Shloka 10
Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa Receives Kṛṣṇa’s Mercy
The Gift of Flat Rice
इति मुष्टिं सकृज्जग्ध्वा द्वितीयां जग्धुमाददे । तावच्छ्रीर्जगृहे हस्तं तत्परा परमेष्ठिन: ॥ १० ॥
iti muṣṭiṁ sakṛj jagdhvā dvitīyāṁ jagdhum ādade tāvac chrīr jagṛhe hastaṁ tat-parā parameṣṭhinaḥ
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.
Queen Rukmiṇī took hold of Kṛṣṇa’s hand to prevent Him from eating any more of the flat rice. According to Śrīpāda Śrīdhara Svāmī, with this gesture she meant to tell the Lord, “This much of Your grace is sufficient to assure anyone vast riches, which are merely the play of my glance. But please do not force me to surrender myself to this brāhmaṇa, as will happen if You eat one more handful.”
FAQs
This verse shows Śrī-devī restraining the Lord’s hand, implying that even one handful of Sudāmā’s offering was enough to bestow immense fortune; further eating would only multiply that opulence beyond measure.
Kṛṣṇa’s act teaches that He values devotion over external wealth—an offering made with pure love becomes supremely pleasing to Him and becomes the cause of divine grace.
Offer whatever you have—time, service, or simple food—with sincerity; this verse emphasizes that genuine bhakti, not material capacity, attracts the Lord’s mercy.