Shloka 19

Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa Receives Kṛṣṇa’s Mercy

The Gift of Flat Rice

Devanagari script

स्वर्गापवर्गयो: पुंसां रसायां भुवि सम्पदाम् । सर्वासामपि सिद्धीनां मूलं तच्चरणार्चनम् ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

svargāpavargayoḥ puṁsāṁ rasāyāṁ bhuvi sampadām sarvāsām api siddhīnāṁ mūlaṁ tac-caraṇārcanam

Translation

Devotional service and worship of His lotus feet are the root of all perfections and fortunes a person may attain—in heaven, in liberation, in the subterranean realms, and on earth.

Synonyms

• स्वर्गापवर्गयोः: of heaven and liberation
• स्वर्गापवर्गयोः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + अपवर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समासः (itaretara); पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), द्विवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• पुंसाम्: of men/people
• पुंसाम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुंस्/पुम्स् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन

• रसायाम्: in the earth (Rasā)
• रसायाम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रसा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; अधिकरणम्

• भुवि: on earth
• भुवि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; अधिकरणम्

• सम्पदाम्: of prosperities/wealths
• सम्पदाम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्पद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध

• सर्वासाम्: of all
• सर्वासाम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (siddhīnām)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—समुच्चय/अपि-कार (also/even)

• सिद्धीनाम्: of perfections/accomplishments
• सिद्धीनाम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध

• मूलम्: the root/cause
• मूलम्: कर्तृ (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

• तत्-चरण-अर्चनम्: worship of His feet
• तत्-चरण-अर्चनम्: कर्तृ (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चरण (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (षष्ठी: ‘of His feet’ + अर्चनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; वाक्ये ‘मूलम्’ इत्यस्य समानााधिकरणम्

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say is the root cause of liberation (moksha) and all perfection?

This verse says that worship of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet is the root of heaven, liberation, earthly prosperity, and all siddhis.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī emphasize worship of Kṛṣṇa’s feet in the Sudāmā episode (Canto 10, Chapter 81)?

In the context of Sudāmā’s meeting with Kṛṣṇa, the Bhagavatam highlights that true fortune and fulfillment come from bhakti—loving worship of Kṛṣṇa—rather than from material gain.

How can I apply 'worship of the Lord’s lotus feet' in modern life?

Practice steady bhakti through hearing and chanting Kṛṣṇa’s names, prayerful remembrance, offering your work and food to Him, and serving devotees—making devotion the foundation of your goals.