the earth.

Why was Akrura looking for Krishna’s footprints in Vrindavan?

As Akrūra arrived in Vraja, his devotion intensified; seeing the Lord’s footprints—honored even by cosmic rulers—confirmed he had reached the sacred land touched by Kṛṣṇa and deepened his reverence for Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet.

How can remembering Krishna’s lotus feet be applied in modern life?

By regularly contemplating the Lord’s lotus feet—through japa, kīrtana, and reading Kṛṣṇa-līlā—one cultivates humility and steadiness, redirecting the mind from anxiety toward loving remembrance (smaraṇa) and service (seva).