rule



 

 

Canto 10

Mahāmantra 2

 

 

Chapter 81: The Brahmin Honored - Lord Krishna the Godhead of the Brahmins

(1-2) S'rī S'uka said: 'He, Bhagavān Krishna, the True Goal of the Devotees, the Lord Who Perfectly Knows the Minds of All Beings, in this manner conversing with this best soul among the brahmins, then, in His dedication to the ones of learning, laughed and spoke with a smile and a loving glance to His dear friend. (3) The Supreme Lord said: 'What gift have you brought for Me from home, oh brahmin? Even the slightest that in pure love is offered by devotees, turns into something immense for Me, whereas not even the greatest that is being presented by non-devotees pleases Me. (4) Whoever offers Me a leaf, a flower, a fruit and water with devotion, that offer brought from the heart by a soul of good habits I accept [same as in B.G. 9: 26].'

(5) But the twice-born soul thus being addressed, was too embarrassed with Him, the Husband of the Goddess of Fortune, bowed down his head and did not offer the few hands of rice grains, oh King. (6-7) As the direct witness in the heart of all living beings fully cognizant of the reason why he had come, He thought: 'He worshiped Me in the past and never desired opulence. But because he, My friend, in order to keep his chaste and devoted wife happy, has come to Me now, I will give him riches not attainable for [even] the immortals [see also B.G. 9: 22].' (8) With that in mind He Himself from under the garment of the twice-born soul snatched away the rice grains that were tied in a bundle, and said: 'What is this? (9) Have you brought this for Me, My dear friend? That gives Me the greatest pleasure! These rice grains satiate Me and the whole universe [that I am]!'



(10) Speaking thus He took a handful to eat and a second one, whereupon S'rī [Rukminī devī], devoted to Him, the One Supreme, seized His hand [for the beaten grains were hard to digest]. (11) 'That, oh Soul of Each and Everyone, is enough to make a person, wishing to satisfy You, prosper in this world and the next with all opulence available.'

(12) After to his satisfaction having drunk and eaten, the brahmin spent that night in Acyuta's palace. He thought he had attained heaven. (13) The next day, dear King, as he returned home, he was honored by Him, the Self-satisfied Maintainer of the Universe, who made him happy as he walked along the path. (14) Even though he had received no wealth from Krishna and had been too embarrassed to ask for it himself, he on his way home was filled with joy about the audience he had had with the Great One. (15) 'Ah, what a privilege it is to have witnessed the devotion of the Godhead of the Brahmins for the twice-born souls. He who carries Lakshmī in His chest embraced the poorest wretch! (16) Who am I? A destitute sinner! And who is Krishna? The temple of S'rī! And He, this friend of the brahmins, closed me in His arms! (17) He seated me on the bed of His consort like one of His brothers. Tired as I was, I was fanned by His queen holding a [yak-tail] hair fan. (18) Being served with sincerity with a massage for my feet and such, I was worshiped like a demigod by the God of Gods, the Godhead of the Scholars! (19) The worship of His feet is the root of all perfections and opulence that man in his emancipation may find in heaven, on earth and in the lower regions. (20) 'If this poor soul acquires opulence he, delighting in excess, will not remember Me', He must have thought in His grace, and thus did not grant me the slightest amount of wealth.'

