Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 15

Kṛṣṇa Visits Trivakrā; Akrūra’s Praise and the Hastināpura Mission

Devanagari script

पादावनेजनीरापो धारयन् शिरसा नृप । अर्हणेनाम्बरैर्दिव्यैर्गन्धस्रग्भूषणोत्तमै: ॥ १५ ॥ अर्चित्वा शिरसानम्य पादावङ्कगतौ मृजन् । प्रश्रयावनतोऽक्रूर: कृष्णरामावभाषत ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

pādāvanejanīr āpo dhārayan śirasā nṛpa arhaṇenāmbarair divyair gandha-srag-bhūṣaṇottamaiḥ

Translation

Tâu Đại vương, Akrūra tắm rửa đôi chân thánh của Śrī Kṛṣṇa và Balarāma rồi đội nước rửa chân ấy lên đầu. Sau đó ông dâng y phục thần diệu, đàn hương thơm, vòng hoa và châu báu thượng hạng để phụng thờ hai Đấng Chúa Tể.

Synonyms

• पादावनेजनीः: (waters) for washing the feet
• पादावनेजनीः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद-अवनेजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: पादानाम् अवनेजनम् = pāda-washing

• आपः: waters
• आपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• धारयन्: holding/bearing
• धारयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ), परस्मैपदी; पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• शिरसा: with (his) head
• शिरसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• नृप: O king
• नृप: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अर्हणेन: with worship/offerings
• अर्हणेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्हण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• अम्बरैः: with garments
• अम्बरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• दिव्यैः: divine
• दिव्यैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषणम् ambaraiḥ

• गन्ध-स्रक्-भूषण-उत्तमैः: with the finest perfumes, garlands, and ornaments
• गन्ध-स्रक्-भूषण-उत्तमैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध + स्रज् + भूषण + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (collective dvandva): गन्धाः च स्रजः च भूषणानि च—तेषां उत्तमैः = with the best perfumes, garlands, and ornaments

Characters & Entities

• Akrūra
• Kṛṣṇa
• Balarāma
• King Parīkṣit

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the importance of caraṇāmṛta (water from the Lord’s feet)?

This verse shows Akrūra treating the water that washed the Lord’s feet as supremely sacred—placing it on his head—illustrating deep reverence for caraṇāmṛta as a purifier and an object of devotion.

Why did Akrūra worship Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma with garments, garlands, and ornaments?

Because he recognized Them as the Supreme Lords and expressed his devotion through traditional upacāras (honorific offerings), serving Them with the best items as an act of bhakti.

How can this teaching be applied in modern devotional life?

Offer your best—cleanliness, attention, and sincerity—in worship and service, and cultivate reverence for sacred practices (like honoring caraṇāmṛta) as reminders of humility and devotion.