Shloka 38
The Lord’s Advent: Yoga-māyā’s Mission, Saṅkarṣaṇa’s Transfer, and the Demigods’ Prayers
दिष्टया हरेऽस्या भवत: पदो भुवो भारोऽपनीतस्तव जन्मनेशितु: । दिष्टयाङ्कितां त्वत्पदकै: सुशोभनै- र्द्रक्ष्याम गां द्यां च तवानुकम्पिताम् ॥ ३८ ॥
diṣṭyā hare ’syā bhavataḥ pado bhuvo bhāro ’panītas tava janmaneśituḥ diṣṭyāṅkitāṁ tvat-padakaiḥ suśobhanair drakṣyāma gāṁ dyāṁ ca tavānukampitām
O Hari, we are blessed, for by Your birth the heavy burden of the asuras upon this earth is at once removed. Blessed indeed, for on earth and in the heavenly realms we shall behold the beautiful marks upon Your lotus feet—lotus, conchshell, club, and disc—adorning the worlds with Your mercy.
The soles of the Lord’s lotus feet are marked with śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-padma — conchshell, disc, club and lotus — and also by a flag and a thunderbolt. When Kṛṣṇa walks on this earth or in the heavenly planets, these marks are visible wherever He goes. Vṛndāvana-dhāma is a transcendental place because of Kṛṣṇa’s walking on this land frequently. The inhabitants of Vṛndāvana were fortunate to see these marks here and there. When Akrūra went to Vṛndāvana to take Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma away to the festival arranged by Kaṁsa, upon seeing the marks of the Lord’s lotus feet on the ground of Vṛndāvana, he fell down and began to groan. These marks are visible to devotees who receive the causeless mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead ( tavānukampitām ). The demigods were jubilant not only because the appearance of the Supreme Lord would do away with the burdensome demons, but also because they would be able to see upon the ground the transcendental marks from the soles of the Lord’s lotus feet. The gopīs always thought of the Lord’s lotus feet when He was walking in the pasturing grounds, and, as described in the previous verse, simply by thinking of the Lord’s lotus feet, the gopīs were fully absorbed in transcendence ( āviṣṭa-cetā na bhavāya kalpate ). Like the gopīs, one who is always absorbed in thought of the Lord is beyond the material platform and will not remain in this material world. It is our duty, therefore, always to hear, chant and think about the Lord’s lotus feet, as actually done by Vaiṣṇavas who have decided to live in Vṛndāvana always and think of the Lord’s lotus feet twenty-four hours a day.
FAQs
This verse states that by Hari’s divine descent, the burden of the earth will be removed—implying the reduction of oppressive, adharmic forces through His līlā.
In the context of Krishna’s impending birth, the devas glorify Him because His appearance restores dharma and brings relief to the earth and the worlds.
Keeping Krishna’s lotus feet in mind cultivates humility and hope—seeing life’s burdens as eased through devotion, prayer, and alignment with dharma.