The Lord Blesses Sudama Brahmana

Verse 1 (bhagavata.10.81.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच स इत्थं द्विजमुख्येन सह सङ्कथयन् हरिः । सर्वभूतमनोऽभिज्ञः स्मयमान उवाच तम् ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca sa itthaṁ dvija-mukhyena saha saṅkathayan hariḥ sarva-bhūta-mano-’bhijñaḥ smayamāna uvāca tam

Shukadeva said: While conversing in this way with the foremost of brahmanas, Bhagavan Hari, who knows the mind of every living being, smiled and spoke to him.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.10.81.2)

ब्रह्मण्यो ब्राह्मणं कृष्णो भगवान् प्रहसन् प्रियम् । प्रेम्णा निरीक्षणेनैव प्रेक्षन् खलु सतां गतिः ॥ २ ॥

brahmaṇyo brāhmaṇaṁ kṛṣṇo bhagavān prahasan priyam premṇā nirīkṣaṇenaiva prekṣan khalu satāṁ gatiḥ

Bhagavan Krishna, ever devoted to the brahmanas, laughed with delight upon seeing His dear brahmana friend; He, who is the supreme goal of the saintly, gazed upon him with a loving glance.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.10.81.3)

श्रीभगवानुवाच किमुपायनमानीतं ब्रह्मन् मे भवता गृहात् । अण्वप्युपाहृतं भक्तैः प्रेम्णा भूर्येव मे भवेत् । भूर्यप्यभक्तोपहृतं न मे तोषाय कल्पते ॥ ३ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca kim upāyanam ānītaṁ brahman me bhavatā gṛhāt aṇv apy upāhṛtaṁ bhaktaiḥ premṇā bhūry eva me bhavet bhūry apy abhaktopahṛtaṁ na me toṣāya kalpate

Bhagavan said: O brahmana, what gift have you brought Me from your home? Even the smallest offering, given by My devotees with love, becomes great to Me; but even a great offering given without devotion cannot satisfy Me.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.10.81.4)

पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति । तदहं भक्त्युपहृतमश्नामि प्रयतात्मनः ॥ ४ ॥

patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati tad ahaṁ bhakty-upahṛtam aśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ

Whoever offers Me a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water with devotion and a pure heart — that devotional offering I accept and consume.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.10.81.5)

इत्युक्तोऽपि द्वियस्तस्मै व्रीडितः पतये श्रियः । पृथुकप्रसृतिं राजन् न प्रायच्छदवाङ्मुखः ॥ ५ ॥

ity ukto ’pi dviyas tasmai vrīḍitaḥ pataye śriyaḥ pṛthuka-prasṛtiṁ rājan na prāyacchad avāṅ-mukhaḥ

[Shukadeva continued:] O King, even after being addressed this way, the brahmana felt too embarrassed to offer his handful of flattened rice to the husband of the goddess of fortune; he simply stood there, head bowed, without giving it.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.10.81.6)

सर्वभूतात्मदृक् साक्षात् तस्यागमनकारणम् । विज्ञायाचिन्तयन्नायं श्रीकामो माभजत्पुरा ॥ ६ ॥

sarva-bhūtātma-dṛk sākṣāt tasyāgamana-kāraṇam vijñāyācintayan nāyaṁ śrī-kāmo mābhajat purā

Bhagavan, the direct witness of the hearts of all beings, understood the true reason for his coming, and thought within Himself: In the past, this man never worshipped Me out of desire for wealth.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.10.81.7)

पत्न्याः पतिव्रतायास्तु सखा प्रियचिकीर्षया । प्राप्तो मामस्य दास्यामि सम्पदोऽमर्त्यदुर्लभाः ॥ ७ ॥

patnyāḥ pati-vratāyās tu sakhā priya-cikīrṣayā prāpto mām asya dāsyāmi sampado ’martya-durlabhāḥ

But now, wishing to please his chaste and devoted wife, he has come to Me as a friend. I shall grant him such prosperity as is rare even for the immortals.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.10.81.8)

इत्थं विचिन्त्य वसनाच्चीरबद्धान्द्विजन्मनः । स्वयं जहार किमिदमिति पृथुकतण्डुलान् ॥ ८ ॥

itthaṁ vicintya vasanāc cīra-baddhān dvi-janmanaḥ svayaṁ jahāra kim idam iti pṛthuka-taṇḍulān

Thinking thus, Bhagavan Himself snatched away the flattened rice tied up in a corner of the brahmana's cloth, saying, What is this?

