॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
॥ एकाशीतितमोऽध्यायः - ८१ ॥
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Discourse LXXXI
The story of parched rice brought as a Present (for Śrī Kṛṣṇa) by Sudāmā (Preamble)
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श्रीशुक उवाच ।
स इत्थं द्विजमुख्येन सह सङ्कथयन् हरिः ।
सर्वभूतमनोऽभिज्ञः स्मयमान उवाच तम् ॥ १॥
ब्रह्मण्यो ब्राह्मणं कृष्णो भगवान् प्रहसन् प्रियम् ।
प्रेम्णा निरीक्षणेनैव प्रेक्षन् खलु सतां गतिः ॥ २॥
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Śrī Śuka began again : ( Parikṣit!) Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa knows the mind of all beings. He is devoted to Brāhmaṇas (always takes care to relieve their suffering) and is the sole refuge of saints. Thus heartily talking alongwith that honourable Brāhmaṇa, He now smilingly spoke to His dear comrade in a jesting mood looking at him with eyes full of affection. (1-2) (1-2)
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श्रीभगवानुवाच ।
किमुपायनमानीतं ब्रह्मन् मे भवता गृहात् ।
अण्वप्युपाहृतं भक्तैः प्रेम्णा भूर्येव मे भवेत् ।
भूर्यप्यभक्तोपहृतं न मे तोषाय कल्पते ॥ ३॥
पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति ।
तदहं भक्त्युपहृतमश्नामि प्रयतात्मनः ॥ ४॥
इत्युक्तोऽपि द्विजस्तस्मै व्रीडितः पतये श्रियः ।
पृथुकप्रसृतिं राजन् न प्रायच्छदवाङ्मुखः ॥ ५॥
सर्वभूतात्मदृक्साक्षात्तस्यागमनकारणम् ।
विज्ञायाचिन्तयन्नायं श्रीकामो माभजत्पुरा ॥ ६॥
पत्न्याः पतिव्रतायास्तु सखा प्रियचिकीर्षया ।
प्राप्तो मामस्य दास्यामि सम्पदोऽमर्त्यदुर्लभाः ॥ ७॥
इत्थं विचिन्त्य वसनाच्चीरबद्धान् द्विजन्मनः ।
स्वयं जहार किमिदमिति पृथुकतण्डुलान् ॥ ८॥
नन्वेतदुपनीतं मे परमप्रीणनं सखे ।
तर्पयन्त्यङ्ग मां विश्वमेते पृथुकतण्डुलाः ॥ ९॥
इति मुष्टिं सकृज्जग्ध्वा द्वितीयां जग्धुमाददे ।
तावच्छ्रीर्जगृहे हस्तं तत्परा परमेष्ठिनः ॥ १०॥
एतावतालं विश्वात्मन् सर्वसम्पत्समृद्धये ।
अस्मिन् लोकेऽथ वामुष्मिन् पुंसस्त्वत्तोषकारणम् ॥ ११॥
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The glorious Lord said : "O friend, what present have you brought for Me from your house? I consider as great even a small present offered by the devotee with real love; but a lot of things offered without devotion do not bring Me pleasure. (3)
Whosoever offers to Me with love a leaf, a flower, a fruit or even water, I accept and heartily enjoy that offering of love by that man of purified intellect." (4)
Parikṣit, though encouraged by the Lord in this way, the Brāhmaṇa, feeling shy, did not present the handful of beaten rice to the Lord of Lakṣmī (the goddess of wealth) Himself. He (simply) hung his head. (5)
But the Lord, who sees the mind of all beings, knew the cause of his visit. He said to Himself, "This Brāhmaṇa is a great friend of Mine; he never sought wealth from Me before. He approached Me now, at the entreaty of his devoted wife, whom he is naturally anxious to please. I shall bestow on him a fortune which is difficult of attainment even by the immortals." (6-7)
Reflecting thus, the Lord snatched from under the covering of the Brāhmaṇa the beaten rice tied in a rag and said "Dear comrade, what is this? Here you have brought Me something which I like most. These grains of beaten rice will satisfy not only Me, but the whole world." (8-9)
Saying this, Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa ate one handful of that beaten rice and took another to eat, when Rukmiṇī, who was a manifestation of the Goddess of Wealth Herself, caught hold of the Lord's hand, for devoted as She was to the Lord Himself, She was unable to leave Him. (10)
She said "O Lord of the universe, this is enough. One handful of rice is sufficient to please You and to bring one an abundance of wealth of all kind in this as well as the next world. (Taking more of it, please do not part with me as well.)" (11) (3-11)
