Shloka 3
Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa Receives Kṛṣṇa’s Mercy
The Gift of Flat Rice
श्रीभगवानुवाच किमुपायनमानीतं ब्रह्मन् मे भवता गृहात् । अण्वप्युपाहृतं भक्तै: प्रेम्णा भूर्येव मे भवेत् । भूर्यप्यभक्तोपहृतं न मे तोषाय कल्पते ॥ ३ ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca kim upāyanam ānītaṁ brahman me bhavatā gṛhāt aṇv apy upāhṛtaṁ bhaktaiḥ premṇā bhury eva me bhavet bhūry apy abhaktopahṛtaṁ na me toṣāya kalpate
Sinabi ng Kataas-taasang Panginoon: “O brāhmaṇa, anong handog ang dinala mo mula sa bahay para sa Akin? Kahit munting alay na inihandog ng mga bhakta nang may dalisay na pag-ibig ay dakila sa Akin; ngunit kahit malaking handog ng di-mananampalataya ay hindi Ako nalulugod.”
FAQs
This verse teaches that Kṛṣṇa values the devotion and love behind an offering more than its material size—an offering, even tiny, becomes “great” when given with bhakti.
In the Sudāmā episode (Canto 10, Chapter 81), Kṛṣṇa lovingly draws out His friend’s humble offering to show that He is pleased by sincere devotion, not by wealth or display.
Offer whatever you can—time, prayer, simple food, service—with sincerity and love, focusing on devotion rather than status, expense, or external show.