(21-23) Thus lost in thought he arrived at the vicinity of his home. There he found himself placed before high rising palaces rivaling the sun, the fire and the moon. On all sides they were surrounded by wonderful courtyards and gardens swarming with hordes of cooing birds, ponds full of lilies and day and night blooming white lotuses. There were well adorned and ornamented men and women with deer-like eyes. 'What is this, whose place is this, how could this come about?' (24) This way paining his mind, he was welcomed by the men and women with a luster like the demigods, who most fortunately loudly sang to instrumental music. (25) His wife, hearing that her husband had arrived, extremely jubilant quickly appeared excitedly from the house like she was the goddess of fortune manifesting herself from her abode. (26) Seeing the husband she was so devoted to, she solemnly held her head down, embracing him within her heart with closed eyes filled with tears because of her eagerness and love. (27) He stood amazed at the sight of his wife who, shining in the midst of maidservants with golden lockets around their necks, radiated like a goddess in a vimāna. (28) Pleased he together with her entered his home which, with its hundreds of gem-studded pillars, resembled the palace of the great Indra. (29-32) There were ivory beds ornamented with gold [with bedding] white as foam and couches with golden legs, yak tail fans, golden chairs with soft cushions and canopies hung with strings of pearls. Seeing the sparkling clear quartz walls inlaid with precious emeralds as also the shining jeweled lamps and the women decorated with jewels, the brahmin, now free from worries with all the excessive opulence, reasoned about the cause of his unexpected prosperity: (33) 'This prosperity here, of me always so unlucky and poverty stricken, must be the consequence of the glance that He, the Best of the Yadus who is of the Greatest Opulence, has cast on me. (34) It is no doubt my Friend, the most exalted among the Das'arhas and Enjoyer of Unlimited Wealth, who, without saying a word, like a cloud [pouring rain] has given me this opulence when He, with me in His presence, noticed that I came begging. (35) With pleasure the great Soul accepted a palmful of roasted rice that I brought. [Thus] He makes something great of the meager gift of a friend [like me] and something insignificant of the great gift He gave. (36) May there life after life, repeatedly be my love [sauhrida], friendship [sakhya], sympathy [maitrī] and servitude [dāsya] for Him, the Supremely Compassionate Reservoir of Transcendental Qualities, as also my adherence to the intimate association with His devotees. (37) The Supreme and Never Born Lord does not bestow the wonderful opulences of a kingdom and material assets upon His devotee, when he [not initiated or not twice-born, see 10.80: 32] fails in understanding. In His wisdom He sees how the rise of false pride [the arrogance, the conceit with the wealth or the mada] leads to the downfall of the wealthy.'

(38) He [Sudāmā] this way firmly being fixed in intelligence, was most devoted to Janārdana and enjoyed free from intense desire [for wealth or profit] together with his wife. Therewith he always kept in mind that he [sooner or later] would have to abandon the objects of his senses. (39) The brahmins are even the master of Him, the God of Gods, Hari, the Master and Lord of Sacrifice. There exists no higher worshipable deity than them [see also 7.11: 14, 7.14: 17-18, 10.24: 25, 10.45: 32]. (40) By thus recognizing the Unconquerable One as being conquered by His own servants [see also 9.4: 63 and 10.9: 19] he, the learned friend of the Supreme Lord, was released from his bondage to the [material] self. By the force of his meditation upon Him he soon attained His abode, the destination of truthful souls. (41) The human being who hears about this sympathy for the brahmins of the Godhead of the Brahmins, will find love for the Supreme Lord and be freed from the bondage of [fruitive] labor [karma, see also 7.11: 35].'

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Third revised edition, loaded November 15, 2021.

 

 

 

Previous Aadhar edition and Vedabase links:

Text 1-2

S'rī S'uka said: 'He, Bhagavān Krishna, the True Goal of the Devotees, the Lord Who Perfectly Knows the Minds of All Beings, in this manner conversing with this best soul among the brahmins, then, in His dedication to the ones of learning, laughed and spoke with a smile and a loving glance to His dear friend.
S'rī S'uka said: 'He, Bhagavān Krishna, the True Goal of the Devotees, the Lord Knowing Perfectly the Minds of All Beings, in this manner conversing with this best one among the brahmins, then, in His dedication to the ones of learning, spoke to His dear friend, with a loving glance looking at him, smiling and laughing. (Vedabase)

  

Text 3

The Supreme Lord said: 'What gift have you brought for Me from home, oh brahmin? Even the slightest that in pure love is offered by devotees, turns into something immense for Me, whereas not even the greatest that is being presented by non-devotees pleases Me.

The Supreme Lord said: 'What gift have you brought for Me from home, o brahmin? Even the slightest thing offered by devotees in pure love turns into something immense for Me, whereas not even the greatest being presented by non-devotees may please Me. (Vedabase)

 

Text 4

Whoever offers Me a leaf, a flower, a fruit and water with devotion, that offer brought from the heart by a soul of good habits I accept [same as in B.G. 9: 26].'

Whoever offers Me a leaf, a flower, a fruit and water with devotion, that offer brought from the heart by a soul of good habits I accept [same as in B.G. 9.26].' (Vedabase)

 

Text 5

But the twice-born soul thus being addressed, was too embarrassed with Him, the Husband of the Goddess of Fortune, bowed down his head and did not offer the few hands of rice grains, oh King.

