Shloka 21
Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa: Divine Friendship, Guru-bhakti, and the Lord’s Grace
अथोपवेश्य पर्यङ्के स्वयं सख्यु: समर्हणम् । उपहृत्यावनिज्यास्य पादौ पादावनेजनी: ॥ २० ॥ अग्रहीच्छिरसा राजन् भगवाँल्लोकपावन: । व्यलिम्पद् दिव्यगन्धेन चन्दनागुरुकुङ्कुमै: ॥ २१ ॥ धूपै: सुरभिभिर्मित्रं प्रदीपावलिभिर्मुदा । अर्चित्वावेद्य ताम्बूलं गां च स्वागतमब्रवीत् ॥ २२ ॥
athopaveśya paryaṅke svayam sakhyuḥ samarhaṇam upahṛtyāvanijyāsya pādau pādāvanejanīḥ
Kemudian Śrī Kṛṣṇa mendudukkan sahabat-Nya, Sudāmā, di atas ranjang. Wahai Raja, Tuhan yang menyucikan dunia itu sendiri memberi penghormatan: Ia membasuh kaki Sudāmā dan memercikkan airnya ke kepala-Nya. Lalu Ia mengoleskan pasta cendana, aguru, dan kuṅkuma yang harum surgawi; dengan gembira Ia memuja dengan dupa wangi dan deretan pelita. Akhirnya Ia mempersembahkan sirih-pinang serta menghadiahkan seekor sapi, dan menyambutnya dengan kata-kata yang manis.
FAQs
This verse shows Kṛṣṇa personally honoring Sudāmā—bowing His head and anointing him with divine fragrances—revealing that the Lord exalts His devotee with affectionate respect.
Sudāmā came as Kṛṣṇa’s dear friend and a pure brāhmaṇa devotee; Kṛṣṇa demonstrates that devotion is supreme by humbly receiving and honoring him, even though Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Lord.
Offer sincere respect to devotees, guests, and the humble—serve without pride, and honor spiritual qualities over social status or wealth.