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ब्राह्मणस्तां तु रजनीमुषित्वाच्युतमन्दिरे ।
भुक्त्वा पीत्वा सुखं मेने आत्मानं स्वर्गतं यथा ॥ १२॥
श्वोभूते विश्वभावेन स्वसुखेनाभिवन्दितः ।
जगाम स्वालयं तात पथ्यनुव्रज्य नन्दितः ॥ १३॥
स चालब्ध्वा धनं कृष्णान्न तु याचितवान् स्वयम् ।
स्वगृहान् व्रीडितोऽगच्छन्महद्दर्शननिर्वृतः ॥ १४॥
अहो ब्रह्मण्यदेवस्य दृष्टा ब्रह्मण्यता मया ।
यद्दरिद्रतमो लक्ष्मीमाश्लिष्टो बिभ्रतोरसि ॥ १५॥
क्वाहं दरिद्रः पापीयान् क्व कृष्णः श्रीनिकेतनः ।
ब्रह्मबन्धुरिति स्माहं बाहुभ्यां परिरम्भितः ॥ १६॥
निवासितः प्रियाजुष्टे पर्यङ्के भ्रातरो यथा ।
महिष्या वीजितः श्रान्तो वालव्यजनहस्तया ॥ १७॥
शुश्रूषया परमया पादसंवाहनादिभिः ।
पूजितो देवदेवेन विप्रदेवेन देववत् ॥ १८॥
स्वर्गापवर्गयोः पुंसां रसायां भुवि सम्पदाम् ।
सर्वासामपि सिद्धीनां मूलं तच्चरणार्चनम् ॥ १९॥
अधनोऽयं धनं प्राप्य माद्यन्नुच्चैर्न मां स्मरेत् ।
इति कारुणिको नूनं धनं मेऽभूरि नाददात् ॥ २०॥
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The Brāhmaṇa spent the night in Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa's palace, partook of a hearty repast and felt himself as happy as if he were in the Lord's own paradise. (12)
(Parikṣit,) the next morning, (taking leave of Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa) he left for his home. The source of life of the entire universe, the very embodiment of Self-enjoyment, Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa followed him to some distance, delighted him by sweet and polite words and bowed to him. (13)
Even though the Brāhmaṇa did not receive any fortune from the Lord directly, he did not ask for anything himself. He felt ashamed of the meanness of his heart. He, however, felt supremely happy for having obtained the blessed sight of Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa. (14)
He said to himself, "Oh (wonder of wonders) I have seen today with my own eyes, Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa's love for a Brāhmaṇa. He is really a devotee of the Brāhmaṇas. He clasped to His bosom, which is the abode of the Goddess of Wealth, a destitute like myself! (15)
What affinity is there between me, a vile sinner and destitute (on the one hand), and Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the abode of Lakṣmī (on the other). Only because I am born of Brāhmaṇa parents, He folded me in his arms. (16)
Not only that, like His own brother, He made me sit on the bed of His beloved consort Rukmiṇi, and finding me fatigued, Queen Rukmiṇi fanned me with a chowry in Her hand. (17)
The God of gods, who treats the Brāhmaṇa as His deity, shampooed my feet and rendered every other form of personal service to me and treated me with the respect due to a god! (18)
Heavenly bliss, salvation, riches of this world or of the nether world, and all supernatural powers follow from the worship of His feet. (19)
And yet He did not give me even a little wealth. Because He thought, poor as I was, wealth would completely turn my head and make me forget Him. Oh, how merciful is the Lord to me. (He has really done me an act of grace by withholding wealth from me)." (20) (12-20)
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इति तच्चिन्तयन्नन्तः प्राप्तो निजगृहान्तिकम् ।
सूर्यानलेन्दुसङ्काशैर्विमानैः सर्वतो वृतम् ॥ २१॥
विचित्रोपवनोद्यानैः कूजद्द्विजकुलाकुलैः ।
प्रोत्फुल्लकुमुदाम्भोजकह्लारोत्पलवारिभिः ॥ २२॥
जुष्टं स्वलङ्कृतैः पुम्भिः स्त्रीभिश्च हरिणाक्षिभिः ।
किमिदं कस्य वा स्थानं कथं तदिदमित्यभूत् ॥ २३॥
एवं मीमांसमानं तं नरा नार्योऽमरप्रभाः ।
प्रत्यगृह्णन् महाभागं गीतवाद्येन भूयसा ॥ २४॥
पतिमागतमाकर्ण्य पत्न्युद्धर्षातिसम्भ्रमा ।
निश्चक्राम गृहात्तूर्णं रूपिणी श्रीरिवालयात् ॥ २५॥
पतिव्रता पतिं दृष्ट्वा प्रेमोत्कण्ठाश्रुलोचना ।
