Adhyaya 81

Verse 1

श्रीशुक उवाच स इत्थं द्विजमुख्येन सह सङ्कथयन् हरि: । सर्वभूतमनोऽभिज्ञ: स्मयमान उवाच तम् ॥ १ ॥ ब्रह्मण्यो ब्राह्मणं कृष्णो भगवान् प्रहसन् प्रियम् । प्रेम्णा निरीक्षणेनैव प्रेक्षन् खलु सतां गति: ॥ २ ॥

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: As Lord Hari conversed in this way with the foremost brāhmaṇa, He—knower of every heart—smiled and spoke to him. Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa, devoted to the brāhmaṇas and the supreme refuge of the saintly, laughed gently, gazed upon His dear friend the brāhmaṇa Sudāmā with loving eyes, and then spoke sweet words.

Verse 2

श्रीशुक उवाच स इत्थं द्विजमुख्येन सह सङ्कथयन् हरि: । सर्वभूतमनोऽभिज्ञ: स्मयमान उवाच तम् ॥ १ ॥ ब्रह्मण्यो ब्राह्मणं कृष्णो भगवान् प्रहसन् प्रियम् । प्रेम्णा निरीक्षणेनैव प्रेक्षन् खलु सतां गति: ॥ २ ॥

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: As Lord Hari conversed in this way with the foremost brāhmaṇa, He—knower of every heart—smiled and spoke to him. Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa, devoted to the brāhmaṇas and the supreme refuge of the saintly, laughed gently, gazed upon His dear friend the brāhmaṇa Sudāmā with loving eyes, and then spoke sweet words.

Verse 3

श्रीभगवानुवाच किमुपायनमानीतं ब्रह्मन् मे भवता गृहात् । अण्वप्युपाहृतं भक्तै: प्रेम्णा भूर्येव मे भवेत् । भूर्यप्यभक्तोपहृतं न मे तोषाय कल्पते ॥ ३ ॥

The Supreme Lord said: “O brāhmaṇa, what gift have you brought Me from your home? Even the tiniest offering, when given by My devotees with pure love, becomes great to Me; but even vast gifts from the faithless do not please Me.”

Verse 4

पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति । तदहं भक्त्युपहृतमश्न‍ामि प्रयतात्मन: ॥ ४ ॥

If one offers Me with bhakti a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water, I accept that offering when it is presented with devotion by a purified heart.

Verse 5

इत्युक्तोऽपि द्वियस्तस्मै व्रीडित: पतये श्रिय: । पृथुकप्रसृतिं राजन् न प्रायच्छदवाङ्‍मुख: ॥ ५ ॥

Even after hearing this, O King, the brāhmaṇa felt too ashamed to offer his palmful of flat rice to the husband of Goddess Śrī; he simply stood with his head bowed.

Verse 6

सर्वभूतात्मद‍ृक् साक्षात् तस्यागमनकारणम् । विज्ञायाचिन्तयन्नायं श्रीकामो माभजत्पुरा ॥ ६ ॥ पत्न्‍या: पतिव्रतायास्तु सखा प्रियचिकीर्षया । प्राप्तो मामस्य दास्यामि सम्पदोऽमर्त्यदुर्लभा: ॥ ७ ॥

As the direct witness within the hearts of all beings, Lord Kṛṣṇa understood why Sudāmā had come. He thought, “My friend has never worshiped Me for material opulence; now he comes to please his chaste, devoted wife. I shall grant him riches that even the immortal devas can scarcely attain.”

Verse 7

सर्वभूतात्मद‍ृक् साक्षात् तस्यागमनकारणम् । विज्ञायाचिन्तयन्नायं श्रीकामो माभजत्पुरा ॥ ६ ॥ पत्न्‍या: पतिव्रतायास्तु सखा प्रियचिकीर्षया । प्राप्तो मामस्य दास्यामि सम्पदोऽमर्त्यदुर्लभा: ॥ ७ ॥

As the direct witness within the hearts of all beings, Lord Kṛṣṇa understood why Sudāmā had come. He thought, “My friend has never worshiped Me for material opulence; now he comes to please his chaste, devoted wife. I shall grant him riches that even the immortal devas can scarcely attain.”

Verse 8

इत्थं विचिन्त्य वसनाच्चीरबद्धान्द्विजन्मन: । स्वयं जहार किमिदमिति पृथुकतण्डुलान् ॥ ८ ॥

Thinking thus, the Lord Himself snatched from the brāhmaṇa’s garment the flattened rice grains tied in an old cloth and exclaimed, “What is this?”

