Kṛṣṇa Enters Mathurā: City Splendor, Devotees’ Reception, and the Washerman’s Fate
आपस्तेऽङ्घ्य्रवनेजन्यस्त्रींल्लोकान् शुचयोऽपुनन् । शिरसाधत्त या: शर्व: स्वर्याता: सगरात्मजा: ॥ १५ ॥
āpas te ’ṅghry-avanejanyas trīḻ lokān śucayo ’punan śirasādhatta yāḥ śarvaḥ svar yātāḥ sagarātmajāḥ
Air Sungai Gangga yang menjadi suci kerana membasuh kaki-Mu telah menyucikan tiga alam. Śiva menerima air itu di atas kepalanya, dan dengan rahmatnya putera-putera Raja Sagara mencapai syurga.
This verse says that the water used to wash Kṛṣṇa’s feet purifies all three worlds, showing that contact with Him—especially through devotional reverence—removes impurity and sin.
Akrūra highlights that even Lord Śiva honors the sacred river (Gaṅgā), which is described here as the water connected with the Lord’s feet, by bearing it upon his head—demonstrating its supreme sanctity.
By cultivating bhakti—hearing and chanting about Kṛṣṇa, honoring sacred remnants like caraṇāmṛta, and approaching holy places and practices with humility—one invites the same purifying grace described in this verse.