Chapter Twenty-two Śrī Sudāma-vipropakhyāna-varṇaṇa The Story of Śrī Sudāma-vipra

Lord Kṛśṇa had a friend named Sudāmā, who was a brāhmaṇa living with his wife in his own city.

He was poor and renounced. He had traveled to the farther shore of the Vedas and Vedāṇgas. He and his saintly like-minded wife lived without begging for their livelihood.

When his wife was unhappy because of their poverty, he said to her, “O chaste and devoted one, Śrī Kṛśṇa, the king of Dvārakā, is my friend.

trailokya-nātho bhagavān duḥkha-hā dīna-vatsalaḥ iti śrutvā vacas tasya śuśka-vaktrā pati-vratā jīrṇa-vastra-dharā dīnā patiṁ prāha bubhukśitā yadi brahman nanu hariḥ sakhā te kamalā-patiḥ bubhukśitaḥ katham-bhūto jīrṇa-karpaṭa-dhāraṇaḥ dvārakāyāṁ janā gatvā dṛśṭvā sākśāc chrīyaḥ patiṁ dhana-yuktāḥ samāyānti tasmāt tvaṁ gantum arhasi mayā—by me; tena—by Him; api—also; paṭhitā—studied; vidyā—knowledge; sāndīpaneḥ—of Sāndīpani; gṛhe—in the home; punaḥ—again; na—not; dṛśṭaḥ—seen; śrī-kṛśṇaḥ—Śrī Kṛśṇa; bhoja-vṛśṇy-andhakeśvaraḥ—the Lord of Bhojas, Vṛśṇis and Andhakas; trailokya-nāthaḥ—the king of the three worlds; bhagavān—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; duḥkha-hā—destroying suffering; dīna-vatsalaḥ—affectionate to the poor; iti—thus; śrutvā—hearing; vacaḥ—the words; tasya—of him; śuśka—dry; vaktrā—throat; pati-vratā—devoted to her husband; jīrṇa-vastra-dharā—wearing ragged clothing; dīnā—poor; patim—to her husbvand; prāha—said; bubhukśitā—hungry; yadi—if; brahman—O brāhmaṇa; nanu—indeed; hariḥ—Lord Kṛśṇa; sakhā—the friend; te—of you; kamalā-patiḥ—the husband of the goddess of fortune; bubhukśitaḥ—hungry; katham-bhūtaḥ—why?; jīrṇa-karpaṭa-dhāraṇaḥ—wearing ragged clothes; dvārakāyām—in Dvārakā; janā—the people; gatvā—going; dṛśṭvā—seeing; sākśāt—directly; śrīyaḥ patim—the goddess of fortune's husband; dhana-yuktāḥ—wealthy; samāyānti—return; tasmāt—therefore; tvam—you; gantum—to go; arhasi—should. “He and I studied in Sāndīpani Muni's home together. When He became the king of the Bhojas, Vṛśṇis and Andhakas, I never saw Him again. He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of the three worlds. Affectionate to the poor and suffering, He removes all their troubles." When she heard these words, the brāhmaṇa's chaste and devoted wife, troubled by hunger, her garments ragged, and her voice now dry, said to her husband. “O brāhmaṇa, if Lord Kṛśṇa, the goddess of fortune's husband, is your friend, then why are we hungry and why do we wear ragged clothes? Everyone that goes to Dvārakā and sees Lord Kṛśṇa, the goddess of fortune's husband, returns wealthy. For this reason, please go to see Him."

trailokya-nātho bhagavān duḥkha-hā dīna-vatsalaḥ iti śrutvā vacas tasya śuśka-vaktrā pati-vratā jīrṇa-vastra-dharā dīnā patiṁ prāha bubhukśitā yadi brahman nanu hariḥ sakhā te kamalā-patiḥ bubhukśitaḥ katham-bhūto jīrṇa-karpaṭa-dhāraṇaḥ dvārakāyāṁ janā gatvā dṛśṭvā sākśāc chrīyaḥ patiṁ dhana-yuktāḥ samāyānti tasmāt tvaṁ gantum arhasi mayā—by me; tena—by Him; api—also; paṭhitā—studied; vidyā—knowledge; sāndīpaneḥ—of Sāndīpani; gṛhe—in the home; punaḥ—again; na—not; dṛśṭaḥ—seen; śrī-kṛśṇaḥ—Śrī Kṛśṇa; bhoja-vṛśṇy-andhakeśvaraḥ—the Lord of Bhojas, Vṛśṇis and Andhakas; trailokya-nāthaḥ—the king of the three worlds; bhagavān—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; duḥkha-hā—destroying suffering; dīna-vatsalaḥ—affectionate to the poor; iti—thus; śrutvā—hearing; vacaḥ—the words; tasya—of him; śuśka—dry; vaktrā—throat; pati-vratā—devoted to her husband; jīrṇa-vastra-dharā—wearing ragged clothing; dīnā—poor; patim—to her husbvand; prāha—said; bubhukśitā—hungry; yadi—if; brahman—O brāhmaṇa; nanu—indeed; hariḥ—Lord Kṛśṇa; sakhā—the friend; te—of you; kamalā-patiḥ—the husband of the goddess of fortune; bubhukśitaḥ—hungry; katham-bhūtaḥ—why?; jīrṇa-karpaṭa-dhāraṇaḥ—wearing ragged clothes; dvārakāyām—in Dvārakā; janā—the people; gatvā—going; dṛśṭvā—seeing; sākśāt—directly; śrīyaḥ patim—the goddess of fortune's husband; dhana-yuktāḥ—wealthy; samāyānti—return; tasmāt—therefore; tvam—you; gantum—to go; arhasi—should. “He and I studied in Sāndīpani Muni's home together. When He became the king of the Bhojas, Vṛśṇis and Andhakas, I never saw Him again. He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of the three worlds. Affectionate to the poor and suffering, He removes all their troubles." When she heard these words, the brāhmaṇa's chaste and devoted wife, troubled by hunger, her garments ragged, and her voice now dry, said to her husband. “O brāhmaṇa, if Lord Kṛśṇa, the goddess of fortune's husband, is your friend, then why are we hungry and why do we wear ragged clothes? Everyone that goes to Dvārakā and sees Lord Kṛśṇa, the goddess of fortune's husband, returns wealthy. For this reason, please go to see Him."

trailokya-nātho bhagavān duḥkha-hā dīna-vatsalaḥ iti śrutvā vacas tasya śuśka-vaktrā pati-vratā jīrṇa-vastra-dharā dīnā patiṁ prāha bubhukśitā yadi brahman nanu hariḥ sakhā te kamalā-patiḥ bubhukśitaḥ katham-bhūto jīrṇa-karpaṭa-dhāraṇaḥ dvārakāyāṁ janā gatvā dṛśṭvā sākśāc chrīyaḥ patiṁ dhana-yuktāḥ samāyānti tasmāt tvaṁ gantum arhasi mayā—by me; tena—by Him; api—also; paṭhitā—studied; vidyā—knowledge; sāndīpaneḥ—of Sāndīpani; gṛhe—in the home; punaḥ—again; na—not; dṛśṭaḥ—seen; śrī-kṛśṇaḥ—Śrī Kṛśṇa; bhoja-vṛśṇy-andhakeśvaraḥ—the Lord of Bhojas, Vṛśṇis and Andhakas; trailokya-nāthaḥ—the king of the three worlds; bhagavān—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; duḥkha-hā—destroying suffering; dīna-vatsalaḥ—affectionate to the poor; iti—thus; śrutvā—hearing; vacaḥ—the words; tasya—of him; śuśka—dry; vaktrā—throat; pati-vratā—devoted to her husband; jīrṇa-vastra-dharā—wearing ragged clothing; dīnā—poor; patim—to her husbvand; prāha—said; bubhukśitā—hungry; yadi—if; brahman—O brāhmaṇa; nanu—indeed; hariḥ—Lord Kṛśṇa; sakhā—the friend; te—of you; kamalā-patiḥ—the husband of the goddess of fortune; bubhukśitaḥ—hungry; katham-bhūtaḥ—why?; jīrṇa-karpaṭa-dhāraṇaḥ—wearing ragged clothes; dvārakāyām—in Dvārakā; janā—the people; gatvā—going; dṛśṭvā—seeing; sākśāt—directly; śrīyaḥ patim—the goddess of fortune's husband; dhana-yuktāḥ—wealthy; samāyānti—return; tasmāt—therefore; tvam—you; gantum—to go; arhasi—should. “He and I studied in Sāndīpani Muni's home together. When He became the king of the Bhojas, Vṛśṇis and Andhakas, I never saw Him again. He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of the three worlds. Affectionate to the poor and suffering, He removes all their troubles." When she heard these words, the brāhmaṇa's chaste and devoted wife, troubled by hunger, her garments ragged, and her voice now dry, said to her husband. “O brāhmaṇa, if Lord Kṛśṇa, the goddess of fortune's husband, is your friend, then why are we hungry and why do we wear ragged clothes? Everyone that goes to Dvārakā and sees Lord Kṛśṇa, the goddess of fortune's husband, returns wealthy. For this reason, please go to see Him."