The one twice-born though, thus being addressed, was, bowing down his head, too embarrassed with Him, the Husband of the Goddess of Fortune, and didn't offer the few hands of rice grains, o King. (Vedabase)

 

Text 6-7

As the direct witness in the heart of all living beings fully cognizant of the reason why he had come, He thought: 'He worshiped Me in the past and never desired opulence. But because he, My friend, in order to keep his chaste and devoted wife happy, has come to Me now, I will give him riches not attainable for [even] the immortals [see also B.G. 9: 22].'

As the direct Witness in the heart of all living beings fully cognizant of the reason why he came thought He to Himselves: 'He worshiped Me in the past and never desired the opulence, but because he, My friend, to keep his chaste and devoted wife happy, now came to Me, will I give him riches that are [even] out of reach for the immortals [see also B.G. 9.22].' (Vedabase)

     

 Text 8

With that in mind He Himself from under the garment of the twice-born soul snatched away the rice grains that were tied in a bundle, and said: 'What is this?

With this in mind snatched He Himself from under the garment of the twice-born one away the ricegrains that were tied up in a bundle, and said He: 'What is this? (Vedabase)

 

Text 9

Have you brought this for Me, My dear friend? That gives Me the greatest pleasure! These rice grains satiate Me and the whole universe [that I am]!'

Have you brought this to My pleasure My dear friend? These ricegrains satiate Me and the whole universe [that I am]!' (Vedabase)

  

Text 10

Speaking thus He took a handful to eat and a second one, whereupon S'rī [Rukminī devī], devoted to Him, the One Supreme, seized His hand [for the beaten grains were hard to digest].

Thus speaking took He a handful to eat and a second one, whereupon S'rī [Rukminī devī] devoted to Him, the One Supreme, seized His hand [for the beaten grains were hard to digest]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 11

'That, oh Soul of Each and Everyone, is enough to make a person, wishing to satisfy You, prosper in this world and the next with all opulence available.'

'That, o Soul of the Universe, is enough to make a person who is after Your satisfaction prosper in this world and the next with all opulence available.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 12

After to his satisfaction having drunk and eaten, the brahmin spent that night in Acyuta's palace. He thought he had attained heaven.

The brahmin the night thereafter residing in Acyuta's palace, having drunken and eaten to his fill felt as if he had attained heaven.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 13

The next day, dear King, as he returned home, he was honored by Him, the Self-satisfied Maintainer of the Universe, who made him happy as he walked along the path.

The next day went he who was honored by Him, the Self-satisfied Maintainer of the Universe, back to his own residence my dear, feeling delighted as he walked the road. (Vedabase)

 

Text 14

Even though he had received no wealth from Krishna and had been too embarrassed to ask for it himself, he on his way home was filled with joy about the audience he had had with the Great One.

Even though he had received no wealth from Krishna and had been too embarrassed to beg for it on his own accord, was he on his way home filled with joy about the audience he had with the Great One.  (Vedabase)

    

 Text 15

'Ah, what a privilege it is to have witnessed the devotion of the Godhead of the Brahmins for the twice-born souls. He who carries Lakshmī in His chest embraced the poorest wretch!

'Ah, what a privilege it is to have witnessed the extend of the devotion to the twice-born of the Godhead of the Brahmins; He who carries Lakshmī on His chest embraced the poorest man! (Vedabase)

 

Text 16

Who am I? A destitute sinner! And who is Krishna? The temple of S'rī! And He, this friend of the brahmins, closed me in His arms!

Who am I? Someone poor and sinful! And who is Krishna? The temple of S'rī! And He, this friend of the brahmins, closed me unblinking in His arms! (Vedabase)

 

Text 17

He seated me on the bed of His consort like one of His brothers. Tired as I was, I was fanned by His queen holding a [yak-tail] hair fan.

Like one of His brothers having me seated on the bed of His beloved, was I, tired as I was, by His queen fanned with a hair-fan she held.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 18

Being served with sincerity with a massage for my feet and such, I was worshiped like a demigod by the God of Gods, the Godhead of the Scholars!

