Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.80.25-26
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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puṇyam
—
pious activity
From √pū. The world's category for what 'earns' status — karma-puṇya. The palace residents reach for this category and fail; Gauḍīyas note: bhakti is not puṇya. It exceeds karma's economy entirely (BG 18.66 — sarva-dharmān parityajya).
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avadhūtena
—
unwashed
Instrumental of avadhūta. The palace uses the word pejoratively — but in śāstra avadhūta is praise. The verse plays both meanings: the palace means 'unkempt'; the Bhāgavatam hears 'detached from world.'
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bhikṣuṇā
—
by the mendicant
Instrumental of bhikṣu — beggar, mendicant. Another world-pejorative. Gauḍīyas note: the Six Gosvāmīs lived as bhikṣus by choice; the term carries no shame in Gauḍīya idiom.
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śriyā - hīnena
—
who is deprived of prosperity
Compound: śrī (fortune) + hīna (deprived). The palace sees śrī-hīna — fortune-bereft. But in v.23 Śrī herself fanned him. Gauḍīyas note the irony built into adjacent verses.
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śrī - nivāsena
—
the abode of Goddess Śrī
Compound: śrī + nivāsa (residence). Kṛṣṇa is named here as Lakṣmī's permanent residence — and yet He leaves Her bed (paryaṅka-sthām śrīyam hitvā) to embrace the brāhmaṇa. The verse is its own commentary.
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agra - jaḥ
—
an elder brother
Compound: agra (first) + ja (born). The witnesses cast Kṛṣṇa's treatment of Sudāmā in fraternal terms — He embraces him like an elder brother embraces a returning younger one. Gauḍīyas: vatsalya-touched sakhya.
In astonishment the residents spoke this and the next verse. Because of the condition of his clothing they considered him very low class (adhama).
This brāhmaṇa is a beggar, without wealth (śriyā), and criticized in this world (garhitena) and low (adhamena). He does not have a pious birth. The word asau indicates that this person was directly present. He was served by the Lord who is worshipped by Brahmā and others (trikoka-guruṇā), within whom wealth resides constantly (ni--vāsena). This indicates that the Lord should not have respected him since he was devoid of wealth. Of course the Lord should respect brāhmaṇas, but at least he should not embrace this brāhmaṇa. And the Lord even gave up Lakṣmī (priyam) on the couch. Sometimes śriyam is seen instead of priyam. Moreover he embraced the brāhmaṇa with the greatest affection as if he were an elder brother. This verse represents the words of the residents of the palace. It would not be improper for the Lord to treat others in this manner however.
He is a beggar, without wealth, or poor, very low, without puṇya, criticized by all. The elements in the description are progressively greater reasons for astonishment. Still he must have done some puṇya (anena) in a previous life or in this life (loke ‘smin). But such puṇya is impossible (kim). If it is known, we should also do such puṇya. The Lord who is personally present (asau), though worshipped by gurus of the three worlds (such as brāhmaṇas), who is constantly the residence of Lakṣmī or who lives with her (śrī-nivāsena) should not respect someone without wealth. Or he should worship brāhmaṇas but he should not embrace him, even giving up Lakmṣmī on her couch and with great affection as if he were an elder brother. He does not worship Gada or Pradyumna like this. Balarāma desires such worship. Or though accepted by Lakṣmī, he gives her up as she sits on the couch.
Citizens at a coronation, watching the king kneel to a beggar, are forced to redraw the map. Their question is sincere: what virtue earned this? The verse stages the world's standard astonishment so that the Bhāgavatam can answer it — what earns this is bhakti, which the world cannot see.
When Nṛsiṃha appeared, the entire demonic court that had despised Prahlāda was forced to see the boy seated by the Lord, who would not be quieted by Brahmā or Śiva but only by Prahlāda's touch (SB 7.9).
Gauḍīyas pair the two scenes: Prahlāda in his father's court, Sudāmā in Kṛṣṇa's palace — both lowly in worldly eyes, both honored above the cosmically powerful, both prompting the same astonished question in onlookers.
My note
Source: vedabase.io