trailokya-nātho bhagavān duḥkha-hā dīna-vatsalaḥ iti śrutvā vacas tasya śuśka-vaktrā pati-vratā jīrṇa-vastra-dharā dīnā patiṁ prāha bubhukśitā yadi brahman nanu hariḥ sakhā te kamalā-patiḥ bubhukśitaḥ katham-bhūto jīrṇa-karpaṭa-dhāraṇaḥ dvārakāyāṁ janā gatvā dṛśṭvā sākśāc chrīyaḥ patiṁ dhana-yuktāḥ samāyānti tasmāt tvaṁ gantum arhasi mayā—by me; tena—by Him; api—also; paṭhitā—studied; vidyā—knowledge; sāndīpaneḥ—of Sāndīpani; gṛhe—in the home; punaḥ—again; na—not; dṛśṭaḥ—seen; śrī-kṛśṇaḥ—Śrī Kṛśṇa; bhoja-vṛśṇy-andhakeśvaraḥ—the Lord of Bhojas, Vṛśṇis and Andhakas; trailokya-nāthaḥ—the king of the three worlds; bhagavān—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; duḥkha-hā—destroying suffering; dīna-vatsalaḥ—affectionate to the poor; iti—thus; śrutvā—hearing; vacaḥ—the words; tasya—of him; śuśka—dry; vaktrā—throat; pati-vratā—devoted to her husband; jīrṇa-vastra-dharā—wearing ragged clothing; dīnā—poor; patim—to her husbvand; prāha—said; bubhukśitā—hungry; yadi—if; brahman—O brāhmaṇa; nanu—indeed; hariḥ—Lord Kṛśṇa; sakhā—the friend; te—of you; kamalā-patiḥ—the husband of the goddess of fortune; bubhukśitaḥ—hungry; katham-bhūtaḥ—why?; jīrṇa-karpaṭa-dhāraṇaḥ—wearing ragged clothes; dvārakāyām—in Dvārakā; janā—the people; gatvā—going; dṛśṭvā—seeing; sākśāt—directly; śrīyaḥ patim—the goddess of fortune's husband; dhana-yuktāḥ—wealthy; samāyānti—return; tasmāt—therefore; tvam—you; gantum—to go; arhasi—should. “He and I studied in Sāndīpani Muni's home together. When He became the king of the Bhojas, Vṛśṇis and Andhakas, I never saw Him again. He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of the three worlds. Affectionate to the poor and suffering, He removes all their troubles." When she heard these words, the brāhmaṇa's chaste and devoted wife, troubled by hunger, her garments ragged, and her voice now dry, said to her husband. “O brāhmaṇa, if Lord Kṛśṇa, the goddess of fortune's husband, is your friend, then why are we hungry and why do we wear ragged clothes? Everyone that goes to Dvārakā and sees Lord Kṛśṇa, the goddess of fortune's husband, returns wealthy. For this reason, please go to see Him."

Generous Lord Kṛśṇa, who is an ocean of kindness, will remove our miserable poverty. O my beloved, will this not be the result of your friendship with Him?

Many demigods, gandharvas, kinnaras, and great kings approach the entrance to His palace, but without His permission none can enter. What can be said of poor me?

How can I see my old friend and then ask something from Him? My greedy request will chase away His love for me.

The brāhmaṇa said: Seeing my friend, Lord Kṛśṇa is the greatest attainment. Still, what gift will i give to Him when I see Him? I will be embarrassed by my poverty.