With sincerity served and with my feet massaged and such was I like a demigod worshiped by the God of Gods, the Godhead of the Learned! (Vedabase)

 

Text 19

The worship of His feet is the root of all perfections and opulence that man in his emancipation may find in heaven, on earth and in the lower regions.

The worship of His feet is the root cause of all perfections and opulence a person may find in heaven, in his emancipation, in the lower regions and on earth. (Vedabase)

   

Text 20

'If this poor soul acquires opulence he, delighting in excess, will not remember Me', He must have thought in His grace, and thus did not grant me the slightest amount of wealth.'

'If this poor one obtains riches will he, delighting in excess, not remember Me', He must have thought, in His grace not to grant me the slightest amount of wealth.' (Vedabase)

 

 Text 21-23

Thus lost in thought he arrived at the vicinity of his home. There he found himself placed before high rising palaces rivaling the sun, the fire and the moon. On all sides they were surrounded by wonderful courtyards and gardens swarming with hordes of cooing birds, ponds full of lilies and day and night blooming white lotuses. There were well adorned and ornamented men and women with deer-like eyes. 'What is this, whose place is this, how could this come about?'

Thus innerly occupied with these thoughts arrived he in the vicinity of his home. There he found himself placed before high rising palaces, rivaling the sun, the fire and the moon, that on all sides were surrounded by wonderful courtyards and gardens swarming with hordes of cooing birds, ponds full of lilies and night and day blooming white lotuses and well adorned and ornamented men and women with deer-like eyes. 'What is this, whose place is this, how could this come about?' (Vedabase)

 

 Text 24

This way paining his mind, he was welcomed by the men and women with a luster like the demigods, who most fortunately loudly sang to instrumental music.

That way paining his mind was he welcomed by the men and women with complexions effulgent like the demigods, who most fortunately loudly sang with instrumental music. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 25

His wife, hearing that her husband had arrived, extremely jubilant quickly appeared excitedly from the house like she was the goddess of fortune manifesting herself from her abode.

Hearing that her husband had arrived, came his excited wife extremely jubilant, quickly out of the house like it was the goddess of fortune manifesting herself from her abode. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 26

Seeing the husband she was so devoted to, she solemnly held her head down, embracing him within her heart with closed eyes filled with tears because of her eagerness and love.

Seeing the husband she was so devoted to, bowed she with her eyes, tearful with the spur of love, closed, solemnly her head down, embracing him within her heart. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 27

He stood amazed at the sight of his wife who, shining in the midst of maidservants with golden lockets around their necks, radiated like a goddess in a vimāna.

Seeing his wife appearing as effulgent as a goddess in a vimāna, shining in the midst of maidservants with golden lockets around their necks, was he stunned. (Vedabase)


 Text 28

Pleased he together with her entered his home which, with its hundreds of gem-studded pillars, resembled the palace of the great Indra.

Pleased himself to be joined by her saw he, having entered his home, how it with its hundreds of gem-studded pillars looked like the palace of the great Indra. (Vedabase)

  

 Text 29-32

There were ivory beds ornamented with gold [with bedding] white as foam and couches with golden legs, yak tail fans, golden chairs with soft cushions and canopies hung with strings of pearls. Seeing the sparkling clear quartz walls inlaid with precious emeralds as also the shining jeweled lamps and the women decorated with jewels, the brahmin, now free from worries with all the excessive opulence, reasoned about the cause of his unexpected prosperity:

There were ivory beds ornamented with gold [with bedding] white as foam and couches with golden legs, yaktail fans, golden chairs with soft cushions and canopies hung with strings of pearls. Seeing the sparkling clear quartz walls inlaid with precious emeralds as also the jeweled lamps and the women decorated with jewels, reasoned the brahmin therewith, free from agitation with all the flourishing opulence, about the cause of the unexpected prosperity: (Vedabase)

  

 Text 33

'This prosperity here, of me always so unlucky and poverty stricken, must be the consequence of the glance that He, the Best of the Yadus who is of the Greatest Opulence, has cast on me.

