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KRISHNA'S FRIEND SUDAMA
Krishna's Friend Sudama There was a saint (Rhishi) named
Sandipani. His ashram
was situated on the river bank of Kshipra. It was a renowned
ashram, so Krishna
came to study there from Mathura. There he made a friendship
with one student.The student's name was Sudama. He was a poor
brahmin boy from Porbundar.
They parted after having completed the study. Then Krishna
became the king o
Dwarika. Sudama went to Parbundar, married and became a
Grihastha
(householder), but he never repudiated worship of the
Omnipotent. He vowed
never to borrow and never to store.
Such a vow is very difficult to follow. Many a time one would go
without a meal.
His children would cry for hunger. On seeing their children
crying for hunger,
Sudama's wife would shed tears. She would often make a sarcastic
remark
(taunt): O dear husband, you often say that Krishna is your
friend. At least you
go to him once to see him. Sudama would reply, I would go to him
but wouldnot ask for anything from him. His wife told, Don't ask ,
but you do go there
and see if he is still your friend or not. All right, I would
go, said Sudama and
prepared to go to Dwarika.
At that time, Sudama's wife borrowed a handful of parched rice
from a
neighbour. She wrapped it in a bag and gave it to her husband
saying, We
should never go to see anyone empty handed. Give this parched
rice to your
riend. Sudama went to Dwarika from Porbundar bare footed. On the
way he
was hungry but he did not even touch the rice. The rice was
meant for Krishna,
wasn't it ? At last he reached Dwarika. He went on enquiring
about Krishna's
house and at last he stopped at his palace door.
Dirty, ragged dress, lean bodied - who would allow such a person
indoors ? He
hide himself in a corner and waited. At that time Krishna saw
him. Krishna ran
rom his palace and embraced Sudama. He, with all love, forcibly
took him to his
palace. Then he seated Sudama on his royal cot and told his
queen Rukshamani,
I often tell you about my friend. Here is that friend of mine,
Sudama.
Rukshamani understood it. She began to fan Sudama. Sudama was
stunned on
seeing the pomp and splendour of Dwarika and Krishna's palace.
Hence he was
trying to hide that bundle of rice, but Krishna's alert eyes
would not fail to mark
it.
Krishna took away the bundle of rice, untied the rags and began
to eat it. He
went on eating and praising the rice. Fine, very fine! What a
fine thing sent by
my sister -in -law. Rukshamani also asked for it and ate it.
Krishna warmly
insisted on Sudama's stay with him and he detained Sudama for a
longer time. At
last the time for departure arrived. Sudama did not ask for
anything at the time
of departure and also Krishna did not give him anything. He
returned to
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Porbundar, dirty, ragged, as he had left Porbundar before. He
came to his locality
but did not see his home.
There was a big building in the place of his home. He fell
a-thinking, Where is my
cottage? In the meantime his children came out running from that
big building,
shouting Papa, Papa! and clang to him. They dragged him into
that building.There he saw his wife smiling, standing and laughing.
Sudama wondered,
What's all this? Sudama's wife told him, This is the favour of
your friend
Krishna. He has created a palace in the place of our hut. Now we
have not to
worry about food, clothes and residence. Sudama declared, But I
have asked
or nothing from him. His wife chuckled and said, Have we to ask
for anything
rom God? God gives us everything without asking for it. Sudama
exclaimed,
Oh God! Krishna!, you have done a miracle such as found by a
farmer when he
sees on awakening the field completely watered overnight. He
achieved such a
splendour, comfort and wealth but there was no ebb in his
devotion to God.
On the contrary, his love (worship - devotion) for God
increased. Now he totallydevoted himself to God, day and night.
1. Krishna was a prince, Sudama was a poor brahmin, yet they
were fast
riends.They stayed at their teachers house, served their
teachers [Guru] and
studied together. To study by serving one's teacher is the real
study. They were
getting such real education so their friendship remained
unbroken.
2. Look at the virtues of Krishna:-
(a) Krishna does not forget his poor friend even after becoming
a king.
(b) On seeing the wretched condition of his friend, Krishna does
not turn his back,
but on the contrary, he runs and warmly embraces Sudama.
(c) Krishna gladly accepts the small gift of his friend and
moreover praises that
gift. (d) He helps Sudama without being known to his friend.
(e) He does not hope for the thanks of his friend, for his help
rendered to Sudama.
Now look at
Sudama's virtues:-
(a) Sudama does not go to his friend's house because of the fear
that he would
unknowingly ask for something from his friend.
(b) He considers Krishna as a friend, not as a king.
(c) Sudama sticks to his vow. He does not ask for anything, nor
he hopes ogetting anything.
(d) He is neither unhappy because of poverty, nor is he happy on
getting
splendour.
(e) He has firm faith in God.
