FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.81.18

शुश्रूषया परमया पादसंवाहनादिभि: । पूजितो देवदेवेन विप्रदेवेन देववत् ॥ १८ ॥
śuśrūṣayā paramayā
[shushrooshayaa paramayaa]
pāda-saṁvāhanādibhiḥ
[paada-samvaahanaadibhih]
pūjito deva-devena
[poojito deva-devena]
vipra-devena deva-vat
[vipra-devena deva-vat]
śuśrūṣayā — with service paramayā — sincere pāda — of the feet saṁvāhana — massaging ādibhiḥ — and so on pūjitaḥ — worshiped deva - devena — by the Lord of all the demigods vipra - devena — by the Lord of the brāhmaṇas deva — a demigod vat — like .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
śuśrūṣayā paramayā
śuśrūṣayā
with service
paramayā
sincere
pāda-saṁvāhanādibhiḥ
pāda
of the feet
saṁvāhana
massaging
ādibhiḥ
and so on
pūjito deva-devena
pūjitaḥ
worshiped
deva - devena
by the Lord of all the demigods
vipra-devena deva-vat
vipra - devena
by the Lord of the brāhmaṇas
deva
a demigod
vat
like .
  • deva-devena — by the Lord of all the demigods
    Compound instrumental: deva (god) + deva (god). The highest possible cosmic title. The poet uses it deliberately at the moment Kṛṣṇa is doing the lowest task — foot-service. Gauḍīya: the highest stoops the lowest, because aiśvarya yields to prema.
  • vipra-devena — by the Lord of the brāhmaṇas
    Compound: vipra (brāhmaṇa) + deva (lord). A second title doubling the disproportion: He whom even brāhmaṇas worship has just worshipped a brāhmaṇa. The chapter's central thesis in one compound.
  • pāda-saṁvāhana — foot-massage
    Compound: pāda (foot) + saṁvāhana (rubbing, massaging). Standard servant-task. Kṛṣṇa performed it. Gauḍīya temples preserve this image as the doctrinal anchor for vipra-pūjā.
  • śuśrūṣayā — with service
    Instrumental of śuśrūṣā (desire to hear / serve), from desiderative of √śru. The same term names the disciple's primary attitude toward the guru. The verse reverses it: Bhagavān treats Sudāmā with disciple-toward-guru śuśrūṣā.
  • deva-vat — like a demigod
    deva (god) + vat (like, suffix of comparison). Kṛṣṇa treated the brāhmaṇa as if Sudāmā were a deva. The whole hierarchy is inverted in one suffix.
Although He is the Lord of all demigods and the object of worship for all brāhmaṇas, He worshiped me as if I were a demigod myself, massaging my feet and rendering other humble services.
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Although He is the Lord of all demigods and the object of worship for all brāhmaṇas, He worshiped me as if I were a demigod myself, massaging my feet and rendering other humble services.
Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

Moreover I was welcomed (pujitaḥ) by his serving me, in the form of massaging my feet though he is worshipped by the devatās and brāhmaṇas. I was worshipped as if I were his family deity.

Śrīdhara Svāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

Moreover he served me with devotion by massaging my feet and applying ointments etc. Though he is worshipped by the devatās (deva-deva) and lord of the brāhmaṇas. But he worshipped me like a devatā with sandalwood and other items.

Related values
Sthitaprajna (Steady Wisdom)Vairagya (Detachment / Dispassion)Discriminative WisdomKartavya (Duty / Responsibility)Tapas (Austerity / Discipline)
Related verses
Concepts
Jiva
The Lord of demigods, object of worship for all brāhmaṇas, worshiped Sudāmā as if he were a demigod, massaging his feet. Reverence flows in both directions in the Lord's house; greatness includes the willingness to serve.
Reflection Questions
  • Where could my own greatness be exercised by service rather than receiving?
  • Whose feet — literal or metaphorical — could I serve today?

The Lord of all the devas — the One the brāhmaṇas worship — knelt down and pressed His friend's feet. To Sudāmā this was the photograph of brahmaṇya-deva that no scripture-verse could have given him: deva-deva washing the dust off his soles like a junior at the ashram.

Caitanya washing Sārvabhauma's feet

Caitanya-caritāmṛta records that when Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya finally surrendered to Mahāprabhu, the Lord embraced him as a friend; in a parallel episode (with Kāśīśvara, with Vāsudeva the leper), Mahāprabhu personally bathed and tended their bodies. The Gauḍīya tradition reads Kṛṣṇa's foot-massaging of Sudāmā as the proto-image of Caitanya's care for His own devotees: the Lord serves the bhakta before the bhakta serves the Lord.

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