1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 10 · Chapter 81: The Lord Blesses Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa
10.81.1-210.81.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.81.3

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Lordsince 10.81.3inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीभगवानुवाच

किमुपायनमानीतं ब्रह्मन् मे भवता गृहात् ।

अण्वप्युपाहृतं भक्तै: प्रेम्णा भूर्येव मे भवेत् ।

भूर्यप्यभक्तोपहृतं न मे तोषाय कल्पते ॥ ३ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

kim upāyanam ānītaṁ

brahman me bhavatā gṛhāt

aṇv apy upāhṛtaṁ bhaktaiḥ

premṇā bhury eva me bhavet

bhūry apy abhaktopahṛtaṁ

na me toṣāya kalpate

Translation

The Supreme Lord said: O brāhmaṇa, what gift have you brought Me from home? I regard as great even the smallest gift offered by My devotees in pure love, but even great offerings presented by nondevotees do not please Me.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pure Love Makes a Gift Great

  1. 1

    The Supreme Lord asked the brāhmaṇa what gift he had brought from home.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa regards even the smallest gift as great when His devotee offers it in pure love.

  3. 3

    Even great offerings from nondevotees do not please Him. The size of a gift cannot replace devotion.

How it feels

Humility and separation → Friendship and reunion. The sweetness of relationship outweighs prestige.

Chapters 80–86 of Canto 10: Sudāmā and reunion with the residents of Vraja. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 81: The Lord Blesses Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

I regard as very significant even the smallest offering from My loving devotee.” But the poor brāhmaṇa was ashamed to present Kṛṣṇa with his meager gift of flat rice.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.81
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-bhagavān uvācathe Supreme Lord said
  2. kimwhat
  3. upāyanamgift
  4. ānītambrought
  5. brahmanO brāhmaṇa
  6. mefor Me
  7. bhavatāby you
  8. gṛhātfrom your home
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.81

    In this verse: “devotees”, “devotion”, “devotee”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.81

    In this verse: “love”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When offering something to Kṛṣṇa, do you give more attention to its size or to your love?

Practice

Make one small offering to Kṛṣṇa today, giving particular attention to offering it with love.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPure Love Makes a Gift GreatThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 10.81.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories