Shloka 21
Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa: Divine Friendship, Guru-bhakti, and the Lord’s Grace
अथोपवेश्य पर्यङ्के स्वयं सख्यु: समर्हणम् । उपहृत्यावनिज्यास्य पादौ पादावनेजनी: ॥ २० ॥ अग्रहीच्छिरसा राजन् भगवाँल्लोकपावन: । व्यलिम्पद् दिव्यगन्धेन चन्दनागुरुकुङ्कुमै: ॥ २१ ॥ धूपै: सुरभिभिर्मित्रं प्रदीपावलिभिर्मुदा । अर्चित्वावेद्य ताम्बूलं गां च स्वागतमब्रवीत् ॥ २२ ॥
athopaveśya paryaṅke svayam sakhyuḥ samarhaṇam upahṛtyāvanijyāsya pādau pādāvanejanīḥ
Lord Kṛṣṇa then seated His friend Sudāmā upon the bed. O King, the Lord who purifies the worlds personally honored him: He washed his feet and sprinkled that water upon His own head. He anointed him with divinely fragrant sandalwood, aguru, and kuṅkuma, and joyfully worshiped him with sweet incense and rows of lamps. Finally, offering betel and the gift of a cow, He welcomed him with pleasing words.
FAQs
This verse shows Kṛṣṇa personally honoring Sudāmā—bowing His head and anointing him with divine fragrances—revealing that the Lord exalts His devotee with affectionate respect.
Sudāmā came as Kṛṣṇa’s dear friend and a pure brāhmaṇa devotee; Kṛṣṇa demonstrates that devotion is supreme by humbly receiving and honoring him, even though Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Lord.
Offer sincere respect to devotees, guests, and the humble—serve without pride, and honor spiritual qualities over social status or wealth.