'It must be so that the cause of my prosperity here, of me who poverty stricken was always so unfortunate, can be nothing but the glance upon me of Him, the Best of the Yadus, the One of the Greatest Opulence. (Vedabase)


 Text 34

It is no doubt my Friend, the most exalted among the Das'arhas and Enjoyer of Unlimited Wealth, who, without saying a word, like a cloud [pouring rain] has given me this opulence when He, with me in His presence, noticed that I came begging.

After all, gave He, my Friend, the most exalted among the Das'arhas, with me being in the presence of Him, the Enjoyer of All Wealth, as plentiful as a cloud having said nothing when He took notice of my intention to beg. (Vedabase)


 Text 35

With pleasure the great Soul accepted a palmful of roasted rice that I brought. [Thus] He makes something great of the meager gift of a friend [like me] and something insignificant of the great gift He gave.

Contrary to the little that He makes of the great that He Himself gives is the insignificant given by a well-wishing friend by Him turned into something great; that is how the Supreme Soul with pleasure accepted the palmful of ricegrains brought by me. (Vedabase)


 Text 36

May there life after life, repeatedly be my love [sauhrida], friendship [sakhya], sympathy [maitrī] and servitude [dāsya] for Him, the Supremely Compassionate Reservoir of Transcendental Qualities, as also my adherence to the intimate association with His devotees.

Let there indeed life after life repeatedly be my love [sauhrida], friendship [sakhya], sympathy [maitrī] and servitude [dāsya] with Him, the Supremely Compassionate Reservoir of Transcendental Qualities, and may I become firmly attached to the valuable association of His devotees. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 37

The Supreme and Never Born Lord does not bestow the wonderful opulences of a kingdom and material assets upon His devotee, when he [not initiated or not twice-born, see 10.80: 32] fails in understanding. In His wisdom He sees how the rise of false pride [the arrogance, the conceit with the wealth, or the mada] leads to the downfall of the wealthy.'

Upon His devotee does the Supreme Lord not bestow the wonderful opulences - a kingdom and material assets - when he, not born again [see 10.80: 32], fails in understanding. In His wisdom He sees how the intoxication [the mada] leads to the downfall of the wealthy.' (Vedabase)

 

 Text 38

He [Sudāmā] this way firmly being fixed in intelligence, was most devoted to Janārdana and enjoyed free from intense desire [for wealth or profit] together with his wife. Therewith he always kept in mind that he [sooner or later] would have to abandon the objects of his senses.

This way firmly fixed in intelligence was he most devoted to Janārdana and enjoyed he together with his wife free from inordinate desire. Therewith kept he aways in mind that he [time and again] had to renounce the objects of the senses. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 39

The brahmins are even the master of Him, the God of Gods, Hari, the Master and Lord of Sacrifice. There exists no higher worshipable deity than them [see also 7.11: 14, 7.14: 17-18, 10.24: 25, 10.45: 32].

Because of Him, the God of Gods, Hari, the Master and Lord of Sacrifice are the brahmins truly the masters; there is no higher deity to be found than them [see also 7.11: 14, 7.14: 17-18, 10.24: 25, 10.45: 32]. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 40

By thus recognizing the Unconquerable One as being conquered by His own servants [see also 9.4: 63 and 10.9: 19] he, the learned friend of the Supreme Lord, was released from his bondage to the [material] self. By the force of his meditation upon Him he soon attained His abode, the destination of truthful souls.

Thus seeing the Unconquerable One as conquered by His own servants [see also 9.4: 63 and 10.9: 19] was he, the learned friend of the Supreme Lord, by the momentum of his meditation upon Him released from his bondage to the [material] self and attained he soon His abode, the destination of the truthful. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 41

The human being who hears about this sympathy for the brahmins of the Godhead of the Brahmins, will find love for the Supreme Lord and be freed from the bondage of [fruitive] labor [karma, see also 7.11: 35].'

A man hearing of this sympathy for the twice-born of the Godhead of the Brahmins, finds love for the Supreme Lord and is freed from the bondage of fruitive labor [see also 7.11: 35]. (Vedabase)

 

 

 

 

 

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                  License
The text and audio are offered under the conditions of the
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
The first picture shows Krishna welcoming Sudama, source exoticindiaart.com.
The second picture shows Sudama finding a golden palace returning home
.
Source: Punjab Hills (Pahari), ca. 1775-1790 V&A-collections.
Production: Filognostic Association of The Order of Time.


 

 

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