Verse 9 (bhagavata.10.81.9)

नन्वेतदुपनीतं मे परमप्रीणनं सखे । तर्पयन्त्यङ्ग मां विश्वमेते पृथुकतण्डुलाः ॥ ९ ॥

nanv etad upanītaṁ me parama-prīṇanaṁ sakhe tarpayanty aṅga māṁ viśvam ete pṛthuka-taṇḍulāḥ

Have you brought this for Me, My friend? It brings Me the greatest delight. Indeed, this flattened rice is enough to satisfy Me — and the whole universe besides.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.10.81.10)

इति मुष्टिं सकृज्जग्ध्वा द्वितीयां जग्धुमाददे । तावच्छ्रीर्जगृहे हस्तं तत्परा परमेष्ठिनः ॥ १० ॥

iti muṣṭiṁ sakṛj jagdhvā dvitīyāṁ jagdhum ādade tāvac chrīr jagṛhe hastaṁ tat-parā parameṣṭhinaḥ

Saying this, He ate one handful, and as He reached for a second, the goddess Lakshmi, ever devoted to Him, caught hold of His hand.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.10.81.11)

एतावतालं विश्वात्मन् सर्वसम्पत्समृद्धये । अस्मिन्लोकेऽथवामुष्मिन् पुंसस्त्वत्तोषकारणम् ॥ ११ ॥

etāvatālaṁ viśvātman sarva-sampat-samṛddhaye asmin loke ’tha vāmuṣmin puṁsas tvat-toṣa-kāraṇam

Queen Rukmini said: O Soul of the universe, this much is enough to bring him abundant prosperity, in this world and the next — for a person's true wealth depends on nothing but Your satisfaction.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.10.81.12)

ब्राह्मणस्तां तु रजनीमुषित्वाच्युतमन्दिरे । भुक्त्वा पीत्वा सुखं मेने आत्मानं स्वर्गतं यथा ॥ १२ ॥

brāhmaṇas tāṁ tu rajanīm uṣitvācyuta-mandire bhuktvā pītvā sukhaṁ mene ātmānaṁ svar-gataṁ yathā

[Shukadeva continued:] The brahmana spent that night in the palace of Bhagavan Achyuta. Having eaten and drunk to his heart's content, he felt as happy as if he had reached the heavenly world itself.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.10.81.13)

श्वोभूते विश्वभावेन स्वसुखेनाभिवन्दितः । जगाम स्वालयं तात पथ्यनुव्रज्य नन्दितः ॥ १३ ॥

śvo-bhūte viśva-bhāvena sva-sukhenābhivanditaḥ jagāma svālayaṁ tāta pathy anuvrajya nanditaḥ

My dear King, the next morning, having been affectionately bidden farewell by Bhagavan, the maintainer of the universe, the brahmana set off happily along the road toward his own home.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.10.81.14)

स चालब्ध्वा धनं कृष्णान्न तु याचितवान्स्वयम् । स्वगृहान् व्रीडितोऽगच्छन्महद्दर्शननिर्वृतः ॥ १४ ॥

sa cālabdhvā dhanaṁ kṛṣṇān na tu yācitavān svayam sva-gṛhān vrīḍito ’gacchan mahad-darśana-nirvṛtaḥ

He had received no wealth from Bhagavan Krishna, for he himself had never asked for any. He went toward his home in shyness, yet content at heart, filled with joy from having had the great Lord's audience.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.10.81.15)

