Sudama

Sham S. Misri

Sudama was a poor Brahmin boy. He became a close friend of Krishna. Krishna and Sudhama were taught by the same teacher. The teacher lived in a hermitage. Krishna learnt to chant from Sudama.

Once, the teacher's wife asked Sudama and Krishna to get some wood from the forest. While they were collecting the wood, a storm came and they got lost. Sudama was scared. Krishna held his arms and assured his safety. When the storm was over, they found their way to the hermitage. Sudama was relieved. After completing their studies, Krishna became the king of Dwarka and married princess Rukmini, the goddess of prosperity.

 Sudama, on the other hand, married a simple brahmin girl and began to lead the life of a devotee, reading scriptures,and  praying. Everyone loved Sudama. His wife gave birth to two children. Because of Sudama's strict life style, the family began to face difficult days. The family had little food to eat and no clothes to wear. Sudama's wife was extremely devoted to her husband but when her children began to suffer, she was concerned.

One cold night, when her children were without blanket, she approached Sudama and said, "Aren't you and Krishna, the lord of Dwarika, friends? And, Krishna married to the goddess of prosperity, Rukmini

Sudama replied, "Yes."

Sudama's wife dreamed of seeing an improvement in her family's poor condition. She said, "Go my lord, for the sake of our dear children, meet Krishna."

The very idea of meeting Krishna, his old friend, made Sudama happy.
"I will go and see him, but I will not ask him for anything,"said Sudhama.
His wife happily said, "Even a visit to Krishna will bless our family. Do not ask anything from him. I will be content my lord."

Before his departure for Dwarka, Sudama came to his wife. "What will I give to Krishna when I see him after such a long time?"

Sudama's wife suddenly remembered, "My lord you used to tell me that Krishna immensely loved Powa, the flattened rice!" Sudama too remembered Krishna's great liking for Powa. Sudama gave the gift of Powa to Krishna and Rukmini. When Krishna saw Sudama he ran to embrace him. Then Krishna sat down and washed Sudama's feet with warm water.

After the royal meal, they had a chat. Suddenly Krishna noticed a small bag on Sudama's waist. He remarked, "Ah! You have brought a present for me!"

Sudama hesitated, "How do I give a king, a poor man's Powa?" When Krishna noticed that Sudama was ashamed to give him the bag, he remarked, "Sudama, the poorest gifts given to me with love is dearer to me than the richest of gifts given without love. Then he quickly snatched the bag and opened it. There was his favorite Powa! He tossed some in his mouth with great satisfaction. Sudama could not ask anything from Krishna.

Next morning Sudama bid Krishna farewell. When he reached home, he was amazed to see that a huge mansion was standing in place of his poor hut. His wife and children, wearing new clothes, came to receive him. Sudama felt Krishna had rewarded him for his gift of love.