Then the saintly woman went to a neighbor's home, begged four palmsful of rice, and returned.

Then, tying the rice in a ragged piece of cloth, she gave it to her husband.

Taking that chipped rice with him, weak, dirty, dressed in rags, and always meditating on Lord Kṛśṇa, the master of the brāhmaṇas, the brāhmaṇa went to Lord Kṛśṇa's city of Dvārakā.

Crossing the ocean in a boat, the brāhmaṇa gazed at Lord Kṛśṇa Dvārakā City, which was carefully protected by the powerful Yādavas, and which was wonderful with many golden palaces, assembly-halls, fortresses, and crossroads.

Gazing at Lord Kṛśṇa's city, the brāhmaṇa asked the people, “Where is Lord Kṛśṇa's beautiful palace?" The people replied, “All are Lord Kṛśṇa's palaces."

Hearing this, the brāhmaṇa asked the palace guards, “In which palace is Lord Kṛśṇa at this moment?" the guards replied, “He is in all of them at this moment."

Hearing this, entering one of the palaces, and then seeing Lord Kṛśṇa sitting on His bed, the brāhmaṇa became filled with spiritual bliss.

Seeing that he had come, Lord Kṛśṇa at once stood up and, His eyes flooded with tears, embraced His friend with both arms.

In a golden basin the Lord washed his feet and then sprinkled the water on His own head. Then Lord had him sit on the bed.

Then the Lord worshiped him, offering him, fragrances, sandal paste, aguru, kuṇkuma, incense, lamps, madhu-parka, and cooked grains.

After offering him betelnuts, the Lord spoke words of welcome to the weak, dirty, old, white-haired, dressed-in-rags brāhmaṇa.

Then smiling Mitravindā worshiped and fanned him. Filled with wonder, all of Lord Kṛśṇa's queens smiled.

Seeing him worshiped in this way, the queens said among themselves, “What austerities must this brāhmaṇa avadhūta have performed?"

Lord Kṛśṇa honored him as if he were an elder brother. Holding hands in the palace, the two of them talked about their days in the home of their guru.

O friend, because I was afraid of Jarāsandha, I went to Dvārakā. O great one, where do you live? Please tell Me.

One time, sent by our guru's wife, we students went to the fearful forest to gather firewood.

Then there was a ferocious and frightening hurricane. The sun set in the west, and then at night there was a great blinding darkness.

Everything was flooded with water. Unable to see anything, all of us tightly held each other's lotus hands.

jale śiśyāṁś ca śītārtān vanaṁ gatvā dadarśa ha jalān sarvān sthale kṛtvā gurur aśru-pariplutaḥ uvāca bālakā yūyaṁ asmad-ājṣā-parāyaṇaḥ śreśṭhas tu prāṇinām ātmā tam anādṛtya mat-parāḥ vidyut-prakāśe—in the lightning flash; paśyantaḥ—seeing; dīkśu—the directions; sarvāsu—all; babhramuḥ—wandering; tataḥ—then; sūryodaye—at sunrise; jāte—manifested; guruḥ—the guru; sāndīpaniḥ—Sāndīpani; mahān—great; jale—in the water; śiśyān—students; ca—and; śītārtān—troubled by cold; vanam—to the forest; gatvā—went; dadarśa—saw; ha—indeed; jalān—the water; sarvān—all; sthale—the place; kṛtvā—doing; guruḥ—the guru; aśru—tears; pariplutaḥ—flooded; uvāca—said; bālakā—boys; yūyam—you; asmad-ājṣā—to my order; parāyaṇaḥ—devoted; śreśṭhāḥ—the best; tu—indeed; prāṇinām—of living entities; ātmā—himself; tam—indeed; anādṛtya—ignoring; mat-parāḥ—for my sake. Seeing by the light of lightning flashes, we wandered in all directions. When the sun rose our guru, Sāndīpani Muni, went to the forest and saw his students trapped in a flooded place and suffering from the cold. His eyes flooded with tears, our guru said, “You boys have dedicated your lives to fulfilling my order. You are the best of all living entities. Ignorning your own benefit, you are devoted to me.

