Shloka 15

Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa Receives Kṛṣṇa’s Mercy

The Gift of Flat Rice

Devanagari script

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

Transliteration

aho brahmaṇya-devasya dṛṣṭā brahmaṇyatā mayā yad daridratamo lakṣmīm āśliṣṭo bibhratorasi

Translation

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.

Synonyms

• aho: ah!/oh!
• aho: Bhāva (भाव/exclamation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aho (अव्यय)
• Form: विस्मयार्थक अव्यय (interjection of wonder)

• brahmaṇya-devasya: of the brahmin-friendly Lord
• brahmaṇya-devasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahmaṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (“brahmaṇyaḥ devaḥ” = the brahmin-friendly Lord), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive, 6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• dṛṣṭā: was seen/experienced
• dṛṣṭā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु) + क्त (क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular); भावे/कर्मणि प्रयोगः (seen/experienced)

• brahmaṇyatā: brahmin-friendliness
• brahmaṇyatā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahmaṇyatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/सर्वनाम (Pronoun), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental, 3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• yat: since/that
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बन्धबोधक अव्यय (relative particle “since/that”)

• daridratamaḥ: the poorest
• daridratamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daridra (प्रातिपदिक) + tamaP (तमप् प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular); तमप्-प्रत्यय (superlative)

• lakṣmīm: Lakṣmī (fortune)
• lakṣmīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• bibhrataḥ: of (him) who bears
• bibhrataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhṛ (धातु) + शतृ (शतृ-प्रत्यय)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive, 6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• urasi: on (his) chest
• urasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative, 7th), एकवचन (Singular)

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Sudāmā
• Lakṣmī

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna being Brahmanya-deva?

This verse shows Kṛṣṇa as brahmaṇya-deva—especially devoted to brāhmaṇas and true spiritual culture—by personally honoring and embracing His impoverished brāhmaṇa devotee Sudāmā.

Why did Sudama say he was embraced on the chest where Lakshmi resides?

Sudāmā marvels that although he is extremely poor, Kṛṣṇa embraced him to His chest—the seat of Lakṣmī—signifying that the Lord’s affection for devotion surpasses material qualification or wealth.

Practical application of Sudama’s humility in modern life?

Cultivate gratitude and humility: value sincere devotion and character over status, and honor saintly, principled people—trusting that grace can uplift even the materially struggling.