अहो ब्रह्मण्यदेवस्य दृष्टा ब्रह्मण्यता मया । यद् दरिद्रतमो लक्ष्मीमाश्लिष्टो बिभ्रतोरसि ॥ १५ ॥

aho brahmaṇya-devasya dṛṣṭā brahmaṇyatā mayā yad daridratamo lakṣmīm āśliṣṭo bibhratorasi

[Sudama thought:] Ah, today I have witnessed with my own eyes the devotion of Bhagavan, the friend of brahmanas, toward His devotees — for He who bears the goddess of fortune upon His chest has embraced me, the poorest of the poor.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.10.81.16)

क्वाहं दरिद्रः पापीयान् क्व कृष्णः श्रीनिकेतनः । ब्रह्मबन्धुरिति स्माहं बाहुभ्यां परिरम्भितः ॥ १६ ॥

kvāhaṁ daridraḥ pāpīyān kva kṛṣṇaḥ śrī-niketanaḥ brahma-bandhur iti smāhaṁ bāhubhyāṁ parirambhitaḥ

Where am I, a sinful and destitute man, and where is Krishna, the abode of the goddess of fortune! Yet He embraced even someone like me, a brahmana in name alone, with both His arms.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.10.81.17)

निवासितः प्रियाजुष्टे पर्यङ्के भ्रातरो यथा । महिष्या वीजितः श्रान्तो बालव्यजनहस्तया ॥ १७ ॥

nivāsitaḥ priyā-juṣṭe paryaṅke bhrātaro yathā mahiṣyā vījitaḥ śrānto bāla-vyajana-hastayā

He seated me on the couch of His beloved queen, as if I were His own brother, and when I grew weary, the queen herself fanned me with a hand fan.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.10.81.18)

शुश्रूषया परमया पादसंवाहनादिभिः । पूजितो देवदेवेन विप्रदेवेन देववत् ॥ १८ ॥

śuśrūṣayā paramayā pāda-saṁvāhanādibhiḥ pūjito deva-devena vipra-devena deva-vat

Though He is the God of gods and the deity worshipped even by brahmanas, He served me with the utmost devotion — massaging my feet and performing other acts of service — worshipping me as though I were a god myself.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.10.81.19)

स्वर्गापवर्गयोः पुंसां रसायां भुवि सम्पदाम् । सर्वासामपि सिद्धीनां मूलं तच्चरणार्चनम् ॥ १९ ॥

svargāpavargayoḥ puṁsāṁ rasāyāṁ bhuvi sampadām sarvāsām api siddhīnāṁ mūlaṁ tac-caraṇārcanam

The worship of His lotus feet alone is the root of every prosperity and every perfection that a person may attain — in heaven, in liberation, in the netherworld, or here on this earth.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.10.81.20)

अधनोऽयं धनं प्राप्य माद्यन्नुच्चैर्न मां स्मरेत् । इति कारुणिको नूनं धनं मेऽभूरि नाददात् ॥ २० ॥

adhano ’yaṁ dhanaṁ prāpya mādyann uccair na māṁ smaret iti kāruṇiko nūnaṁ dhanaṁ me ’bhūri nādadāt

If this poor man suddenly receives wealth, he may grow intoxicated with pride and forget Me — thinking this, the compassionate Lord surely did not give me great riches.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.10.81.21)

इति तच्चिन्तयन्नन्तः प्राप्तो निजगृहान्तिकम् । सूर्यानलेन्दुसङ्काशैर्विमानैः सर्वतो वृतम् ॥ २१ ॥

iti tac cintayann antaḥ prāpto nija-gṛhāntikam sūryānalendu-saṅkāśair vimānaiḥ sarvato vṛtam

Thus reflecting within himself, he arrived near his own home — which he now found surrounded on all sides by celestial palaces as radiant as the sun, fire, and the moon.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.10.81.22)

विचित्रोपवनोद्यानैः कूजद्द्विजकुलाकुलैः । प्रोत्फुल्लकमुदाम्भोजकह्लारोत्पलवारिभिः ॥ २२ ॥

vicitropavanodyānaiḥ kūjad-dvija-kulākulaiḥ protphulla-kamudāmbhoja- kahlārotpala-vāribhiḥ

