Shloka 14

Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa Receives Kṛṣṇa’s Mercy

The Gift of Flat Rice

Devanagari script

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

Transliteration

sa cālabdhvā dhanaṁ kṛṣṇān na tu yācitavān svayam sva-gṛhān vrīḍito ’gacchan mahad-darśana-nirvṛtaḥ

Translation

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.

Synonyms

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• alabdhvā: without obtaining
• alabdhvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: a-√labh (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: नञ्-पूर्वक धातु (negated), क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive), “without obtaining”

• dhanam: wealth
• dhanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• kṛṣṇāt: from Kṛṣṇa
• kṛṣṇāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative, 5th), एकवचन (Singular)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• tu: however
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/अन्वयार्थे

• yācitavān: asked/begged
• yācitavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yāc (धातु) + क्तवत् (क्तवत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्तवत्-प्रत्ययान्त (perfect participle, active sense), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular); क्रियापदवत् (periphrastic: “did ask”)

• svayam: himself
• svayam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), आत्मार्थक (reflexive adverb: “himself”)

• sva-gṛhān: to his home
• sva-gṛhān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive tatpuruṣa: “one’s own houses/home”), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative, 2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• vrīḍitaḥ: ashamed
• vrīḍitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vrīḍ (धातु) + क्त (क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• agacchat: he went
• agacchat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• mahat-darśana-nirvṛtaḥ: blissful from the great audience (of Kṛṣṇa)
• mahat-darśana-nirvṛtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक) + darśana (प्रातिपदिक) + nirvṛta (नि√वृत्/√vṛt, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (sense: “delighted by the great sight/vision”), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (P.P.P. used adjectivally), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Sudāmā (Brāhmaṇa friend of Kṛṣṇa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Kṛṣṇa giving blessings without being asked?

This verse shows that Sudāmā did not ask Kṛṣṇa for wealth, yet he still received divine favor—highlighting that the Lord understands and fulfills a devotee’s needs out of compassion.

Why did Sudāmā feel ashamed after meeting Kṛṣṇa in Canto 10 Chapter 81?

Sudāmā’s shame arises from humility—he had come in poverty and would not request material help, feeling unworthy; his joy was complete simply by Kṛṣṇa’s darśana.

How can this verse be applied in modern devotional life?

Practice sincere devotion without bargaining for results; cultivate humility and gratitude, trusting that God knows what is truly needed and values loving remembrance more than demands.