मीलिताक्ष्यनमद्बुद्ध्या मनसा परिषस्वजे ॥ २६॥
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Musing inwardly thus, the Brāhmaṇa arrived near his house. There he found the area surrounded on all sides by seven-storeyed buildings resplendent as the sun, fire and the moon. (21)
It was interspersed with beautiful gardens and parks which resounded with the warbling of birds of all descriptions, with ponds and pools in which various types of lilies and lotuses were in full blossom. (22)
Well-adorned men and pretty women were moving here and there. The Brāhmaṇa stood puzzled at the sight. He said to himself, "What is this (I am seeing in front of me)? Whose place is this? (Is it the same place where I lived? If so,) what magic has transformed it into so many palaces?" (23)
As he was engrossed in these thoughts, men and women, possessing the splendour of gods advanced to receive the blessed Brāhmaṇa singing and playing upon various musical instruments. (24)
Hearing of the return of her lord, the wife of the Brāhmaṇa was extremely delighted (at heart), and in joyous impatience, hurriedly came out of the palace. She looked like the veritable Goddess Lakṣmī coming out of her abode. (25)
At the sight of her husband her eyes became wet with tears of love and excitement. Closing her eyes (out of shyness) she respectfully bowed to him and mentally embraced him. (26) (21-26)
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पत्नीं वीक्ष्य विस्फुरन्तीं देवीं वैमानिकीमिव ।
दासीनां निष्ककण्ठीनां मध्ये भान्तीं स विस्मितः ॥ २७॥
प्रीतः स्वयं तया युक्तः प्रविष्टो निजमन्दिरम् ।
मणिस्तम्भशतोपेतं महेन्द्रभवनं यथा ॥ २८॥
पयःफेननिभाः शय्या दान्ता रुक्मपरिच्छदाः ।
पर्यङ्का हेमदण्डानि चामरव्यजनानि च ॥ २९॥
आसनानि च हैमानि मृदूपस्तरणानि च ।
मुक्तादामविलम्बीनि वितानानि द्युमन्ति च ॥ ३०॥
स्वच्छस्फटिककुड्येषु महामारकतेषु च ।
रत्नदीपा भ्राजमाना ललनारत्नसंयुताः ॥ ३१॥
विलोक्य ब्राह्मणस्तत्र समृद्धीः सर्वसम्पदाम् ।
तर्कयामास निर्व्यग्रः स्वसमृद्धिमहैतुकीम् ॥ ३२॥
नूनं बतैतन्मम दुर्भगस्य
शश्वद्दरिद्रस्य समृद्धिहेतुः ।
महाविभूतेरवलोकतोऽन्यो
नैवोपपद्येत यदूत्तमस्य ॥ ३३॥
नन्वब्रुवाणो दिशते समक्षं
याचिष्णवे भूर्यपि भूरिभोजः ।
पर्जन्यवत्तत्स्वयमीक्षमाणो
दाशार्हकाणामृषभः सखा मे ॥ ३४॥
किञ्चित्करोत्युर्वपि यत्स्वदत्तं
सुहृत्कृतं फल्ग्वपि भूरिकारी ।
मयोपनीतां पृथुकैकमुष्टिं
प्रत्यग्रहीत्प्रीतियुतो महात्मा ॥ ३५॥
तस्यैव मे सौहृदसख्यमैत्री-
दास्यं पुनर्जन्मनि जन्मनि स्यात् ।
महानुभावेन गुणालयेन
विषज्जतस्तत्पुरुषप्रसङ्गः ॥ ३६॥
भक्ताय चित्रा भगवान् हि सम्पदो
राज्यं विभूतीर्न समर्थयत्यजः ।
अदीर्घबोधाय विचक्षणः स्वयं
पश्यन्निपातं धनिनां मदोद्भवम् ॥ ३७॥
इत्थं व्यवसितो बुद्ध्या भक्तोऽतीव जनार्दने ।
विषयान् जायया त्यक्ष्यन् बुभुजे नातिलम्पटः ॥ ३८॥
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The Brāhmaṇa was astonished to see his wife brilliant like a celestial lady and shining in the midst of maid-servants adorned with necklaces of gold. (27)
Followed by her he now joyfully entered his own house, which contained hundreds of columns of gems and looked like the abode of the celestial king, Indra. (28)
It was furnished with bedsteads made of ivory and plated with gold, the beds on which were spread sheets as white and soft as the foam of milk. Chowries with gold handles were hanging here and there. (29)
There were seats of gold provided with soft cushions and strings of pearls hung from brilliant canopies. (30)
The walls made of clear crystal were inlaid with emeralds, and excellent images of women made of precious stones held dazzling jewels in their hands to light up the rooms. (31)
Seeing there such abundance of riches of all kinds come to him without any ostensible cause, the Brāhmaṇa reflected on this windfall with a calm mind: (32)
