ॐ कृष्णाय नमः
Om Krishnaya Namah
Lord Krishna, when he was a young boy, like all other children, went to school to study. The schools in those days were known as Gurukuls. The Gurukul was actually the Guru’s (teacher’s) home and his students stayed with him or at least close by. The Guru charged his students no fees at all but at the end of the term students would either offer their Guru, Guru Dakshina (voluntary contribution) or offer to do some work for the Guru in return for the education they received. At the Gurukul, the students were taught the sacred texts along with various other subjects. The primary aim of the Gurukul education was to teach students to live a cultured and disciplined life.
It was at his Gurukul - Acharya Sandipani's ashram (hermitage), in Vrindavan that Krishna first met Sudama. Krishna was a Prince from a royal family and Sudama was a boy from a poor Brahmin family. The fact that Krishna was very rich and Sudama was very poor made no difference to their friendship. The two boys became the best of friends and their bond of friendship remained close all through their school days. In fact they were inseparable.
Unfortunately when they completed their education, Krishna and Sudama had to go their separate ways - each back to their own home. Sudama returned to his humble hut and Krishna went back to his royal palace. Though they lost touch after school they never really forgot each other. Sudama always kept Krishna in his thoughts and Krishna too had fond memories of the happy times he had spent with his dear friend Sudama.
Once they were older both Krishna and Sudama got married. Krishna married, was crowned King of the kingdom of Dwarka and became renowned as a military leader of distinction. Sudama too got married but to a humble girl from his village who like him had very little wealth.
Sudama already poor found that as his family grew and he had children it became even more difficult to make ends meet. His wife would often ask him, “You always said that Krishna was a dear and close friend of yours. Why can’t you ask him for some help? He is the King of Dwarka. Surely he will help us with some money?”
Sudama was a proud and independent man. He believed that he could not take advantage of his friendship, with Krishna, to better his means. He would somehow manage to look after his family no matter how hard he had to struggle. Irrespective of the many difficulties he had to overcome or the hardships he had to bear Sudama could not bring himself to taint his treasured childhood friendship by using it for favours.
Though in his heart Sudama truly did wish to meet his friend, he did not wish to meet him to ask for help. He felt it would be shameful to have to use his friendship in this manner.
Besides, Sudama was a very devout man. He believed that God gave him exactly what he needed. He prayed daily and spent time in chanting mantras and doing Japa (repetition of the deities’ name) with his Rudraksha Mala (prayer beads). If it was poverty that God wanted him to have and experience Sudama was willing to bear the deprivations of poverty without complaint.
So when his wife repeatedly entreated him to ask Krishna for help Sudama would patiently explain to her, “The Lord will look after us. For the moment this is what we have to undergo because this is best for us. But be sure that God will not forsake us.”
However his wife was not as convinced. Each morning when she awoke to an empty larder and crying, hungry children she would wonder how her husband could think that that God was looking after him and his family.
One day in desperation she went to Sudama and pleaded with him, “I beg of you, do not put us through so much misery. Please go to Krishna and ask him for some help. He is your closest friend he will not deny us some relief from the abject poverty we are in.”
Sudama could not bear to see the plight of his children and wife and finally agreed to go to Dwarka to meet with Krishna. He said to his wife, “I will go to meet my friend but I cannot go empty handed. Is there anything that I can take with me?”
All his wife could find in the house was a handful of rice flakes from which she made a little poha. She wrapped it in a cloth bag and handed it over to her husband to carry along with him as a gift for Krishna. Sudama picked up the bag and left for Dwarka.
When Sudama reached the Palace at Dwarka he was amazed at the sight of the huge magnificent gates of the Palace. The liveried guards at the gate, asked him who he was and the purpose of his visit.
Sudama nervously replied, “I am Sudama, an old school friend of Krishna, and I have come to visit my friend.”
The guards readied to send a message into the palace. Sudama was certain he would soon be turned back by them. But even before the guards could send the message Sudama saw his beloved friend Krishna run down to the gates to meet him. Tears welled in Sudama’s eyes as he saw the familiar and well loved face of his dear dear friend. Krishna embraced Sudama and warmly welcomed the poor Brahmin into his Palace.
