Shloka 29
Arjuna Marries Subhadrā; Kṛṣṇa Honors Two Devotees in Mithilā (Śrutadeva and Bahulāśva)
श्रान्तानप्यथ तान् दूराज्जनक: स्वगृहागतान् । आनीतेष्वासनाग्र्येषु सुखासीनान् महामना: ॥ २७ ॥ प्रवृद्धभक्त्या उद्धर्षहृदयास्राविलेक्षण: । नत्वा तदङ्घ्रीन् प्रक्षाल्य तदपो लोकपावनी: ॥ २८ ॥ सकुटुम्बो वहन् मूर्ध्ना पूजयां चक्र ईश्वरान् । गन्धमाल्याम्बराकल्पधूपदीपार्घ्यगोवृषै: ॥ २९ ॥
śrāntān apy atha tān dūrāj janakaḥ sva-gṛhāgatān ānīteṣv āsanāgryeṣu sukhāsīnān mahā-manāḥ
Bersama keluarganya baginda meletakkannya di atas kepala, lalu memuja para tuan agung itu dengan persembahan pes cendana harum, kalungan bunga, pakaian dan perhiasan indah, dupa, pelita, arghya, serta lembu betina dan lembu jantan.
Śrīla Prabhupāda comments: “Bahulāśva, the King of Videha, was very intelligent and was a perfect gentleman. He was astonished that so many great sages, along with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, were personally present in his home. He knew perfectly well that conditioned souls engaged in worldly affairs cannot be one-hundred-percent pure whereas the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His pure devotees are always transcendental to worldly contamination. Therefore, when he found that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, and all the great sages were at his home, he was astonished, and he began to thank Lord Krsna for His causeless mercy.”
FAQs
In this passage, Janaka washes the feet of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma and reverently bears that water on his head, showing that pāda-sevā and the Lord’s foot-water (caraṇāmṛta) are described as purifying for all worlds and are expressions of intense devotion.
Because Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma arrived as exalted guests at his home, Janaka—overwhelmed with devotion—recognized them as the Supreme Lords and worshiped them with the full etiquette of royal and devotional hospitality (āsana, arghya, lamps, incense, and gifts).
By practicing respectful hospitality and devotional service—honoring the Lord and His devotees with humility, cleanliness, heartfelt reverence, and sincere offerings according to one’s capacity.