Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

नाहमिज्याप्रजातिभ्यां तपसोपशमेन वा । तुष्येयं सर्वभूतात्मा गुरुशुश्रूषया यथा ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

nāham ijyā-prajātibhyāṁ tapasopaśamena vā tuṣyeyaṁ sarva-bhūtātmā guru-śuśrūṣayā yathā

Translation

I, the Soul of all beings, am not as satisfied by ritual worship, brahminical initiation, austerity or self-control as I am by faithful service rendered to one’s spiritual master.

Synonyms

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक, सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• इज्या-प्रजातिभ्याम्: by worship and by progeny
• इज्या-प्रजातिभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इज्या (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रजाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva compound (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: ‘worship and progeny’); Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Dual (द्विवचन)

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• उपशमेन: by tranquility/self-control
• उपशमेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपशम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable disjunctive particle (विकल्पार्थक-निपात) ‘or’

• तुष्येयम्: would be satisfied
• तुष्येयम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तुष् (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• सर्व-भूत-आत्मा: the Self of all beings
• सर्व-भूत-आत्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष sense: ‘self of all beings’); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); apposition to ‘अहम्’

• गुरु-शुश्रूषया: by service to the teacher
• गुरु-शुश्रूषया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + शुश्रूषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘service to the guru’); Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• यथा: as (by which)
• यथा: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable comparative particle/adverb (उपमा/प्रकार)

Purport

The word prajāti here indicates either begetting good children or the second birth obtained by ritual initiation into Vedic culture. Although both of these are praiseworthy, Lord Kṛṣṇa here states that faithful service rendered to a bona fide spiritual master is still higher.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Sudāmā (brāhmaṇa)
• Guru (spiritual master)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about pleasing Krishna more than rituals and austerities?

In this verse, Lord Kṛṣṇa says He is not as pleased by ritual worship, progeny, or austerity as He is by sincere service to one’s spiritual master (guru-śuśrūṣā).

Why did Krishna speak about guru service in the Sudama episode (Canto 10, Chapter 80)?

While honoring Sudāmā—His former classmate from the guru’s āśrama—Kṛṣṇa highlights that true spiritual merit is rooted in humble service to the guru, which forms the foundation of bhakti and divine satisfaction.

Practical application of guru-seva in modern life according to this shloka?

Seek authentic guidance, serve with humility (time, effort, obedience to instruction), and prioritize learning and character over showy religiosity—this is presented here as a direct way to please the Lord within all beings.