Shloka 63

The Glory of the Mother-and-Father Tīrtha

Within the Vena Episode

Devanagari script

पादप्रक्षालनं पुण्यं स्वयमेव करोम्यहम् । अंगसंवाहनं स्नानं भोजनादिकमेव च

Transliteration

pādaprakṣālanaṃ puṇyaṃ svayameva karomyaham | aṃgasaṃvāhanaṃ snānaṃ bhojanādikameva ca

Translation

“การล้างพระบาทเป็นบุญ—ข้าพเจ้าจะทำด้วยตนเอง และจะนวดประคบพระวรกาย จัดการสรงสนาน พร้อมทั้งจัดภัตตาหารและการปรนนิบัติทั้งปวง”

Word by Word

• पाद-प्रक्षालनम्: washing of the feet
• पाद-प्रक्षालनम्: Karma (Object/Item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रक्षालन (प्रातिपदिक; √क्षल् धातु से)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — neuter nom/acc sg (context: list of acts)

• पुण्यम्: meritorious, holy
• पुण्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — neuter nom/acc sg; विशेषण

• स्वयम्: oneself, personally
• स्वयम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) — indeclinable adverb

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Emphasis particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात) — emphatic particle

• करोमि: I do
• करोमि: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — present indicative, 1st person singular

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन — nominative singular

• अङ्ग-संवाहनम्: massaging the limbs/body
• अङ्ग-संवाहनम्: Karma (Object/Item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + संवाहन (प्रातिपदिक; √वह् धातु से)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — neuter nom/acc sg

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karma (Object/Item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक; √स्ना धातु से)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — neuter nom/acc sg

• भोजन-आदिकम्: food and the like
• भोजन-आदिकम्: Karma (Object/Item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + क (तद्धित)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (‘भोजनं आदिः यस्य तत्’/‘भोजनादि’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — neuter nom/acc sg

• एव: indeed
• एव: Emphasis particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात) — emphatic particle

• च: and
• च: Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय) — conjunction

Speaker

Unspecified in the provided excerpt (context needed from surrounding verses in Adhyaya 62).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Hands-on seva to parents is itself puṇya; bodily service becomes a sacred rite when done with reverence.

Application: Perform tangible care: wash elders’ feet when appropriate, assist with bathing, provide nourishing food, and treat caregiving as worship rather than burden.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"In a sun-warmed courtyard, a devoted child kneels with a brass basin, gently washing the parents’ feet; water glints like sacred tīrtha as it flows over toes and anklets. Nearby, a folded towel, fragrant oils for massage, and a covered food tray await—each object rendered as ritual paraphernalia of love.","primary_figures":["mother","father","devoted child/attendant"],"setting":"household courtyard with tulsi pot optional in background, brass vessels, towel, oil flask, food tray","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["brass gold","turmeric yellow","lotus pink","coconut brown","peacock blue"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: foot-washing of parents in a domestic courtyard treated like a sanctum; gold leaf highlights on brass vessels and water ripples, rich crimson and emerald textiles, ornate jewelry details, halo-like glow around the parents to signify living tīrtha.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate scene of pāda-prakṣālana with a brass basin, soft morning light, refined faces and gentle gestures; cool blues and warm ochres, lyrical plants and a small shrine niche, subtle realism in water reflections.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlined figures of parents seated and child washing feet, stylized water patterns, warm red/yellow background with green borders; expressive eyes and temple-wall compositional symmetry.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central act of foot-washing framed by lotus and tulasi garlands, deep blue background with gold accents; intricate floral border, small peacocks and cows as auspicious motifs, water rendered as patterned tīrtha waves."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["water pouring","anklet chime","soft bell","morning birds"]}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: करोमि + अहम् → करोम्यहम् (इ/अ सन्धि: य्-आदेश).

FAQs

What religious value does the verse assign to washing a guest’s feet (pādaprakṣālana)?

It calls foot-washing a puṇya (meritorious) act, presenting it as a sacred form of hospitality and service.

How does this verse relate to the dharma of honoring guests (atithi-satkāra)?

It lists concrete services—foot-washing, body-massage, arranging a bath, and providing food—showing that honoring a guest is expressed through practical, caring actions.

What ethical lesson is emphasized here?

Humility and personal responsibility in service: the speaker insists on doing the service themselves (svayam eva), treating care for others as a direct path to merit.