Shloka 24

Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa Receives Kṛṣṇa’s Mercy

The Gift of Flat Rice

Devanagari script

एवं मीमांसमानं तं नरा नार्योऽमरप्रभा: । प्रत्यगृह्णन् महाभागं गीतवाद्येन भूयसा ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

evaṁ mīmāṁsamānaṁ taṁ narā nāryo ’mara-prabhāḥ pratyagṛhṇan mahā-bhāgaṁ gīta-vādyena bhūyasā

Translation

彼がなお思案していると、天人のように輝く美しい男たちと侍女たちが進み出て、盛んな歌声と器楽の響きで、その大いに幸運なる主人を迎えた。

Synonyms

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner)

• मीमांसमानम्: pondering, deliberating
• मीमांसमानम्: Karma (कर्म; qualifying 'tam')
• Type: Verb
• Root: मीमांस् (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले आत्मनेपदी शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present middle participle); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (object qualifier)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• नराः: men
• नराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• नार्यः: women
• नार्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• अमर-प्रभाः: radiant like immortals
• अमर-प्रभाः: Karta (कर्ता; adjective of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमर (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास: अमराणां प्रभा इव/अमरप्रभा; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (qualifying nāryaḥ)

• प्रत्यगृह्णन्: received, welcomed
• प्रत्यगृह्णन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/अनद्यतनभूत), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; उपसर्ग: प्रति

• महाभागम्: the greatly fortunate (one)
• महाभागम्: Karma (कर्म; object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास: महा + भाग; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (qualifying 'tam')

• गीत-वाद्येन: with song and instrumental music
• गीत-वाद्येन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गीत (प्रातिपदिक) + वाद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमास (itaretara): गीतं च वाद्यं च; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (instrumental singular)

• भूयसा: abundantly, in great measure
• भूयसा: Karana (करण; manner/instrumental of degree)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तुलनात्मक/अधिक्यवाचक (comparative/"in greater measure")

Purport

As explained by Ācārya Viśvanātha Cakravartī, the word pratyagṛhṇan (“they acknowledged in turn”) indicates that first Sudāmā accepted the servants within his mind, deciding “My Lord must want me to have them,” and in response to the visible change in his attitude, they approached him as their master.

Characters & Entities

• Sudāmā (brāhmaṇa)
• Dvārakā residents

FAQs

How does Krishna honor His devotees in the Sudama story (Bhagavatam 10.81)?

This verse shows that Sudāmā is welcomed with great celebration—songs and instruments—indicating that in Kṛṣṇa’s realm, a pure devotee is honored beyond ordinary social status.

Who is speaking Bhagavatam 10.81.24 and what is the context?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates to King Parīkṣit the scene in Dvārakā where the residents warmly receive Sudāmā as he reflects in amazement on the extraordinary reception.

What is the practical lesson of Bhagavatam 10.81.24 for modern life?

Offer sincere respect and warm hospitality to devotees and guests—celebrating virtue and devotion rather than judging by wealth or external position.