Verse 9

नन्वेतदुपनीतं मे परमप्रीणनं सखे । तर्पयन्त्यङ्ग मां विश्वमेते पृथुकतण्डुला: ॥ ९ ॥

The Lord said, “My friend, have you brought this for Me? It gives Me the greatest delight. Truly, these few grains of flattened rice will satisfy not only Me but the entire universe.”

Verse 10

इति मुष्टिं सकृज्जग्ध्वा द्वितीयां जग्धुमाददे । तावच्छ्रीर्जगृहे हस्तं तत्परा परमेष्ठिन: ॥ १० ॥

Saying this, the Supreme Lord ate one palmful and was about to eat a second when the devoted goddess Rukmiṇī, absorbed in Him, took hold of His hand.

Verse 11

एतावतालं विश्वात्मन् सर्वसम्पत्समृद्धये । अस्मिन्लोकेऽथवामुष्मिन् पुंसस्त्वत्तोषकारणम् ॥ ११ ॥

Queen Rukmiṇī said: “This is more than enough, O Soul of the universe, to grant him abundant wealth of every kind in this world and the next. For a person’s prosperity depends solely on Your satisfaction.”

Verse 12

ब्राह्मणस्तां तु रजनीमुषित्वाच्युतमन्दिरे । भुक्त्वा पीत्वा सुखं मेने आत्मानं स्वर्गतं यथा ॥ १२ ॥

Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: The brāhmaṇa spent that night in Lord Acyuta’s palace. Having eaten and drunk to his full satisfaction, he felt as though he had reached the spiritual world, as if in heaven.

Verse 13

श्वोभूते विश्वभावेन स्वसुखेनाभिवन्दित: । जगाम स्वालयं तात पथ्यनुव्रज्य नन्दित: ॥ १३ ॥

The next day Sudāmā set out for his home, honored by Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the self-satisfied maintainer of the universe. O King, as he walked along the road, the brāhmaṇa was filled with great delight.

Verse 14

स चालब्ध्वा धनं कृष्णान्न तु याचितवान्स्वयम् । स्वगृहान् व्रीडितोऽगच्छन्महद्दर्शननिर्वृत: ॥ १४ ॥

Although it appeared that Sudāmā had received no wealth from Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, he was too shy to beg for it himself. Simply satisfied by the Supreme Lord’s darśana, he returned to his home.

Verse 15

अहो ब्रह्मण्यदेवस्य द‍ृष्टा ब्रह्मण्यता मया । यद् दरिद्रतमो लक्ष्मीमाश्लिष्टो बिभ्रतोरसि ॥ १५ ॥

Ah! I have personally witnessed the brāhmaṇa-devotion of Brahmaṇya-deva. He who bears Goddess Lakṣmī upon His chest has embraced the poorest of beggars.

Verse 16

क्व‍ाहं दरिद्र: पापीयान् क्व‍ कृष्ण: श्रीनिकेतन: । ब्रह्मबन्धुरिति स्माहं बाहुभ्यां परिरम्भित: ॥ १६ ॥

Who am I—sinful and poor, merely a brahma-bandhu? And who is Kṛṣṇa—the abode of Śrī, the Supreme Lord? Yet He embraced me with His two arms.

Verse 17

निवासित: प्रियाजुष्टे पर्यङ्के भ्रातरो यथा । महिष्या वीजित: श्रान्तो बालव्यजनहस्तया ॥ १७ ॥

He treated me like a brother, seating me upon the bed of His beloved consort. And because I was weary, His queen herself took a yak-tail cāmara in hand and gently fanned me.

Verse 18

शुश्रूषया परमया पादसंवाहनादिभि: । पूजितो देवदेवेन विप्रदेवेन देववत् ॥ १८ ॥

Though He is the Lord of all the devas and the One worshiped by the brāhmaṇas, the Deva of devas honored me as if I were a deva—massaging my feet and rendering other humble services.

Verse 19

स्वर्गापवर्गयो: पुंसां रसायां भुवि सम्पदाम् । सर्वासामपि सिद्धीनां मूलं तच्चरणार्चनम् ॥ १९ ॥

Devotional service and worship of His lotus feet are the root of all perfections and fortunes a person may attain—in heaven, in liberation, in the subterranean realms, and on earth.

Verse 20

अधनोऽयं धनं प्राप्य माद्यन्नुच्चैर्न मां स्मरेत् । इति कारुणिको नूनं धनं मेऽभूरि नाददात् ॥ २० ॥

Thinking, “If this poor wretch suddenly becomes rich, he will forget Me in his intoxicating joy,” the compassionate Lord did not grant me even a little wealth.

