Shloka 5

Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa Receives Kṛṣṇa’s Mercy

The Gift of Flat Rice

Devanagari script

इत्युक्तोऽपि द्वियस्तस्मै व्रीडित: पतये श्रिय: । पृथुकप्रसृतिं राजन् न प्रायच्छदवाङ्‍मुख: ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

ity ukto ’pi dviyas tasmai vrīḍitaḥ pataye śriyaḥ pṛthuka-prasṛtiṁ rājan na prāyacchad avāṅ-mukhaḥ

Translation

Even after hearing this, O King, the brāhmaṇa felt too ashamed to offer his palmful of flat rice to the husband of Goddess Śrī; he simply stood with his head bowed.

Synonyms

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; quotative particle (इति-निपात)

• uktaḥ: (he) being spoken to
• uktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातu)
• Form: Kta (PPP) from √vac ‘to say’; Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ‘having been addressed’

• api: even
• api: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle ‘even/also’

• dvijaḥ: the brāhmaṇa
• dvijaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• tasmai: to him
• tasmai: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Caturthī (Dative, 4th), Ekavacana

• vrīḍitaḥ: ashamed
• vrīḍitaḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vrīḍ (धातu)
• Form: Kta (PPP) used adjectivally; Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• pataye: to the lord
• pataye: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Caturthī (Dative, 4th), Ekavacana

• śriyaḥ: of Śrī (Fortune)
• śriyaḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (Gen. 6th), Ekavacana

• pṛthuka-prasṛtim: a handful of beaten rice
• pṛthuka-prasṛtim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛthuka + prasṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc. 2nd), Ekavacana; ‘a handful of flattened rice’

• rājan: O King
• rājan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Sambodhana (Vocative), Ekavacana

• na: not
• na: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; negation

• prāyacchat: gave/offered
• prāyacchat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-dā (धातu)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (Imperfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana, Parasmaipada; (from √dā with prefix pra-)

• avāṅ-mukhaḥ: with face lowered
• avāṅ-mukhaḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avāṅ + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi ‘one whose face is down’

Purport

According to Ācārya Viśvanātha Cakravartī, the description here of Kṛṣṇa as “the husband of the goddess of fortune” implies that Sudāmā questioned himself, “How can the Lord of Śrī eat this hard, stale rice?” By bowing his head, the brāhmaṇa revealed his meditation: “My dear master, please do not make me ashamed. Even if You request it from me repeatedly, I will not give this to You. I have made up my mind.” But the Lord countered with His own thought: “The intention you had fixed in your mind while coming here must not be frustrated, for you are My devotee.”

Characters & Entities

• Parīkṣit Mahārāja
• Sudāmā (the brāhmaṇa)
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Śrī (Lakṣmī-devī)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Sudama’s humility before Krishna?

This verse shows Sudāmā’s deep humility and embarrassment—though invited by Kṛṣṇa, he keeps his face lowered and hesitates to offer his simple gift, feeling it unworthy for the Lord of Lakṣmī.

Why did Sudama hesitate to give Krishna the flattened rice (pṛthuka)?

Sudāmā felt ashamed because his offering was extremely small and simple, while Kṛṣṇa is described here as “the husband of Śrī,” the supreme Lord of all opulence; Sudāmā feared his gift was inadequate.

Practical application of Sudama’s mood in modern life?

Offer what you have with sincerity and humility, without pride or show; genuine devotion matters more than external wealth or impressive gifts.