Shloka 40
Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa Receives Kṛṣṇa’s Mercy
The Gift of Flat Rice
एवं स विप्रो भगवत्सुहृत्तदा दृष्ट्वा स्वभृत्यैरजितं पराजितम् । तद्ध्यानवेगोद्ग्रथितात्मबन्धन- स्तद्धाम लेभेऽचिरत: सतां गतिम् ॥ ४० ॥
evaṁ sa vipro bhagavat-suhṛt tadā dṛṣṭvā sva-bhṛtyair ajitaṁ parājitam tad-dhyāna-vegodgrathitātma-bandhanas tad-dhāma lebhe ’cirataḥ satāṁ gatim
Thus, seeing that the unconquerable Supreme Lord is nonetheless conquered by His own servants, the Lord’s dear brāhmaṇa friend felt the remaining knots of material attachment in his heart cut by the force of his constant meditation on the Lord. In a short time he attained Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s supreme abode, the destination of the saints.
Sudāmā’s earthly fortune has been described, and now Śukadeva Gosvāmī describes the treasure the brāhmaṇa enjoyed in the next world. Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī mentions that Sudāmā’s last trace of illusion lay in the subtle pride of being a renounced brāhmaṇa. This trace was also destroyed by his contemplating the Supreme Lord’s submission to His devotees.
FAQs
This verse says Ajita (the unconquerable Lord) is ‘defeated’ by His own servants—meaning He becomes controlled by devotees’ pure love, not by force.
Remembering Kṛṣṇa with intense meditation, Sudāmā’s inner bondage was cut, and he soon attained the Lord’s abode, the supreme goal of the saintly.
Cultivate steady remembrance of God—through prayer, mantra, and gratitude—because sincere devotion transforms the heart and frees one from inner attachments.