Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 18

Bali Mahārāja Upholds Truth; Vāmana Reveals the Universal Form and Takes the Two Steps

Devanagari script

यजमान: स्वयं तस्य श्रीमत् पादयुगं मुदा । अवनिज्यावहन्मूर्ध्नि तदपो विश्वपावनी: ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

yajamānaḥ svayaṁ tasya śrīmat pāda-yugaṁ mudā avanijyāvahan mūrdhni tad apo viśva-pāvanīḥ

Translation

Bali Mahārāja, the worshiper, joyfully washed Lord Vāmanadeva’s lotus feet and then placed that water upon his head, for it is supremely purifying and sanctifies the entire universe.

Synonyms

• यजमानः: the sacrificer (Bali)
• यजमानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यजमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Karta-nirdharana (कर्ता-निश्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मनः-प्रयत्नवाचक (by oneself)

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

• श्रीमत्: glorious
• श्रीमत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पादयुगम् इति विशेषण (glorious/auspicious)

• पाद-युगम्: pair of feet
• पाद-युगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (युग = pair, i.e., two feet)

• मुदा: with joy
• मुदा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्/मुदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भाववाचक (with joy)

• अवनिज्य: having washed
• अवनिज्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-नीज् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); पूर्वकालिक (having washed)

• अवहत्: carried/placed
• अवहत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वह् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• मूर्ध्नि: on (his) head
• मूर्ध्नि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अपः इति विशेषण (that)

• अपः: waters
• अपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्/आप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (irregular plural)

• विश्व-पावनीः: world-purifying
• विश्व-पावनीः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पावनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विश्वस्य पावनीः = purifying the universe)

Characters & Entities

• yajamāna (the sacrificer)
• Bhagavān (the Lord)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about washing the Lord’s feet (pāda-sevā)?

This verse states that the yajamāna joyfully washed the Lord’s glorious feet and honored that water on his head, emphasizing pāda-sevā and the sanctity of pāda-tīrtha as a purifier of the world.

Why did the yajamāna place the foot-wash water on his head?

Because the water that has touched the Lord’s feet is described as viśva-pāvanī—capable of purifying the entire universe—so honoring it on the head expresses reverence and devotion.

How can this teaching be applied in modern devotional life?

Approach worship with personal humility and joy, and honor sanctified remnants (like caraṇāmṛta) with faith—seeing devotion as a direct means of inner purification.