Shloka 34
Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa Receives Kṛṣṇa’s Mercy
The Gift of Flat Rice
नन्वब्रुवाणो दिशते समक्षं याचिष्णवे भूर्यपि भूरिभोज: । पर्जन्यवत्तत् स्वयमीक्षमाणो दाशार्हकाणामृषभ: सखा मे ॥ ३४ ॥
nanv abruvāṇo diśate samakṣaṁ yāciṣṇave bhūry api bhūri-bhojaḥ parjanya-vat tat svayam īkṣamāṇo dāśārhakāṇām ṛṣabhaḥ sakhā me
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.
Śrī Kṛṣṇa is bhūri-bhoja, the unlimited enjoyer. He did not tell Sudāmā how He was going to fulfill his unspoken request because, according to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, He was thinking at the time, “My dear friend has given Me these grains of rice, which are greater than all the treasures I own. Even though in his own house he had no such gift to bring Me, he took the trouble of begging it from a neighbor. Therefore it is only proper that I give him something more valuable than all My possessions. But nothing is equal to or greater than what I possess, so all I can do is give him such meager things as the treasures of Indra, Brahmā and other demigods.” Embarrassed at being unable to properly reciprocate His devotee’s offering, Lord Kṛṣṇa bestowed His favor on the brāhmaṇa silently. The Lord acted just like a magnanimous rain cloud which provides the necessities of life for everyone near and far but feels ashamed that its rain is too insignificant a gift to give in return for the abundant offerings that farmers make to it. Out of shame the cloud may wait until nighttime, when the farmers are asleep, before watering their fields.
FAQs
This verse shows Kṛṣṇa giving openly even before being asked—like a rain cloud that showers without discrimination—highlighting His spontaneous mercy toward His devotee Sudāmā.
Because Kṛṣṇa was already arranging gifts and comfort for Sudāmā without waiting for him to voice his need, just as a cloud rains simply by its own nature.
Cultivate discreet generosity—help others proactively without making them beg or feel ashamed, and see giving as a natural expression of devotion and compassion.