Shloka 4

Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa: Divine Friendship, Guru-bhakti, and the Lord’s Grace

Devanagari script

शिरस्तु तस्योभयलिङ्गमान- मेत्तदेव यत् पश्यति तद्धि चक्षु: । अङ्गानि विष्णोरथ तज्जनानां पादोदकं यानि भजन्ति नित्यम् ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

śiras tu tasyobhaya-liṅgam ānamet tad eva yat paśyati tad dhi cakṣuḥ aṅgāni viṣṇor atha taj-janānāṁ pādodakaṁ yāni bhajanti nityam

Translation

Kepala yang sejati ialah yang tunduk menyembah Tuhan yang menzahirkan diri dalam yang bergerak dan tidak bergerak; mata yang sejati ialah yang melihat hanya Dia; dan anggota yang sejati ialah yang sentiasa memuliakan air basuhan kaki Viṣṇu atau air kaki para bhakta-Nya.

Synonyms

शिरःhead

तुbut; indeed

तस्यof him

उभय-लिङ्गम्both signs (male and female marks)

आनमेत्should bow

तत्that

एवindeed; only

यत्which

पश्यतिsees

तत्that

हिindeed; for

चक्षुःeye

अङ्गानिlimbs

विष्णोःof Viṣṇu

अथand then; also

तत्-जनानाम्of His people (devotees)

पाद-उदकम्water from the feet (foot-wash)

यानिwhich

भजन्तिserve; partake; worship

नित्यम्always

Characters & Entities

Viṣṇu

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about serving devotees (Vaiṣṇava-sevā)?

This verse teaches that genuine spiritual identity is shown by honoring both the Lord and His devotees—especially by bowing to them and reverently serving what is connected to them, such as the water from their feet.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe the ‘real’ head, eyes, and limbs in this way?

He is defining true human success in devotional terms: the body becomes meaningful when used for bhakti—bowing in humility, seeing the Lord, and serving the Lord and His devotees.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Cultivate humility and devotion: regularly take darśana of the Lord (in temple or through sincere remembrance), offer respects to devoted practitioners, and keep daily habits centered on service rather than ego.