Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa Receives Kṛṣṇa’s Mercy
The Gift of Flat Rice
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
Der Herr hält selbst Seine größten Segnungen für gering, doch Er erhebt selbst den kleinsten Dienst, den Ihm Sein wohlwollender Geweihter darbringt, zu etwas Großem. So nahm die Höchste Seele mit Freude eine einzige Handvoll gepressten Reises an, den ich Ihm brachte.
This verse teaches that even a tiny, humble gift becomes immensely valuable when offered with sincere affection and devotion, as shown by Kṛṣṇa lovingly accepting Sudāmā’s single handful of flattened rice.
Because it was offered as a heartfelt gesture of friendship and devotion; Kṛṣṇa values bhakti over the material size or cost of the offering.
Offer whatever you can—time, service, prayer, or simple food—with sincerity and gratitude; the inner devotion is what makes the act spiritually powerful.