Verse 21

इति तच्चिन्तयन्नन्त: प्राप्तो निजगृहान्तिकम् । सूर्यानलेन्दुसङ्काशैर्विमानै: सर्वतो वृतम् ॥ २१ ॥ विचित्रोपवनोद्यानै: कूजद्‌द्विजकुलाकुलै: । प्रोत्फुल्ल‍कमुदाम्भोजकह्लारोत्पलवारिभि: ॥ २२ ॥ जुष्टं स्वलङ्कृतै: पुम्भि: स्‍त्रीभिश्च हरिणाक्षिभि: । किमिदं कस्य वा स्थानं कथं तदिदमित्यभूत् ॥ २३ ॥

Thus pondering within, Sudāmā came to the place where his home had stood. But it was now crowded on every side with lofty celestial palaces, radiant like the combined splendor of the sun, fire, and moon. There were wondrous courtyards and gardens alive with cooing flocks of birds, and ponds adorned with blooming kumuda, ambhoja, kahlāra, and utpala lotuses. Finely dressed men and doe-eyed women stood in attendance. Sudāmā marveled, “What is all this? Whose place is this? How has it come to be?”

Verse 22

इति तच्चिन्तयन्नन्त: प्राप्तो निजगृहान्तिकम् । सूर्यानलेन्दुसङ्काशैर्विमानै: सर्वतो वृतम् ॥ २१ ॥ विचित्रोपवनोद्यानै: कूजद्‌द्विजकुलाकुलै: । प्रोत्फुल्ल‍कमुदाम्भोजकह्लारोत्पलवारिभि: ॥ २२ ॥ जुष्टं स्वलङ्कृतै: पुम्भि: स्‍त्रीभिश्च हरिणाक्षिभि: । किमिदं कस्य वा स्थानं कथं तदिदमित्यभूत् ॥ २३ ॥

Thus pondering within, Sudāmā came to the place where his home had stood. But it was now crowded on every side with lofty celestial palaces, radiant like the combined splendor of the sun, fire, and moon. There were wondrous courtyards and gardens alive with cooing flocks of birds, and ponds adorned with blooming kumuda, ambhoja, kahlāra, and utpala lotuses. Finely dressed men and doe-eyed women stood in attendance. Sudāmā marveled, “What is all this? Whose place is this? How has it come to be?”

Verse 23

इति तच्चिन्तयन्नन्त: प्राप्तो निजगृहान्तिकम् । सूर्यानलेन्दुसङ्काशैर्विमानै: सर्वतो वृतम् ॥ २१ ॥ विचित्रोपवनोद्यानै: कूजद्‌द्विजकुलाकुलै: । प्रोत्फुल्ल‍कमुदाम्भोजकह्लारोत्पलवारिभि: ॥ २२ ॥ जुष्टं स्वलङ्कृतै: पुम्भि: स्‍त्रीभिश्च हरिणाक्षिभि: । किमिदं कस्य वा स्थानं कथं तदिदमित्यभूत् ॥ २३ ॥

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus thinking within himself, Sudāmā came to the place where his home had stood. Yet that spot was now surrounded on every side by lofty celestial palaces and vimānas, radiant like the combined brilliance of the sun, fire, and moon. There were wondrous courtyards and gardens, alive with cooing flocks of birds, and ponds where kumuda, ambhoja, kahlāra, and utpala lotuses bloomed. Finely adorned men and doe-eyed women stood ready in service. Sudāmā, astonished, wondered, “What is this? Whose residence is it? How has all this come to be?”

Verse 24

एवं मीमांसमानं तं नरा नार्योऽमरप्रभा: । प्रत्यगृह्णन् महाभागं गीतवाद्येन भूयसा ॥ २४ ॥

As he continued to ponder, handsome men and maidservants, radiant like demigods, came forward and welcomed their greatly fortunate master with loud singing and a flourish of instrumental music.

Verse 25

पतिमागतमाकर्ण्य पत्न्‍युद्धर्षातिसम्भ्रमा । निश्चक्राम गृहात्तूर्णं रूपिणी श्रीरिवालयात् ॥ २५ ॥

Hearing that her husband had arrived, the brāhmaṇa’s wife hurried out of the house in a rush of jubilant excitement. She appeared like Śrī, the goddess of fortune, emerging from her divine abode.

Verse 26

पतिव्रता पतिं द‍ृष्ट्वा प्रेमोत्कण्ठाश्रुलोचना । मीलिताक्ष्यनमद्बुद्ध्या मनसा परिषस्वजे ॥ २६ ॥

Seeing her husband, the chaste wife’s eyes brimmed with tears of love and longing. With eyes closed she bowed to him in reverent humility, and within her heart she embraced him.