jale śiśyāṁś ca śītārtān vanaṁ gatvā dadarśa ha jalān sarvān sthale kṛtvā gurur aśru-pariplutaḥ uvāca bālakā yūyaṁ asmad-ājṣā-parāyaṇaḥ śreśṭhas tu prāṇinām ātmā tam anādṛtya mat-parāḥ vidyut-prakāśe—in the lightning flash; paśyantaḥ—seeing; dīkśu—the directions; sarvāsu—all; babhramuḥ—wandering; tataḥ—then; sūryodaye—at sunrise; jāte—manifested; guruḥ—the guru; sāndīpaniḥ—Sāndīpani; mahān—great; jale—in the water; śiśyān—students; ca—and; śītārtān—troubled by cold; vanam—to the forest; gatvā—went; dadarśa—saw; ha—indeed; jalān—the water; sarvān—all; sthale—the place; kṛtvā—doing; guruḥ—the guru; aśru—tears; pariplutaḥ—flooded; uvāca—said; bālakā—boys; yūyam—you; asmad-ājṣā—to my order; parāyaṇaḥ—devoted; śreśṭhāḥ—the best; tu—indeed; prāṇinām—of living entities; ātmā—himself; tam—indeed; anādṛtya—ignoring; mat-parāḥ—for my sake. Seeing by the light of lightning flashes, we wandered in all directions. When the sun rose our guru, Sāndīpani Muni, went to the forest and saw his students trapped in a flooded place and suffering from the cold. His eyes flooded with tears, our guru said, “You boys have dedicated your lives to fulfilling my order. You are the best of all living entities. Ignorning your own benefit, you are devoted to me.

jale śiśyāṁś ca śītārtān vanaṁ gatvā dadarśa ha jalān sarvān sthale kṛtvā gurur aśru-pariplutaḥ uvāca bālakā yūyaṁ asmad-ājṣā-parāyaṇaḥ śreśṭhas tu prāṇinām ātmā tam anādṛtya mat-parāḥ vidyut-prakāśe—in the lightning flash; paśyantaḥ—seeing; dīkśu—the directions; sarvāsu—all; babhramuḥ—wandering; tataḥ—then; sūryodaye—at sunrise; jāte—manifested; guruḥ—the guru; sāndīpaniḥ—Sāndīpani; mahān—great; jale—in the water; śiśyān—students; ca—and; śītārtān—troubled by cold; vanam—to the forest; gatvā—went; dadarśa—saw; ha—indeed; jalān—the water; sarvān—all; sthale—the place; kṛtvā—doing; guruḥ—the guru; aśru—tears; pariplutaḥ—flooded; uvāca—said; bālakā—boys; yūyam—you; asmad-ājṣā—to my order; parāyaṇaḥ—devoted; śreśṭhāḥ—the best; tu—indeed; prāṇinām—of living entities; ātmā—himself; tam—indeed; anādṛtya—ignoring; mat-parāḥ—for my sake. Seeing by the light of lightning flashes, we wandered in all directions. When the sun rose our guru, Sāndīpani Muni, went to the forest and saw his students trapped in a flooded place and suffering from the cold. His eyes flooded with tears, our guru said, “You boys have dedicated your lives to fulfilling my order. You are the best of all living entities. Ignorning your own benefit, you are devoted to me.

veda-śāstra-purāṇāni kaṇṭha-sthāni bhavantu hi tasmād guroś ca kṛpayā pūrṇo 'haṁ sarva-saukhyataḥ tasmāt—therefore; bhavadbhyaḥ—with you; santuśṭaḥ—pleased; varam—blessing; dāsyāmi—I will give; durlabham—rare; bhavatām—of you; ca—and; api—also; sarvatra—in all circumstances; pūrṇaḥ—fulfilled; santu—may be; manorathāḥ—desires; veda-śāstra—the Vedas; purāṇāni—and Purāṇas; kaṇṭha-sthāni—staying in your voices; bhavantu—may be; hi—indeed; tasmāt—therefore; guroḥ—of the guru; ca—and; kṛpayā—by the mercy; pūrṇaḥ—fulfilled; aham—I; sarva-saukhyataḥ—with all happiness. “For this reason I will give you all a rare blessing. I bless you that the Vedas and Purāṇas will always stay in your voices and your desires will always be fulfilled." For this reason, by our guru's mercy, I am always filled with happiness.

