Shloka 38
Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa: Divine Friendship, Guru-bhakti, and the Lord’s Grace
वयं भृशं तत्र महानिलाम्बुभि- र्निहन्यमाना महुरम्बुसम्प्लवे । दिशोऽविदन्तोऽथ परस्परं वने गृहीतहस्ता: परिबभ्रिमातुरा: ॥ ३८ ॥
vayaṁ bhṛśam tatra mahānilāmbubhir nihanyamānā mahur ambu-samplave diśo ’vidanto ’tha parasparaṁ vane gṛhīta-hastāḥ paribabhrimāturāḥ
Battered again and again by fierce wind and rain, we lost our way amid the floodwaters. So, in the forest, we held one another’s hands and, in great distress, wandered without direction.
Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī points out that the verb paribabhrima may be understood to be the prefix pari with either the verb bhṛ or bhram. In the case of bhram, it indicates that Kṛṣṇa and Sudāmā wandered all about, and in the case of bhṛ, which means “to carry,” it indicates that as the two young boys wandered about, they continued to carry the firewood they had secured for their spiritual master.
FAQs
It describes how Kṛṣṇa and Sudāmā, during their student days, were caught in a fierce storm and flood in the forest and, losing their way, wandered while holding each other’s hands in distress.
Sudāmā recalls their shared hardship from gurukula life to express intimacy, gratitude, and the deep bond of friendship formed through service and endurance—highlighting Kṛṣṇa’s companionship.
In crises, stay connected to sincere companions and keep faith; mutual support, humility, and steadiness in adversity strengthen devotion and character.