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Shloka 25

Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa: Divine Friendship, Guru-bhakti, and the Lord’s Grace

किमनेन कृतं पुण्यमवधूतेन भिक्षुणा । श्रिया हीनेन लोकेऽस्मिन् गर्हितेनाधमेन च ॥ २५ ॥ योऽसौ त्रिलोकगुरुणा श्रीनिवासेन सम्भृत: । पर्यङ्कस्थां श्रियं हित्वा परिष्वक्तोऽग्रजो यथा ॥ २६ ॥

kim anena kṛtaṁ puṇyam avadhūtena bhikṣuṇā śriyā hīnena loke ’smin garhitenādhamena ca

[Penghuni istana berkata:] Apakah kebajikan yang dilakukan brahmana pengemis yang serabai ini? Di dunia dia dianggap hina, tercela dan tanpa kemakmuran, namun Guru tiga alam, Śrīnivāsa, melayaninya dengan penuh hormat; bahkan meninggalkan Dewi Lakṣmī di atas ranjang, Tuhan memeluknya seperti seorang abang.

kimwhat
kim:
Karma (कर्म/predicate nominal)
TypeNoun
Rootkim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormInterrogative pronoun (प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन)
anenaby this (man)
anena:
Karana (करण/by him)
TypeNoun
Rootidam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormPronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)
kṛtamdone
kṛtam:
Karma (कर्म/predicate qualifier)
TypeVerb
Rootkṛ (धातु)
FormKṛdanta: Past passive participle (क्त), from √कृ; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative, Singular (एकवचन) (agreeing with puṇyam)
puṇyammerit, pious deed
puṇyam:
Karma (कर्म/predicate nominal)
TypeNoun
Rootpuṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन)
avadhūtenaby the avadhūta
avadhūtena:
Karana (करण/by)
TypeNoun
Rootavadhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)
bhikṣuṇāby the mendicant
bhikṣuṇā:
Karana (करण/by)
TypeNoun
Rootbhikṣu (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)
śriyāwith fortune/wealth
śriyā:
Sahakari (सहकारी/with respect to fortune)
TypeNoun
Rootśrī (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)
hīnenadevoid (of)
hīnena:
Karana (करण/qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Roothīna (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन) (qualifying avadhūtena/bhikṣuṇā)
lokein the world
loke:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण/location)
TypeNoun
Rootloka (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)
asminin this
asmin:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण/location qualifier)
TypeNoun
Rootidam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormPronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)
garhitenādespised
garhitenā:
Karana (करण/qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootgarhita (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन) (qualifying avadhūtena/bhikṣuṇā)
adhamenalow, base
adhamena:
Karana (करण/qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootadhama (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन) (qualifying avadhūtena/bhikṣuṇā)
caand
ca:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चय)
R
Rukmiṇī
K
Kṛṣṇa
S
Sudāmā (brāhmaṇa)

FAQs

Because Sudāmā appeared materially destitute and socially disregarded, yet Kṛṣṇa honored him extraordinarily—implying hidden spiritual merit and pure devotion.

The verse highlights that external poverty or social contempt does not diminish spiritual greatness; Kṛṣṇa values inner devotion and purity, not material status.

Do not judge people by appearance or prosperity; cultivate humility and respect sincere devotion and good character wherever it is found.