veda-śāstra-purāṇāni kaṇṭha-sthāni bhavantu hi tasmād guroś ca kṛpayā pūrṇo 'haṁ sarva-saukhyataḥ tasmāt—therefore; bhavadbhyaḥ—with you; santuśṭaḥ—pleased; varam—blessing; dāsyāmi—I will give; durlabham—rare; bhavatām—of you; ca—and; api—also; sarvatra—in all circumstances; pūrṇaḥ—fulfilled; santu—may be; manorathāḥ—desires; veda-śāstra—the Vedas; purāṇāni—and Purāṇas; kaṇṭha-sthāni—staying in your voices; bhavantu—may be; hi—indeed; tasmāt—therefore; guroḥ—of the guru; ca—and; kṛpayā—by the mercy; pūrṇaḥ—fulfilled; aham—I; sarva-saukhyataḥ—with all happiness. “For this reason I will give you all a rare blessing. I bless you that the Vedas and Purāṇas will always stay in your voices and your desires will always be fulfilled." For this reason, by our guru's mercy, I am always filled with happiness.

Hanging his head down, Sudāmā brāhmaṇa did not offer the chipped rice to Lord Kṛśṇa, the all-pervading Supersoul.

Aware of the reason for the brāhmaṇa's visit, Lord Kṛśṇa, who is the Supersoul present in everyone's heart, thought, “This brāhmaṇa does not serve Me because he wants material opulence or liberation.

“His chaste and devoted wife is distressed and she desires wealth, but how can I give wealth to them when they have not given anything to Me?"

After saying this to Himself, the Lord understood what had happened. He thought, “He came here taking a gift of rice for Me, but now he is embarrassed and he will not give it.

“Therefore I will ask him for it." After thinking in this way, Lord Kṛśṇa spoke.

If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.*

After speaking these words, the Supreme Personality of Godhead suddenly grabbed the ragged pouch of rice and said, “What is this?

“O friend, you have brought something that is very pleasing. O brāhmaṇa, this rice will satisfy bith Me and the entire universe.

“I used to eat excellent chipped rice like this in Gokula. My mother, Yaśodā-devī, would always give me rice like this. After that time I had never seen this kind of rice again."

Lord Kṛśṇa then ate one palmful of that rice and He was about to eat a second.

Then the goddess of fortune, who was resting on His chest, suddenly grasped His hand and said, “Lord, I have not offended You. Why do You wish to leave Me?

“Because of what You have just done, this brāhmaṇa will become King Indra's equal." The poverty-stricken brāhmaṇa did not understand the secret of what had just happened.

The brāhmaṇa stayed there for one night. Eating and drinking, he became happy. Meanwhile, Lord Viśṇu's yogamāyā potency filled his home with all opulences.

The next day the brāhmaṇa decided to return to his own home. He bowed down before Lord Kṛśṇa and received permission to leave. Then the Lord bowed before him and embraced him.

Embarrassed, he had not asked for anything. As he returned home, he thought, “I have seen how Lord Kṛśṇa, the master of the brāhmaṇas and the husband of the goddess of fortune, dearly loves the brāhmaṇas.

“I am only a poor brāhmaṇa. Still, Lord Kṛśṇa embraced me with His arms and had me sit on His wife's bed as if I were His brother.

“Rukmiṇī and Satyabhāmā both fanned me. I am poor because if I became rich I would not continue to fix my thoights on Lord Kṛśṇa, the goddess of fortune's husband.

“It is for this reason that Lord Kṛśṇa, out of His great kindness, did not offer me any wealth." Then the brāhmaṇa remembered his wife. The thought made him angry.

pratyakśa-dṛśṭaḥ kṛpaṇo garvito dhana-pūritaḥ śāpaṁ dāsye kathaṁ mitre dhana-lobhād ahaṁ vṛthā gṛhāṇa—take; dhana-koṭim—wealth many millions fo times over; ca—and; gṛham—hom; gatvā—going; bravīmy—say; aham—I; brahmaṇya-devaḥ—the master of the brāhmaṇas; dātā—generous; ca—and; śrī-kṛśṇaḥ—Śrī Kṛśṇa; ayam—He; mayā—by me; śrutaḥ—heard; pratyakśa-dṛśṭaḥ—directly seen; kṛpaṇaḥ—a miser; garvitaḥ—proud; dhana-pūritaḥ—filled with wealth; śāpam—a curse; dāsye—I will give; katham—why?; mitre—to My friend; dhana-lobhāt—out of greed for money; aham—I; vṛthā—for no reason. He thought, “If when I saw Him I had heard generous Lord Kṛśṇa, the master of the brāhmaṇas, say, `I say please take wealth many millions of times over,' then I would become a proud and wealthy miser. Lord Kṛśṇa must have thought, “Why should I curse My friend in this way, so for no reason he will become a greedy miser."