Verse 27

पत्नीं वीक्ष्य विस्फुरन्तीं देवीं वैमानिकीमिव । दासीनां निष्ककण्ठीनां मध्ये भान्तीं स विस्मित: ॥ २७ ॥

Sudāmā was amazed to see his wife. Shining among maidservants wearing jeweled lockets, she appeared as radiant as a goddess in a celestial vimāna.

Verse 28

प्रीत: स्वयं तया युक्त: प्रविष्टो निजमन्दिरम् । मणिस्तम्भशतोपेतं महेन्द्रभवनं यथा ॥ २८ ॥

Joyfully taking his wife with him, he entered his home, adorned with hundreds of gem-studded pillars, like the palace of Lord Mahendra.

Verse 29

पय:फेननिभा: शय्या दान्ता रुक्‍मपरिच्छदा: । पर्यङ्का हेमदण्डानि चामरव्यजनानि च ॥ २९ ॥ आसनानि च हैमानि मृदूपस्तरणानि च । मुक्तादामविलम्बीनि वितानानि द्युमन्ति च ॥ ३० ॥ स्वच्छस्फटिककुड्येषु महामारकतेषु च । रत्नदीपान् भ्राजमानान् ललनारत्नसंयुता: ॥ ३१ ॥ विलोक्य ब्राह्मणस्तत्र समृद्धी: सर्वसम्पदाम् । तर्कयामास निर्व्यग्र: स्वसमृद्धिमहैतुकीम् ॥ ३२ ॥

In Sudāmā’s home were beds white and soft as milk-foam, with ivory bedsteads adorned with gold; there were couches with golden legs and royal cāmara fans as well. Seeing such opulence of every kind, the brāhmaṇa calmly reflected on his unexpected prosperity.

Verse 30

पय:फेननिभा: शय्या दान्ता रुक्‍मपरिच्छदा: । पर्यङ्का हेमदण्डानि चामरव्यजनानि च ॥ २९ ॥ आसनानि च हैमानि मृदूपस्तरणानि च । मुक्तादामविलम्बीनि वितानानि द्युमन्ति च ॥ ३० ॥ स्वच्छस्फटिककुड्येषु महामारकतेषु च । रत्नदीपान् भ्राजमानान् ललनारत्नसंयुता: ॥ ३१ ॥ विलोक्य ब्राह्मणस्तत्र समृद्धी: सर्वसम्पदाम् । तर्कयामास निर्व्यग्र: स्वसमृद्धिमहैतुकीम् ॥ ३२ ॥

There were golden seats, soft coverings, and radiant canopies hung with strings of pearls. Seeing this, the brāhmaṇa quietly pondered his unlooked-for prosperity.

Verse 31

पय:फेननिभा: शय्या दान्ता रुक्‍मपरिच्छदा: । पर्यङ्का हेमदण्डानि चामरव्यजनानि च ॥ २९ ॥ आसनानि च हैमानि मृदूपस्तरणानि च । मुक्तादामविलम्बीनि वितानानि द्युमन्ति च ॥ ३० ॥ स्वच्छस्फटिककुड्येषु महामारकतेषु च । रत्नदीपान् भ्राजमानान् ललनारत्नसंयुता: ॥ ३१ ॥ विलोक्य ब्राह्मणस्तत्र समृद्धी: सर्वसम्पदाम् । तर्कयामास निर्व्यग्र: स्वसमृद्धिमहैतुकीम् ॥ ३२ ॥

On clear crystal walls inlaid with great emeralds, jeweled lamps shone, and the women were adorned with precious gems. Seeing this, the brāhmaṇa calmly reflected on his abundance.

Verse 32

पय:फेननिभा: शय्या दान्ता रुक्‍मपरिच्छदा: । पर्यङ्का हेमदण्डानि चामरव्यजनानि च ॥ २९ ॥ आसनानि च हैमानि मृदूपस्तरणानि च । मुक्तादामविलम्बीनि वितानानि द्युमन्ति च ॥ ३० ॥ स्वच्छस्फटिककुड्येषु महामारकतेषु च । रत्नदीपान् भ्राजमानान् ललनारत्नसंयुता: ॥ ३१ ॥ विलोक्य ब्राह्मणस्तत्र समृद्धी: सर्वसम्पदाम् । तर्कयामास निर्व्यग्र: स्वसमृद्धिमहैतुकीम् ॥ ३२ ॥

Seeing there the full abundance of every kind of wealth, the brāhmaṇa, untroubled, reasoned within himself: “From where has this causeless prosperity come to me? Surely it is Bhagavān’s mercy—His prasāda.”

