Shloka 10

The Greatness of Viṣṇu’s Foot-Water (Pādodaka) as a Destroyer of Sin

Devanagari script

दंतिकोटिप्रदानेन सप्तिकोटिप्रदानतः । यत्फलं लभते मर्त्यः स्पृष्ट्वा पादोदकं हरेः

Transliteration

daṃtikoṭipradānena saptikoṭipradānataḥ | yatphalaṃ labhate martyaḥ spṛṣṭvā pādodakaṃ hareḥ

Translation

പത്ത് കോടി ആനകളെ ദാനം ചെയ്താലോ, എഴുപത് കോടി പശുക്കൾ ദാനം ചെയ്താലോ ലഭിക്കുന്ന പുണ്യം, ഹരിയുടെ പാദോദകം സ്പർശമാത്രം ചെയ്താൽ മർത്ത്യന് ലഭിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• दन्ति-कोटि-प्रदानेन: by (the act of) giving a crore of elephants
• दन्ति-कोटि-प्रदानेन: Karana (करणम् / Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रदान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; ‘प्रदान’ शब्दः; समासः: दन्तीनां कोटिः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + कोटि-प्रदानम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); Instrumental singular (by/through the giving of a crore of elephants)

• सप्ति-कोटि-प्रदानतः: than/from the giving of a crore of mares
• सप्ति-कोटि-प्रदानतः: Apadana (अपादानम् / Source-Comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सप्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रदान (प्रातिपदिक) + तः (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (तस्/तः-प्रत्ययान्त), अपादानार्थक/तुलनार्थक; ‘प्रदानतः’ = ‘प्रदानात्/प्रदानस्य कारणात्’; समासः: सप्तीनां कोटिः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + कोटि-प्रदानम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); Indeclinable ablatival sense “from/than (such) giving”

• यत्-फलम्: that result/fruit (which)
• यत्-फलम्: Karma (कर्म / Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (यत् फलम् = यद्-फलम्); here as object-complement “that fruit/result”; Neuter singular (the result which)

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: Kriya (क्रिया / Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Present indicative, 3rd person singular (he obtains)

• मर्त्यः: a mortal
• मर्त्यः: Karta (कर्ता / Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (a mortal man)

• स्पृष्ट्वा: having touched
• स्पृष्ट्वा: Kriya (क्रिया / Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त), पूर्वकालिक क्रियाविशेषण; Absolutive/gerund “having touched”

• पाद-उदकम्: the foot-water (water used for washing the feet)
• पाद-उदकम्: Karma (कर्म / Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पादस्य उदकम्); Accusative singular (water of the feet)

• हरेः: of Hari
• हरेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध / Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular (of Hari)

Speaker

Narrator (contextual; specific dialogue speaker not stated in the provided single verse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: दंतिकोटिप्रदानेन = दन्ति-कोटि-प्रदानेन; यत्फलं = यत्-फलम्; पादोदकं = पाद-उदकम्

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is meant by ‘pādodaka’ in this verse?

Pādodaka means the water used to wash the feet of Hari (Vishnu). In Vaishnava practice it is revered as sacred, akin to caraṇāmṛta, and is praised here as a powerful source of spiritual merit.

How does this verse emphasize the path of Bhakti over ritual charity?

By equating (and implicitly elevating) the simple act of reverently touching Hari’s foot-water with enormous acts of charity, the verse highlights devotion-centered grace: spiritual benefit arises strongly from contact with what is associated with the Lord.

What ethical lesson does the verse suggest about religious practice?

It suggests prioritizing sincere reverence and devotion, not merely the scale of material giving. Charity remains valuable, but devotion to Hari and respect for sacred offerings are presented as especially transformative.