pratyakśa-dṛśṭaḥ kṛpaṇo garvito dhana-pūritaḥ śāpaṁ dāsye kathaṁ mitre dhana-lobhād ahaṁ vṛthā gṛhāṇa—take; dhana-koṭim—wealth many millions fo times over; ca—and; gṛham—hom; gatvā—going; bravīmy—say; aham—I; brahmaṇya-devaḥ—the master of the brāhmaṇas; dātā—generous; ca—and; śrī-kṛśṇaḥ—Śrī Kṛśṇa; ayam—He; mayā—by me; śrutaḥ—heard; pratyakśa-dṛśṭaḥ—directly seen; kṛpaṇaḥ—a miser; garvitaḥ—proud; dhana-pūritaḥ—filled with wealth; śāpam—a curse; dāsye—I will give; katham—why?; mitre—to My friend; dhana-lobhāt—out of greed for money; aham—I; vṛthā—for no reason. He thought, “If when I saw Him I had heard generous Lord Kṛśṇa, the master of the brāhmaṇas, say, `I say please take wealth many millions of times over,' then I would become a proud and wealthy miser. Lord Kṛśṇa must have thought, “Why should I curse My friend in this way, so for no reason he will become a greedy miser."

kṛśṇas tu nanda-sadane para-gehe ca vardhitaḥ sa dāsyati kathaṁ dravyaṁ dhana-yukto 'pi nirdhanaḥ yādṛśī—like which; me—for me; kṛtā—done; prītiḥ—love; tādṛśīm—like that; prāpayiśyati—will attain; pitarau—the parents; asya—of Him; kaṁsena—by Kaṁsa; kārāgare—in prsion; kṛtau—done; purā—before; kṛśṇaḥ—Lord Kṛśṇa; tu—indeed; nanda-sadane—in nanda's home; para-gehe—in the home of another; ca—and; vardhitaḥ—grew up; sa—He; dāsyati—will give; katham—why; dravyam—wealth; dhana-yuktaḥ—wealthy; api—even; nirdhanaḥ—poor. “He will give me what makes me love Him more. He did that to His parents when they were locked in Kaṁsa's prison and when He grew up in the home of His stepfather Nanda. Why would Kṛśṇa give me wealth if when I became wealthy with money I would also become poor in love for Him?

kṛśṇas tu nanda-sadane para-gehe ca vardhitaḥ sa dāsyati kathaṁ dravyaṁ dhana-yukto 'pi nirdhanaḥ yādṛśī—like which; me—for me; kṛtā—done; prītiḥ—love; tādṛśīm—like that; prāpayiśyati—will attain; pitarau—the parents; asya—of Him; kaṁsena—by Kaṁsa; kārāgare—in prsion; kṛtau—done; purā—before; kṛśṇaḥ—Lord Kṛśṇa; tu—indeed; nanda-sadane—in nanda's home; para-gehe—in the home of another; ca—and; vardhitaḥ—grew up; sa—He; dāsyati—will give; katham—why; dravyam—wealth; dhana-yuktaḥ—wealthy; api—even; nirdhanaḥ—poor. “He will give me what makes me love Him more. He did that to His parents when they were locked in Kaṁsa's prison and when He grew up in the home of His stepfather Nanda. Why would Kṛśṇa give me wealth if when I became wealthy with money I would also become poor in love for Him?

“Even if one sees a palace filled with jewels, he should not desire to have it. A person's destiny is written on his forehead. That destiny cannot be changed."

As he was thinking in this way, the brāhmaṇa came to his own home, which was surrounded by golden fortress walls, decorated with flags and great gates, . . .

. . . filled with many palaces, great archways, and wonderful and colorful domes. It way made of jewels. It was filled with beautiful people. It was beautiful and opulent like Dvārakā.