Verse 33

नूनं बतैतन्मम दुर्भगस्य शश्वद्दरिद्रस्य समृद्धिहेतु: । महाविभूतेरवलोकतोऽन्यो नैवोपपद्येत यदूत्तमस्य ॥ ३३ ॥

Sudāmā thought: I have always been poor and unfortunate. That one as wretched as I could suddenly become prosperous is possible only because Śrī Kṛṣṇa—the supremely opulent chief of the Yadu dynasty—has cast His merciful glance upon me; otherwise it cannot be.

Verse 34

नन्वब्रुवाणो दिशते समक्षं याचिष्णवे भूर्यपि भूरिभोज: । पर्जन्यवत्तत् स्वयमीक्षमाणो दाशार्हकाणामृषभ: सखा मे ॥ ३४ ॥

My friend Śrī Kṛṣṇa—the foremost of the Dāśārhas and enjoyer of unlimited wealth—noticed my hidden intention to beg. Though I stood before Him and He spoke nothing of it, like a merciful rain cloud He Himself bestowed upon me abundant riches.

Verse 35

किञ्चित्करोत्युर्वपि यत् स्वदत्तं सुहृत्कृतं फल्ग्वपि भूरिकारी । मयोपनीतं पृथुकैकमुष्टिं प्रत्यग्रहीत् प्रीतियुतो महात्मा ॥ ३५ ॥

The Lord deems even His greatest boons to be insignificant, yet He magnifies even a tiny service offered by His well-wishing devotee. Thus the Supreme Soul, pleased at heart, accepted a single palmful of the flat rice I brought Him.

Verse 36

तस्यैव मे सौहृदसख्यमैत्री दास्यं पुनर्जन्मनि जन्मनि स्यात् । महानुभावेन गुणालयेन विषज्जतस्तत्पुरुषप्रसङ्ग: ॥ ३६ ॥

He is the supremely compassionate Lord, the reservoir of all transcendental qualities. Life after life, may I serve Him with love, friendship, and affectionate devotion; and by the precious association of His devotees, may firm attachment to Him arise within me.

Verse 37

भक्ताय चित्रा भगवान् हि सम्पदो राज्यं विभूतीर्न समर्थयत्यज: । अदीर्घबोधाय विचक्षण: स्वयं पश्यन् निपातं धनिनां मदोद्भ‍वम् ॥ ३७ ॥

The unborn Lord, in His perfect wisdom, sees how the intoxication of pride brings downfall to the wealthy. Therefore, to a devotee lacking spiritual insight, He does not grant the dazzling opulences of this world—royal power and material riches.

Verse 38

इत्थं व्यवसितो बुद्ध्या भक्तोऽतीव जनार्दने । विषयान् जायया त्यक्ष्यन्बुभुजे नातिलम्पट: ॥ ३८ ॥

Thus, with his resolve firmly fixed by spiritual intelligence, Sudāmā remained utterly devoted to Janārdana, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the shelter of all beings. Free from greed, he enjoyed with his wife the sense pleasures bestowed upon him, always cherishing the intention to renounce all such gratification in the end.

Verse 39

तस्य वै देवदेवस्य हरेर्यज्ञपते: प्रभो: । ब्राह्मणा: प्रभवो दैवं न तेभ्यो विद्यते परम् ॥ ३९ ॥

Lord Hari is the God of gods, the master of all sacrifices, and the supreme ruler. Yet He accepts the saintly brāhmaṇas as His own masters; therefore no deity is higher than them.

Verse 40

एवं स विप्रो भगवत्सुहृत्तदा द‍ृष्ट्वा स्वभृत्यैरजितं पराजितम् । तद्ध्यानवेगोद्ग्रथितात्मबन्धन- स्तद्धाम लेभेऽचिरत: सतां गतिम् ॥ ४० ॥

Thus, seeing that the unconquerable Supreme Lord is nonetheless conquered by His own servants, the Lord’s dear brāhmaṇa friend felt the remaining knots of material attachment in his heart cut by the force of his constant meditation on the Lord. In a short time he attained Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s supreme abode, the destination of the saints.

Verse 41

एतद् ब्रह्मण्यदेवस्य श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मण्यतां नर: । लब्धभावो भगवति कर्मबन्धाद् विमुच्यते ॥ ४१ ॥

Hearing this account of Brahmaṇya-deva’s special favor toward the brāhmaṇas, one awakens love for the Lord and becomes freed from the bondage of karma.