There were wondrous groves and gardens, filled with flocks of chirping birds, and pools of water where blossoming kumuda, lotus, kahlara, and utpala flowers bloomed.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.10.81.23)

जुष्टं स्वलङ्कृतैः पुम्भिः स्त्रीभिश्च हरिणाक्षिभिः । किमिदं कस्य वा स्थानं कथं तदिदमित्यभूत् ॥ २३ ॥

juṣṭaṁ sv-alaṅkṛtaiḥ pumbhiḥ strībhiś ca hariṇākṣibhiḥ kim idaṁ kasya vā sthānaṁ kathaṁ tad idam ity abhūt

The place was attended by finely adorned men and doe-eyed women. Sudama wondered: What is this? Whose place is it? And how has it all come to be this way?

Verse 24 (bhagavata.10.81.24)

एवं मीमांसमानं तं नरा नार्योऽमरप्रभाः । प्रत्यगृह्णन् महाभागं गीतवाद्येन भूयसा ॥ २४ ॥

evaṁ mīmāṁsamānaṁ taṁ narā nāryo ’mara-prabhāḥ pratyagṛhṇan mahā-bhāgaṁ gīta-vādyena bhūyasā

As he stood there pondering, men and women as radiant as demigods came forward to receive that most fortunate soul, welcoming him with abundant song and music.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.10.81.25)

पतिमागतमाकर्ण्य पत्न्युद्धर्षातिसम्भ्रमा । निश्चक्राम गृहात्तूर्णं रूपिणी श्रीरिवालयात् ॥ २५ ॥

patim āgatam ākarṇya patny uddharṣāti-sambhramā niścakrāma gṛhāt tūrṇaṁ rūpiṇī śrīr ivālayāt

Hearing that her husband had come, his wife, overwhelmed with joy and eagerness, hurried out of the house — as if the goddess of fortune herself were stepping out of her own abode.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.10.81.26)

पतिव्रता पतिं दृष्ट्वा प्रेमोत्कण्ठाश्रुलोचना । मीलिताक्ष्यनमद्बुद्ध्या मनसा परिषस्वजे ॥ २६ ॥

pati-vratā patiṁ dṛṣṭvā premotkaṇṭhāśru-locanā mīlitākṣy anamad buddhyā manasā pariṣasvaje

On seeing her husband, the chaste wife's eyes filled with tears of love and longing. With eyes closed, she bowed low in reverence, and in her heart she embraced him.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.10.81.27)

पत्नीं वीक्ष्य विस्फुरन्तीं देवीं वैमानिकीमिव । दासीनां निष्ककण्ठीनां मध्ये भान्तीं स विस्मितः ॥ २७ ॥

patnīṁ vīkṣya visphurantīṁ devīṁ vaimānikīm iva dāsīnāṁ niṣka-kaṇṭhīnāṁ madhye bhāntīṁ sa vismitaḥ

Seeing his wife shining forth in the midst of maidservants adorned with golden necklaces, radiant like a goddess seated in her celestial chariot, Sudama was struck with amazement.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.10.81.28)

प्रीतः स्वयं तया युक्तः प्रविष्टो निजमन्दिरम् । मणिस्तम्भशतोपेतं महेन्द्रभवनं यथा ॥ २८ ॥

prītaḥ svayaṁ tayā yuktaḥ praviṣṭo nija-mandiram maṇi-stambha-śatopetaṁ mahendra-bhavanaṁ yathā

Full of joy, he entered his own mansion together with his wife — a palace adorned with hundreds of jewel-studded pillars, resembling the very abode of Lord Indra.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.10.81.29)

पयःफेननिभाः शय्या दान्ता रुक्मपरिच्छदाः । पर्यङ्का हेमदण्डानि चामरव्यजनानि च ॥ २९ ॥

payaḥ-phena-nibhāḥ śayyā dāntā rukma-paricchadāḥ paryaṅkā hema-daṇḍāni cāmara-vyajanāni ca

