Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 8

Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa Receives Kṛṣṇa’s Mercy

The Gift of Flat Rice

Devanagari script

इत्थं विचिन्त्य वसनाच्चीरबद्धान्द्विजन्मन: । स्वयं जहार किमिदमिति पृथुकतण्डुलान् ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

itthaṁ vicintya vasanāc cīra-baddhān dvi-janmanaḥ svayaṁ jahāra kim idam iti pṛthuka-taṇḍulān

Translation

主如此思量，便亲手从婆罗门那件旧衣里夺出用破布包着的扁米粒，惊呼道：“这是什么？”

Synonyms

• इत्थम्: thus
• इत्थम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इत्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक अव्यय (manner adverb)

• विचिन्त्य: having reflected
• विचिन्त्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• वसनात्: from (his) garment
• वसनात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• चीरबद्धान्: tied in a cloth
• चीरबद्धान्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चीर-बद्ध (प्रातिपदिक; बद्ध = बन्ध्-धातोः क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; समासः—चीरेण बद्धाः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

• द्विजन्मनः: of the twice-born (brahmin)
• द्विजन्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि-जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः ‘द्वे जन्मनी यस्य’ (ब्राह्मणः)

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Karta-nirdeshaka (कर्तृनिर्देशक/Emphasis on agent)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कर्तृवाचक अव्यय (emphatic ‘oneself’)

• जहार: he took away/removed
• जहार: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म/Object—elliptic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म/Object—elliptic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• इति: thus, saying
• इति: Vakyartha (वाक्यार्थ/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• पृथुकतण्डुलान्: flattened rice grains
• पृथुकतण्डुलान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथुक-तण्डुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; समासः—पृथुकाः एव तण्डुलाः (कर्मधारय)

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Sudāmā (the brāhmaṇa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna accepting a simple offering?

In this verse, Kṛṣṇa personally takes Sudāmā’s humble gift—mere flattened rice—showing that He values devotion over opulence.

Why did Krishna take Sudama’s bundle and ask “What is this?”

Kṛṣṇa playfully and affectionately reveals Sudāmā’s hidden offering, drawing it out Himself to honor His devotee’s shy, humble love.

Practical application of Sudama’s offering to Krishna in modern life?

Offer what you have with sincerity—time, service, or a simple gift—because spiritual value depends on devotion, not external grandeur.