Shloka 28
श्रान्तानप्यथ तान् दूराज्जनक: स्वगृहागतान् । आनीतेष्वासनाग्र्येषु सुखासीनान् महामना: ॥ २७ ॥ प्रवृद्धभक्त्या उद्धर्षहृदयास्राविलेक्षण: । नत्वा तदङ्घ्रीन् प्रक्षाल्य तदपो लोकपावनी: ॥ २८ ॥ सकुटुम्बो वहन् मूर्ध्ना पूजयां चक्र ईश्वरान् । गन्धमाल्याम्बराकल्पधूपदीपार्घ्यगोवृषै: ॥ २९ ॥
śrāntān apy atha tān dūrāj janakaḥ sva-gṛhāgatān ānīteṣv āsanāgryeṣu sukhāsīnān mahā-manāḥ
Von wachsender Hingabe ergriffen, bebte sein Herz vor Freude und seine Augen füllten sich mit Tränen. Er verneigte sich, wusch ihre Füße und setzte sich das weltläuternde Fußwaschwasser auf das Haupt.
Śrīla Prabhupāda comments: “Bahulāśva, the King of Videha, was very intelligent and was a perfect gentleman. He was astonished that so many great sages, along with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, were personally present in his home. He knew perfectly well that conditioned souls engaged in worldly affairs cannot be one-hundred-percent pure whereas the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His pure devotees are always transcendental to worldly contamination. Therefore, when he found that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, and all the great sages were at his home, he was astonished, and he began to thank Lord Krsna for His causeless mercy.”
FAQs
This verse shows King Janaka bowing and washing the Lord’s feet; the resulting water is described as “loka-pāvanī,” purifying for all worlds—indicating pāda-sevā as a powerful expression of devotion that sanctifies both the devotee and others.
Janaka was overwhelmed by intensified devotion and reverence for the Supreme Lord who had arrived at his home; washing the Lord’s feet is a traditional act of worship and hospitality offered to the most exalted guest.
Cultivate humble reverence (vandanā), serve the Lord through devotional acts (sevā), and honor sacred remnants like caraṇāmṛta/prasāda—while letting devotion deepen into heartfelt remembrance rather than mere ritual.