Shloka 39
Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa Receives Kṛṣṇa’s Mercy
The Gift of Flat Rice
तस्य वै देवदेवस्य हरेर्यज्ञपते: प्रभो: । ब्राह्मणा: प्रभवो दैवं न तेभ्यो विद्यते परम् ॥ ३९ ॥
tasya vai deva-devasya harer yajña-pateḥ prabhoḥ brāhmaṇāḥ prabhavo daivaṁ na tebhyo vidyate param
Lord Hari is the God of gods, the master of all sacrifices, and the supreme ruler. Yet He accepts the saintly brāhmaṇas as His own masters; therefore no deity is higher than them.
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī points out that even though Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the supreme ruler of creation, He accepts the brāhmaṇas as His masters; even though He is the God of all gods, the brāhmaṇas are His deities; and even though He is the Lord of all sacrifices, He performs sacrifices to worship them.
FAQs
This verse states that Lord Hari, the master of sacrifice, considers brāhmaṇas the very source of sacred divine power, and in His estimation nothing is higher than them—highlighting their role as carriers of Vedic wisdom, purity, and dharma.
In the context of Sudāmā’s visit, the narration emphasizes Kṛṣṇa’s deep reverence for brāhmaṇas and devotees, showing that the Lord upholds dharma and honors those devoted to knowledge, austerity, and devotion.
Cultivate respect for genuine spiritual teachers and saintly persons, honor sacred learning and integrity, and practice humility—recognizing that devotion and purity of character are what the Lord values most.