Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 18

Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa: Divine Friendship, Guru-bhakti, and the Lord’s Grace

Devanagari script

तं विलोक्याच्युतो दूरात् प्रियापर्यङ्कमास्थित: । सहसोत्थाय चाभ्येत्य दोर्भ्यां पर्यग्रहीन्मुदा ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

taṁ vilokyācyuto dūrāt priyā-paryaṅkam āsthitaḥ sahasotthāya cābhyetya dorbhyāṁ paryagrahīn mudā

Translation

At that time Lord Acyuta was seated on His consort’s bed. Spotting the brāhmaṇa at some distance, the Lord immediately stood up, went forward to meet him and with great pleasure embraced him.

Synonyms

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• विलोक्य: having seen
• विलोक्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि-लोक् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• अच्युतः: Acyuta (Krishna)
• अच्युतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• दूरात्: from afar
• दूरात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-अर्थे अव्ययीभाववत्/अव्ययप्रयोग (ablatival adverb)

• प्रियापर्यङ्कम्: his beloved’s couch
• प्रियापर्यङ्कम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिया (प्रातिपदिक) + पर्यङ्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्रियायाः पर्यङ्कः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• आस्थितः: seated/placed
• आस्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• सहसा: suddenly/at once
• सहसा: Kriya-Visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय (adverb)

• उत्थाय: having risen
• उत्थाय: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उत्-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• अभ्येत्य: having approached
• अभ्येत्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभि-इ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund)

• दोर्भ्याम्: with (his) two arms
• दोर्भ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोर्/दोर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसक/स्त्रीलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे), तृतीया (3), द्विवचन

• पर्यग्रहीत्: embraced
• पर्यग्रहीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मुदा: with joy
• मुदा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्/मुदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; भाववाचक

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa (Acyuta)
• Sudāmā
• Rukmiṇī (implied by 'priyā')

FAQs

Why did Krishna immediately rise and embrace Sudama in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.80.18?

Because Sudāmā was Kṛṣṇa’s dear devotee and childhood friend; the Lord delights in honoring His devotees, regardless of their external condition.

What does this verse teach about Krishna’s relationship with His devotees?

It shows Kṛṣṇa’s affectionate accessibility: even while seated with royal opulence, He personally welcomes a humble devotee with spontaneous love.

How can this Sudama-Krishna lesson be applied in modern life?

Value devotion and sincere relationships over status—offer respect and warmth to the humble, and cultivate simple-hearted bhakti without pride.