As beautiful men and women walked on the wide pathways in the palace, the brāhmaṇa stared at everything and said, “What is this? Whose home is this?"

Seeing that the brāhmaṇa did not enter the palace, the servants and maidservants went to the queen of the house told her of it. When she heard of it she was very surprised.

Hearing that her husband had come, the brāhmaṇa's wife hastily left the palace to greet him. She was now as beautiful as the goddess of fortune.

Surrounded by many servants and maidservants, she rode to him on a palanquin. Showing how happy she was to see him, she embraced her husband as he was walking about.

Seeing that his wife had become a splendid young girl dressed in exquisite golden clothing, decorated with jewels, and beautiful like the goddess of fortune riding in a spiritual airplane, the brāhmaṇa became very happy and thought that this was all done by the mercy of Lord Kṛśṇa.

vitānaiḥ svarṇa-pātraiś ca toraṇaiḥ samalaṇkṛtam dṛśṭvā kṛśṇasya kṛpayā sudāmā taruṇo 'bhavat nija-geham—to his home; tayā—her; yuktaḥ—with; śrī-kṛśṇa-bhavanopamam—like Lord Kṛśṇa's palace; bhojanaiḥ—with food; dravya-ratnaiḥ—with jewels; ca—and; paryaṇka-vyajanāsanaiḥ—with opulent beds, seats, and fans; vitānaiḥ—with awning; svarṇa-pātraiś—golden vessels; ca—and; toraṇaiḥ—with arches; samalaṇkṛtam—decorated; dṛśṭvā—seeing; kṛśṇasya—of Lord Kṛśṇa; kṛpayā—by the mercy; sudāmā—Sudāmā; taruṇaḥ—youthful; abhavat—became. Accompanied by his wife, the brāhmaṇa looked at the palace, which, like Lord Kṛśṇa's own palace, was filled with jewels, comfortable beds and chairs, fans, awnings, archways, golden dishes, and delicious foods. Then Sudāmā suddenly became a young man.

vitānaiḥ svarṇa-pātraiś ca toraṇaiḥ samalaṇkṛtam dṛśṭvā kṛśṇasya kṛpayā sudāmā taruṇo 'bhavat nija-geham—to his home; tayā—her; yuktaḥ—with; śrī-kṛśṇa-bhavanopamam—like Lord Kṛśṇa's palace; bhojanaiḥ—with food; dravya-ratnaiḥ—with jewels; ca—and; paryaṇka-vyajanāsanaiḥ—with opulent beds, seats, and fans; vitānaiḥ—with awning; svarṇa-pātraiś—golden vessels; ca—and; toraṇaiḥ—with arches; samalaṇkṛtam—decorated; dṛśṭvā—seeing; kṛśṇasya—of Lord Kṛśṇa; kṛpayā—by the mercy; sudāmā—Sudāmā; taruṇaḥ—youthful; abhavat—became. Accompanied by his wife, the brāhmaṇa looked at the palace, which, like Lord Kṛśṇa's own palace, was filled with jewels, comfortable beds and chairs, fans, awnings, archways, golden dishes, and delicious foods. Then Sudāmā suddenly became a young man.

Without becoming materialistic, the brāhmaṇa enjoyed the wealth he received by the Lord's causeless mercy. Filled with knowledge, renunciation, and devotion for the Lord, in their hearts he and his wife abandoned all material desires.

The brāhmaṇa thought: Who gave me these opulences? It must be that Lord Kṛśṇa, who is the master of the brāhmaṇas, gave me these opulences even the great demigods cannot achieve.

I did not do anything to make Lord Kṛśṇa give me opulence like this. It must be that He was pleased by the palmful of rice and out of love He gave me this in return.

I pray that I may be His servant and friend birth after birth. By meditating on His lotus feet, I will cross the ocean of birth and death.

Engaged in meditating on Lord Kṛśṇa's lotus feet and giving charity to the brāhmaṇas, Sudāmā and his wife finally returned to Lord Kṛśṇa's supreme abode.

A person who hears these pastimes of Lord Kṛśṇa becomes free of poverty and becomes a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

O king, now I have spoken to you the very sacred Dvārakā-khaṇḍa, which gives fame, good family, devotional service, and liberation to they who regularly hear it.