Shloka 4
The Greatness of Viṣṇu’s Foot-Water (Pādodaka) as a Destroyer of Sin
विष्णुपादोदकं पापी यः पिबेत्तस्य किल्बिषम् । शरीरस्थं क्षयं याति कृतं ब्रह्मन्न संशयः
viṣṇupādodakaṃ pāpī yaḥ pibettasya kilbiṣam | śarīrasthaṃ kṣayaṃ yāti kṛtaṃ brahmanna saṃśayaḥ
ஓ பிராமணரே! பாவியாயினும் விஷ்ணுவின் திருவடிநீரை அருந்தினால், உடலுள் தங்கிய பாவம் அழியும். இது உறுதி; ஐயமில்லை.
Unspecified (contextual narrator/sage addressing 'brahman')
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पिबेत्तस्य = पिबेत् + तस्य; ब्रह्मन्न = ब्रह्मन् (सम्बोधन) + न् (छन्दो/उच्चारण-प्रसङ्ग); ‘कृतं ... न संशयः’ = ‘न संशयः (अस्ति)’ इति लोपित-क्रिया
FAQs
It means the sanctified water associated with washing Viṣṇu’s feet—often understood in later practice as caraṇāmṛta—regarded as purifying and spiritually potent.
By asserting that contact with what is connected to Viṣṇu (here, sacred water) destroys sin, the verse highlights devotion-centered purification grounded in Viṣṇu’s grace.
The verse teaches that moral and spiritual transformation is possible even for the sinful through sincere engagement with sacred, Viṣṇu-centered practices that cultivate purity and reverence.