Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 32
Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa Receives Kṛṣṇa’s Mercy
The Gift of Flat Rice
पय:फेननिभा: शय्या दान्ता रुक्मपरिच्छदा: । पर्यङ्का हेमदण्डानि चामरव्यजनानि च ॥ २९ ॥ आसनानि च हैमानि मृदूपस्तरणानि च । मुक्तादामविलम्बीनि वितानानि द्युमन्ति च ॥ ३० ॥ स्वच्छस्फटिककुड्येषु महामारकतेषु च । रत्नदीपान् भ्राजमानान् ललनारत्नसंयुता: ॥ ३१ ॥ विलोक्य ब्राह्मणस्तत्र समृद्धी: सर्वसम्पदाम् । तर्कयामास निर्व्यग्र: स्वसमृद्धिमहैतुकीम् ॥ ३२ ॥
payaḥ-phena-nibhāḥ śayyā dāntā rukma-paricchadāḥ paryaṅkā hema-daṇḍāni cāmara-vyajanāni ca
In Sudāmā’s home were beds as soft and white as the foam of milk, with bedsteads made of ivory and ornamented with gold. There were also couches with golden legs, as well as royal cāmara fans, golden thrones, soft cushions and gleaming canopies hung with strings of pearls. Upon the walls of sparkling crystal glass, inlaid with precious emeralds, shone jeweled lamps, and the women in the palace were all adorned with precious gems. As he viewed this luxurious opulence of all varieties, the brāhmaṇa calmly reasoned to himself about his unexpected prosperity.
FAQs
This verse describes Kṛṣṇa’s palace opulence—gold furnishings, pearl-hung canopies, crystal and emerald walls, and jewel-lamps—showing His divine sovereignty even while He remains affectionate to His devotees.
Sudāmā understood that whatever benefit he had received was not due to his possessions or status, but due to Kṛṣṇa’s ahaitukī-kṛpā (causeless mercy) toward a sincere devotee.
Serve and remember God without bargaining for results; cultivate gratitude and humility, recognizing that the most meaningful blessings often come through grace rather than calculation.