Krishna then led Sudama to the grand Palace Hall and sat Sudama on the golden throne. Sudama looked all around him. The grandeur of the Palace, the spectacular architecture, the breath taking beauty of each and every item in the room and the pageantry that surrounded him took Sudama’s breath away.
He thought to himself, “How can I offer Krishna this small cotton bag of poha? He is a King and I have brought him such a humble gift.”
He tucked the bag away out of sight and decided that he could not possibly present a King with this kind of simple gift.
To Sudama’s amazement, Krishna now washed his tired feet in a bowl of water in which were sweet scented rose petals. After washing his friend’s feet Krishna asked for a grand banquet to be laid in his friend’s honour.
After the lavish meal the two friends spent happy hours reminiscing about the fun they had during their school days. Sudama was surprised that Krishna remembered every detail. Never had the simple Brahmin felt so cherished and loved as he did that day with his friend.
Sudama had still not mentioned the bag of poha he had brought for Krishna. But Lord Krishna, who knows everything smiled and pretending to be quite unaware of the bag hidden away in the folds of Sudama’s clothes said, “Sudama, did you come to visit me without bringing me anything? Did you come empty handed? Surely your wife must have cooked something special for me and sent it?”
Having said this Krishna laughed and began to search his embarrassed friend. Sudama then, hesitatingly, took out the bag and humbly presented it to Krishna. Much to Sudama’s delight Krishna eagerly popped a large handful into his mouth and said, “mmm delicious I have been longing for poha and have not tasted it for such a long time. Oh thank you so much for bringing me something you know I love.”
Sudama had never felt happier. But soon it was time to return home. He bid his dear friend farewell thanking him for his hospitality and then began his journey back home.
It was only when he had reached almost half way home that he realised that he had completely forgotten to ask Krishna for financial help. He wondered what he would say to his wife. He knew she would be most annoyed with him. But Sudama was glad that he had not asked Krishna for help. Krishna had been so warm, kind, caring and courteous that it would have been petty on his part to ask for anything more.
Sudama continued walking the long road back home determined to explain the matter to his wife. But as he turned into the lane on which his house was located to his horror he discovered that his hut was no longer there. Worried he quickened his pace and there in place of his hovel was a grand, massive, ornate mansion. Terrified that something dreadful had happened to his wife and children Sudama nervously approached the gates. To his surprise there, standing at the impressive doorway was a lady dressed in the finest of silks and resplendent in heavy, expensive jewellery. Not just that but the lady was smiling at him and welcoming him. It was only when she spoke that he recognised the lady as his wife. The simple woman who when he left for Dwarka was wearing stained and tattered clothes was now transformed into this wealthy woman dressed in the finest apparel.
As she led him into the spacious stately home his wife explained, “I was as surprised as you are when this happened. I woke up one morning and magically found myself lying in a soft silken bed. I walked around and discovered that our line hut had turned into this grand residence. Not just that we also had a retinue of staff to do our bidding and insurmountable wealth at our disposal. It was then that I was sure that you had spoken to Krishna and he had gifted all this to you.”
Sudama knew that it certainly was Krishna who had gifted him all this. Krishna had done this for him without even being asked to. Sudama once again felt his eyes brim over with tears - this time tears of joy and over whelming gratitude.
Sudama’s love and his simple gift of poha was all it took for the Lord to bestow Sudama with wealth and happiness for a lifetime.
LIFE LESSONS
1.True friendship is not defined by wealth. Never look to see how rich or poor a person is when you choose your friends.
2. Like Sudama learn to accept your circumstances and be independent.
3. Like Sudama learn to be self-reliant. Do not keep asking others for help. You are capable enough to manage your problems.
4. It isn’t the price of the gift that you give or receive that matters, it is the love with which it is given and received that make the gift valuable.
5. Just love God and he will shower you with his bounty.
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