Shloka 1
Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa Receives Kṛṣṇa’s Mercy
The Gift of Flat Rice
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 ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca sa itthaṁ dvija-mukhyena saha saṅkathayan hariḥ sarva-bhūta-mano-’bhijñaḥ smayamāna uvāca tam
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.
According to Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī, the words sarva-bhūta-mano-’bhijña indicate that since Lord Kṛṣṇa knows the minds of everyone, He could tell at once that His friend Sudāmā had brought some flat rice for Him and was ashamed to present it. According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī’s further explanation of this verse, Lord Kṛṣṇa smiled at this moment, thinking “Yes, I am going to make you show what you brought for Me.” His smile then turned to laughter as He thought, “How long are you going to keep this precious gift hidden in your cloth?”
FAQs
This verse describes Lord Hari as sarva-bhūta-mano-'bhijña—fully aware of the minds of all beings—showing His divine omniscience while lovingly dealing with His devotee.
Krishna’s smile indicates affectionate understanding—He already knows Sudama’s inner feelings and situation, and He responds with warmth rather than judgment.
It encourages sincerity in devotion: since the Divine sees intention, one can practice bhakti with honesty, humility, and trust rather than external show.