Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

कथयां चक्रतुर्गाथा: पूर्वा गुरुकुले सतो: । आत्मनोर्ललिता राजन् करौ गृह्य परस्परम् ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

kathayāṁ cakratur gāthāḥ pūrvā gurukule satoḥ ātmanor lalitā rājan karau gṛhya parasparam

Translation

O King, Kṛṣṇa and Sudāmā took each other’s hands and happily spoke of the sweet memories from earlier days, when they had lived together in their guru’s school.

Synonyms

• कथयाम्: in conversation
• कथयाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; लोके ‘कथायाम्’ = ‘in conversation’

• चक्रतुः: they did/they recounted
• चक्रतुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन

• गाथाः: songs/verses
• गाथाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• पूर्वाः: former/previous
• पूर्वाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (agreeing with गाथाः)

• गुरुकुले: in the teacher’s house (school)
• गुरुकुले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरुकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (गुरोः कुलम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• सतोः: of the two virtuous ones
• सतोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), द्विवचन; ‘of the two good/virtuous (persons)’

• आत्मनोः: of themselves (the two)
• आत्मनोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी, द्विवचन

• ललिताः: charming/playful
• ललिताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ललित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (agreeing with गाथाः)

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• करौ: hands
• करौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन

• गृह्य: having taken (holding)
• गृह्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund) of √ग्रह् with -य (gṛhya); ‘having taken/holding’

• परस्परम्: mutually/each other
• परस्परम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्परम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पारस्परिकार्थे (reciprocal adverb)

Characters & Entities

• Parīkṣit Mahārāja
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Sudāmā (brāhmaṇa friend)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about remembering gurukula days with Krishna?

This verse shows Kṛṣṇa and Sudāmā affectionately recalling their shared gurukula life, highlighting purity, gratitude to the guru, and the sweetness of devotional friendship.

Why did Krishna hold Sudama’s hands and speak of the past?

Kṛṣṇa’s gesture expresses intimate respect and love for His devotee, and their conversation about earlier student life emphasizes their bond formed through service and simplicity in the guru’s āśrama.

Practical application of this Krishna–Sudama lesson in modern life?

Honor sincere friends, remember formative spiritual training with gratitude, and value humility and heartfelt relationships over status or wealth.