Shloka 12

Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa Receives Kṛṣṇa’s Mercy

The Gift of Flat Rice

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणस्तां तु रजनीमुषित्वाच्युतमन्दिरे । भुक्त्वा पीत्वा सुखं मेने आत्मानं स्वर्गतं यथा ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

brāhmaṇas tāṁ tu rajanīm uṣitvācyuta-mandire bhuktvā pītvā sukhaṁ mene ātmānaṁ svar-gataṁ yathā

Translation

ശുകദേവ ഗോസ്വാമി തുടർന്നു: ബ്രാഹ്മണൻ അച്യുതന്റെ കൊട്ടാരത്തിൽ ആ രാത്രി താമസിച്ചു. തൃപ്തിയായി ഭക്ഷിച്ചു കുടിച്ചു, താൻ സ്വർഗ്ഗധാമത്തിലെത്തിയതുപോലെ സന്തോഷിച്ചു.

Synonyms

• brāhmaṇaḥ: the brāhmaṇa
• brāhmaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• tām: that (night)
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/अन्वयार्थे “but/indeed”

• rajanīm: night
• rajanīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rajanī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• uṣitvā: having stayed
• uṣitvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vas (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), “having stayed”

• acyuta-mandire: in Acyuta’s house
• acyuta-mandire: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: acyuta (प्रातिपदिक) + mandira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive tatpuruṣa: “of Acyuta”), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative, 7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• bhuktvā: having eaten
• bhuktvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), “having eaten”

• pītvā: having drunk
• pītvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), “having drunk”

• sukham: happily/with ease
• sukham: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular); क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial accusative)

• mene: he thought/considered
• mene: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: man (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• ātmānam: himself
• ātmānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• svar-gatam: gone to heaven
• svar-gatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svar (प्रातिपदिक) + gata (गम्-धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive tatpuruṣa: “gone to heaven”), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम् (qualifies ātmānam)

• yathā: as if/like
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), उपमानार्थक (comparative: “as/like”)

Characters & Entities

• Sudāmā (brāhmaṇa)
• Lord Kṛṣṇa (Acyuta)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Kṛṣṇa’s hospitality to His devotees?

This verse shows that simply staying in Kṛṣṇa’s abode and receiving His care brings a devotee profound satisfaction—so complete that it feels like heaven.

Why did Sudāmā feel as if he had attained heaven in Kṛṣṇa’s house?

Because Kṛṣṇa’s personal association and the comfort he received there—food, drink, and loving attention—gave Sudāmā an experience far beyond ordinary worldly happiness.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Seek spiritual “association of the Lord” through devotion—temple worship, sādhana, and saintly company—because inner fulfillment arises more from divine connection than from external luxury.