There were beds as white as the foam of milk, made of ivory and adorned with gold; there were also couches with golden legs, and fans made of yak-tail whisks.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.10.81.30)

आसनानि च हैमानि मृदूपस्तरणानि च । मुक्तादामविलम्बीनि वितानानि द्युमन्ति च ॥ ३० ॥

āsanāni ca haimāni mṛdūpastaraṇāni ca muktādāma-vilambīni vitānāni dyumanti ca

There were golden seats spread with soft cushions, and brilliant canopies overhead, hung with strings of pearls.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.10.81.31)

स्वच्छस्फटिककुड्येषु महामारकतेषु च । रत्नदीपान् भ्राजमानान् ललनारत्नसंयुताः ॥ ३१ ॥

svaccha-sphaṭika-kuḍyeṣu mahā-mārakateṣu ca ratna-dīpān bhrājamānān lalanā ratna-saṁyutāḥ

On walls of clear crystal, inlaid with great emeralds, shone brilliant jeweled lamps, and beautiful women adorned with gems were in attendance.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.10.81.32)

विलोक्य ब्राह्मणस्तत्र समृद्धीः सर्वसम्पदाम् । तर्कयामास निर्व्यग्रः स्वसमृद्धिमहैतुकीम् ॥ ३२ ॥

vilokya brāhmaṇas tatra samṛddhīḥ sarva-sampadām tarkayām āsa nirvyagraḥ sva-samṛddhim ahaitukīm

Beholding there the abundance of every kind of prosperity, the brahmana remained undisturbed and began to reflect calmly on this unexpected wealth of his own, which had come without any apparent cause.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.10.81.33)

नूनं बतैतन्मम दुर्भगस्य शश्वद्दरिद्रस्य समृद्धिहेतुः । महाविभूतेरवलोकतोऽन्यो नैवोपपद्येत यदूत्तमस्य ॥ ३३ ॥

nūnaṁ bataitan mama durbhagasya śaśvad daridrasya samṛddhi-hetuḥ mahā-vibhūter avalokato ’nyo naivopapadyeta yadūttamasya

[Sudama thought:] Surely there can be no other cause for the sudden prosperity of an unfortunate, ever-poor man like me, except that the glance of the supremely opulent chief of the Yadus has fallen upon me.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.10.81.34)

नन्वब्रुवाणो दिशते समक्षं याचिष्णवे भूर्यपि भूरिभोजः । पर्जन्यवत्तत् स्वयमीक्षमाणो दाशार्हकाणामृषभः सखा मे ॥ ३४ ॥

nanv abruvāṇo diśate samakṣaṁ yāciṣṇave bhūry api bhūri-bhojaḥ parjanya-vat tat svayam īkṣamāṇo dāśārhakāṇām ṛṣabhaḥ sakhā me

My friend, the foremost of the Dasharha clan, the enjoyer of all opulence, though I said nothing openly, saw for Himself that I wished to ask, and bestowed abundant wealth upon me directly — just as a rain cloud pours down of its own accord.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.10.81.35)

किञ्चित्करोत्युर्वपि यत् स्वदत्तं सुहृत्कृतं फल्ग्वपि भूरिकारी । मयोपनीतं पृथुकैकमुष्टिं प्रत्यग्रहीत् प्रीतियुतो महात्मा ॥ ३५ ॥

kiñcit karoty urv api yat sva-dattaṁ suhṛt-kṛtaṁ phalgv api bhūri-kārī mayopaṇītaṁ pṛthukaika-muṣṭiṁ pratyagrahīt prīti-yuto mahātmā

That great soul considers even the greatest of His own gifts to be small, while He magnifies even the slightest service rendered by a friend. That is why He so gladly accepted from me a single handful of flattened rice.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.10.81.36)

