Shloka 35
Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa Receives Kṛṣṇa’s Mercy
The Gift of Flat Rice
किञ्चित्करोत्युर्वपि यत् स्वदत्तं सुहृत्कृतं फल्ग्वपि भूरिकारी । मयोपनीतं पृथुकैकमुष्टिं प्रत्यग्रहीत् प्रीतियुतो महात्मा ॥ ३५ ॥
kiñcit karoty urv api yat sva-dattaṁ suhṛt-kṛtaṁ phalgv api bhūri-kārī mayopaṇītaṁ pṛthukaika-muṣṭiṁ pratyagrahīt prīti-yuto mahātmā
The Lord deems even His greatest boons to be insignificant, yet He magnifies even a tiny service offered by His well-wishing devotee. Thus the Supreme Soul, pleased at heart, accepted a single palmful of the flat rice I brought Him.
FAQs
This verse teaches that even a tiny, humble gift becomes immensely valuable when offered with sincere affection and devotion, as shown by Kṛṣṇa lovingly accepting Sudāmā’s single handful of flattened rice.
Because it was offered as a heartfelt gesture of friendship and devotion; Kṛṣṇa values bhakti over the material size or cost of the offering.
Offer whatever you can—time, service, prayer, or simple food—with sincerity and gratitude; the inner devotion is what makes the act spiritually powerful.