Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 29
Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa Receives Kṛṣṇa’s Mercy
The Gift of Flat Rice
पय:फेननिभा: शय्या दान्ता रुक्मपरिच्छदा: । पर्यङ्का हेमदण्डानि चामरव्यजनानि च ॥ २९ ॥ आसनानि च हैमानि मृदूपस्तरणानि च । मुक्तादामविलम्बीनि वितानानि द्युमन्ति च ॥ ३० ॥ स्वच्छस्फटिककुड्येषु महामारकतेषु च । रत्नदीपान् भ्राजमानान् ललनारत्नसंयुता: ॥ ३१ ॥ विलोक्य ब्राह्मणस्तत्र समृद्धी: सर्वसम्पदाम् । तर्कयामास निर्व्यग्र: स्वसमृद्धिमहैतुकीम् ॥ ३२ ॥
payaḥ-phena-nibhāḥ śayyā dāntā rukma-paricchadāḥ paryaṅkā hema-daṇḍāni cāmara-vyajanāni ca
Dans la demeure de Sudāmā se trouvaient des lits blancs et doux comme l’écume du lait, des couchettes d’ivoire ornées d’or; il y avait aussi des divans aux pieds d’or et des éventails royaux de cāmara. Voyant cette opulence de toutes sortes, le brāhmaṇa, paisible, s’interrogea sur sa prospérité inattendue.
FAQs
This verse describes Dvārakā’s royal comforts—beds like milk-foam, ivory furnishings, gold decorations, and cāmara fans—showing the Lord’s manifest opulence while He remains affectionate to His devotees.
In the narrative of Canto 10, Chapter 81, Sudāmā comes as a poor brāhmaṇa friend; Kṛṣṇa receives him with extraordinary honor, revealing that devotion—not wealth—invites the Lord’s personal care.
External prosperity can change, but devotion and humility are lasting wealth; one can respect spiritual friendship and integrity without being dazzled or discouraged by material differences.