तस्यैव मे सौहृदसख्यमैत्री दास्यं पुनर्जन्मनि जन्मनि स्यात् । महानुभावेन गुणालयेन विषज्जतस्तत्पुरुषप्रसङ्गः ॥ ३६ ॥

tasyaiva me sauhṛda-sakhya-maitrī- dāsyaṁ punar janmani janmani syāt mahānubhāvena guṇālayena viṣajjatas tat-puruṣa-prasaṅgaḥ

May I have this same devotion, friendship, love, and service toward that great and glorious Lord, the abode of all good qualities, birth after birth — and may I remain ever attached to the company of His devotees.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.10.81.37)

भक्ताय चित्रा भगवान् हि सम्पदो राज्यं विभूतीर्न समर्थयत्यजः । अदीर्घबोधाय विचक्षणः स्वयं पश्यन् निपातं धनिनां मदोद्भवम् ॥ ३७ ॥

bhaktāya citrā bhagavān hi sampado rājyaṁ vibhūtīr na samarthayaty ajaḥ adīrgha-bodhāya vicakṣaṇaḥ svayaṁ paśyan nipātaṁ dhanināṁ madodbhavam

To a devotee whose understanding is not yet mature, the unborn Lord does not readily grant wondrous riches, kingdoms, and opulence — for in His perfect wisdom He Himself sees how the downfall of the wealthy so often comes from the intoxication of pride.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.10.81.38)

इत्थं व्यवसितो बुद्ध्या भक्तोऽतीव जनार्दने । विषयान् जायया त्यक्ष्यन्बुभुजे नातिलम्पटः ॥ ३८ ॥

itthaṁ vyavasito buddhyā bhakto ’tīva janārdane viṣayān jāyayā tyakṣyan bubhuje nāti-lampaṭaḥ

[Shukadeva continued:] Having thus resolved this within his intelligence, the brahmana remained deeply devoted to Bhagavan Janardana. Free from greed, he enjoyed, together with his wife, the pleasures that had come to him, yet always with the intention of ultimately renouncing them.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.10.81.39)

तस्य वै देवदेवस्य हरेर्यज्ञपतेः प्रभोः । ब्राह्मणाः प्रभवो दैवं न तेभ्यो विद्यते परम् ॥ ३९ ॥

tasya vai deva-devasya harer yajña-pateḥ prabhoḥ brāhmaṇāḥ prabhavo daivaṁ na tebhyo vidyate param

Though Bhagavan Hari is the God of gods, the Lord of all sacrifices, and the all-powerful master, He regards the brahmanas as His own masters — therefore there exists no deity greater than the brahmanas.

Verse 40 (bhagavata.10.81.40)

एवं स विप्रो भगवत्सुहृत्तदा दृष्ट्वा स्वभृत्यैरजितं पराजितम् । तद्ध्यानवेगोद्ग्रथितात्मबन्धन- स्तद्धाम लेभेऽचिरतः सतां गतिम् ॥ ४० ॥

evaṁ sa vipro bhagavat-suhṛt tadā dṛṣṭvā sva-bhṛtyair ajitaṁ parājitam tad-dhyāna-vegodgrathitātma-bandhanas tad-dhāma lebhe ’cirataḥ satāṁ gatim

Thus, seeing how the unconquerable Lord is nonetheless conquered by His own servants, that brahmana friend of Bhagavan felt the knots of his heart's bondage cut through by the force of his constant meditation on Him, and in a short time he attained that supreme abode of the Lord — the destination of the saintly.

Verse 41 (bhagavata.10.81.41)

एतद् ब्रह्मण्यदेवस्य श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मण्यतां नरः । लब्धभावो भगवति कर्मबन्धाद् विमुच्यते ॥ ४१ ॥

etad brahmaṇya-devasya śrutvā brahmaṇyatāṁ naraḥ labdha-bhāvo bhagavati karma-bandhād vimucyate

Whoever hears this account of the devotion of Bhagavan, the friend of brahmanas, toward the brahmanas, and thereby attains loving disposition toward the Lord, becomes freed from the bondage of fruitive work.