TEXT 28
tat-pada-saucam jana-kalmasapaham
sa dharma-vin murdhny adadhat sumangalam
yad deva-devo girisas candra-maulir
dadhara murdhna paraya ca bhaktya
SYNONYMS
tat-pada-saucamthe water that washed the lotus feet of the Lord; jana-kalmasa-apahamwhich washes away all the sinful reactions of the people in general; sahhe (Bali Maharaja); dharma-vitcompletely aware of religious principles; murdhnion the head; adadhatcarried; su-mangalamall-auspicious; yatwhich; deva-devahthe best of the demigods; girisahLord Siva; candra-maulihwho carries on his forehead the emblem of the moon; dadharacarried; murdhnaon the head; parayasupreme; caalso; bhaktyawith devotion.
TRANSLATION
Lord Siva, the best of demigods, who carries on his forehead the emblem of the moon, receives on his head with great devotion the Ganges water emanating from the toe of Visnu. Being aware of religious principles, Bali Maharaja knew this. Consequently, following in the footsteps of Lord Siva, he also placed on his head the water that had washed the Lords lotus feet.
PURPORT
Lord Siva is known as Ganga-dhara, or one who carries the water of the Ganges on his head. On Lord Sivas forehead is the emblem of the half-moon, yet to give supreme respect to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Siva placed the water of the Ganges above this emblem. This example should be followed by everyone, or at least by every devotee, because Lord Siva is one of the mahajanas. Similarly, Maharaja Bali also later became a mahajana. One mahajana follows another mahajana, and by following the parampara system of mahajana activities one can become advanced in spiritual consciousness. The water of the Ganges is sanctified because it emanates from the toe of Lord Visnu. Bali Maharaja washed the lotus feet of Vamanadeva, and the water with which he did so became equal to the Ganges. Bali Maharaja, who perfectly knew all religious principles, therefore took that water on his head, following in the footsteps of Lord Siva.

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