Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

कुचैलं मलिनं क्षामं द्विजं धमनिसन्ततम् । देवी पर्यचरत् साक्षाच्चामरव्यजनेन वै ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

ku-cailaṁ malinaṁ kṣāmaṁ dvijaṁ dhamani-santatam devī paryacarat sākṣāc cāmara-vyajanena vai

Translation

Nữ thần Śrī (Lakṣmī) đích thân phe phẩy quạt cāmara mà hầu hạ vị Bà-la-môn nghèo ấy; y phục rách bẩn, thân hình gầy guộc đến nỗi gân mạch hiện rõ khắp người.

Synonyms

• ku-cailam: poorly clothed
• ku-cailam: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ku (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + caila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: 'bad/poor cloth' → poorly clad; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन) (agreeing with dvijam)

• malinam: dirty
• malinam: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: malina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन) (agreeing with dvijam)

• kṣāmam: emaciated
• kṣāmam: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन) (agreeing with dvijam)

• dvijam: the brāhmaṇa
• dvijam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• dhamani-santatam: with prominent veins
• dhamani-santatam: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhamanī (प्रातिपदिक) + santata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: 'with veins stretched/prominent'; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन) (agreeing with dvijam)

• devī: the goddess (queen)
• devī: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• paryacarat: served/attended
• paryacarat: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-car (धातु)
• Form: Verb (तिङन्त), Imperfect/लङ् (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• sākṣāt: directly, in person
• sākṣāt: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sākṣāt (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण): 'directly/in person'

• cāmara-vyajanena: with a cāmara fan
• cāmara-vyajanena: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāmara (प्रातिपदिक) + vyajana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: 'yak-tail fan'; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Nipata (निपात/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (निपात) for emphasis

Characters & Entities

• Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa
• Rukmiṇī-devī

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about how the Lord honors a poor devotee like Sudama?

This verse shows that even when Sudāmā appeared extremely poor and worn-out, the Lord’s own queen personally served him, demonstrating the supreme honor given to a sincere devotee beyond external condition.

Why did Rukmini-devī personally fan Sudama with a cāmara whisk?

Because Sudāmā was Kṛṣṇa’s beloved devotee and friend, she treated him like the most worshipable guest, illustrating that devotion—not wealth—makes one truly worthy of royal honor.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

Respect and serve sincere devotees and guests without judging by appearance or status, and cultivate humility—knowing spiritual worth is measured by devotion and character, not possessions.