"I am poor and unluckily from birth; Oh, wherefrom could this wonderful fortune come to me? Nothing but the (gracious look) of Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the crown-jewel of Yadus and the possessor of untold riches, could be the cause of this. (33)
Śrī Kṛṣṇa (the Lord of the goddess of wealth and perfect in everyway), has infinite objects of enjoyment always at His disposal. Therefore, knowing the mind of His suppliant devotee, He gives in abundance to the latter, though He regards the gift as very insignificant and does not mention it to the devotee. My friend, the crest-jewel of Yadus, is generous like the cloud, (which though capable of filling up the ocean, sometimes does not choose to rain in the presence of the peasant, but inundates his fields at night when he is a sleep, and yet considers the gift as inadequate). (34)
Though underrating His own abundant gifts, He makes much even of a small present by His devotee. The noble-minded Lord accepted with great delight the handfuls of beaten rice I took for Him. (35)
May I secure from birth to birth His good-will, love, friendship and service. (I have no need for wealth.) May I cherish ever-growing devotion to the lotus-feet of the glorious Lord, Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the one abode of excellent qualities, and obtain association with His devotees! (36)
Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is ever free from the shackles of birth and death, is acquainted with the evil underlying worldly prosperity. He knows how the intoxication of wealth and power brings about the fall of many a wealthy man. That is why (out of compassion) He very often refuses to grant the prayer for wealth, kingdom and power of short-sighted devotees." (37)
(Parikṣit!) having reached this conclusion by force of his reason, the Brāhmaṇa in conjunction with his wife enjoyed the worldly pleasures sparingly and without attachment, and his devotion to Śrī Kṛṣṇa grew from more to more. (38) (27-38)
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तस्य वै देवदेवस्य हरेर्यज्ञपतेः प्रभोः ।
ब्राह्मणाः प्रभवो दैवं न तेभ्यो विद्यते परम् ॥ ३९॥
एवं स विप्रो भगवत्सुहृत्तदा
दृष्ट्वा स्वभृत्यैरजितं पराजितम् ।
तद्ध्यानवेगोद्ग्रथितात्मबन्धन-
स्तद्धाम लेभेऽचिरतः सतां गतिम् ॥ ४०॥
एतद्ब्रह्मण्यदेवस्य श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मण्यतां नरः ।
लब्धभावो भगवति कर्मबन्धाद्विमुच्यते ॥ ४१॥
इति श्रीमद्भागवते महापुराणे पारमहंस्यां
संहितायां दशमस्कन्धे उत्तरार्धे पृथुको-
पाख्यानं नामैकाशीतितमोऽध्यायः ॥ ८१॥
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(Parikṣit!) the almighty God of gods, the Lord of sacrifices, Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa, looks upon the Brāhmaṇa as His own Lord and deity. Therefore, there is no being (on earth) greater than the Brāhmaṇa. (39)
Now, this Brāhmaṇa, the friend of the Lord, realized that, though unconquerable by others, the Lord easily submits to the will of His devotee. Realizing this, he became absorbed in contemplation on the Lord. His ties of ignorance were cut asunder by force of this contemplation and before long he attained the abode of the Lord, the sole resort of saints. (40)
(Parikṣit!) the man who hears this account which illustrates Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa's love for the Brāhmaṇas attains devotion to the Lord and obtains release from the bondage of Karma. (41)
Thus ends the eighty-first discourse entitled "The story of beaten rice (taken by Sudāmā as a present for Śrī Kṛṣṇa)," in the latter half of Book Ten of the great and glorious Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, otherwise known as the Paramahamsa-Sarhītā. (39-41)
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