The Story of Sudama

Long ago, there was a great sage named Sandipani. His ashram was situated on the bank of the River Ganga. It was a renowned ashram, so Krishna came to study there from Mathura. There he made friendship with many, but the most favorite of his friends was  Sudama, a boy from a poor and ordinary family. 

Many people took this friendship as a piece of wonder, because Krishna was a King’s son, and Sudama a poor village boy. Often, king’s children did not make friendship with children of the commoners. But this particular friendship grew deeper day by day, and people in the ashram often said, “O, they are the best of friends.” 

After staying at the ashram for many years, they completed their study. Now, it was time for the students to leave the ashram and depart for their own homes. Krishna had to go to Dwakara, his home town, and Sudama to Porbundar, where he had his small hut, made of mud and grass. 

Krishna went home, and became the King of Dwaraka. Sudama went to Porbundar, married and settled down as a poor village man.  But he continued worshipping God, and singing His glory. Though he was poor, he vowed never to beg anything from anyone.

Such a promise was very difficult to follow. Many a time his family went hungry without meals. His children often cried for hunger. Still, Sudama never stretched his hands to beg from anyone. 

On seeing their children cry for hunger, Sudama’s wife would shed tears. She would often say to her husband: “O dear husband, you often say that Krishna is your friend. He has become a King, now. At least you go and see him.” 

 “I will go, but will not ask for anything from him.” 

“Don’t ask, but you do go there and see if he is still your friend or not.” 

“All right, I will go,” said Sudama and prepared to leave for Dwaraka. 

In the meantime, Sudama’s wife borrowed a handful of chiura—parched rice—from a neighbor. She wrapped it in a bag and gave it to her husband and said, “One should never go to see anyone empty-handed. Give this parched rice to your friend.” 

Sudama went to Dwaraka from Porbundar, bare footed. On the way, he was hungry to his bones, but he did not even touch the rice. The rice was meant for Krishna, the dearest of his friends. But all along the way, he had a doubt in his mind: ‘Will Krishna treat me as his friend? He is a king, and I a poor villager. He must be in the King’s dress, and I am in these old, tattered clothes. Will the gatekeeper allow me to enter the palace?’ Still, he dragged himself on, with Krishna’s name on his lips. 

At last, he reached Dwaraka. He went on enquiring about Krishna’s palace and at last stopped at its doors. The doorman stopped him, and did not allow entry. He repeatedly pleaded for entry, but the doorman did not listen to him. At the end, Sudama said, “Please tell your King my name, if you don’t believe.”

Dirty, ragged in dress and lean of body, Sudama would not be allowed into the palace easily. So, he hid himself in a corner and waited. A guard reluctantly moved towards Krishna’s main residence and said, “My Lord, a dirty old man wants to see you. He says, Sudama is his name and hails from Porbundar.” 

“Sudama?” exclaimed Krishna, and without waiting for his reply, rushed out to the door. 

O, it was Sudama, standing there right in front of Krishna! Krishna’s heart pounded so high, and he ran up to Sudama, and embraced him. Tears rolled out from the eyes of both the eternal friends, and their heartbeats increased. Sudama fell onto the feet of Krishna and said, “My Lord!” Krishna picked him up and said, “No Lord. I am your friend. I shall ever remain so.” 

Krishna took Sudama into his palace. Then he seated him on his royal cot and told his queen Rukmini, “I have often told you about my friend Sudama. Here he is, the most beloved of my friends.” 

Rukmini understood it. She began to fan Sudama. Sudama was stunned on seeing the glory of Dwaraka and Krishna’s palace. What to talk of their hospitality and love! He was moved from the core of his heart.

After some time had passed, Sudama remembered the gift he had brought: chiura in a piece of the cloth. But compared to such a grand palace and the riches there, his gift was so trivial and worthless. He hesitated. But Krishna’s alert eyes, full of godly wisdom,  would not fail to notice  it.

Krishna took away the bundle of rice, untied the rag and started munching. As he ate it with extreme love and delight, he praised the rice: “So wonderful and delicious! What a fine thing my sister-in-law sent for me!” He munched the entire packet, without even caring to ask for some salt, sugar, water or anything else. 

Soon Sudama hurried to leave. He was finding it extremely uncomfortable to remain there is such poor clothes. But Krishna insisted on Sudama’s staying with him for more days, and he detained Sudama for a longer time. 

At last, time for departure arrived. Sudama did not ask for anything before leaving. Krishna too did not give him anything. Sudama left, letting tears of love rolling down his face.

Sudama returned home in dirty and ragged clothes as he had left Porbundar before. He came to his locality but did not see his hut. That took him by surprise.

A big building stood at the place. “Where is my cottage?” he shouted, unable to explain the miracle. Hearing  his voice, his children came out running from that big building, and said “Papa, Papa!” They dragged him into that building. 

There he saw his wife smiling. Sudama wondered, “What’s all this?” The wife told him, “This is the favour of your friend Krishna. He created a palace in the place of our hut. He also filled it with grains and riches. Now we have not to worry about food, clothes and residence.” 

Sudama clarified, “But I asked nothing from him.” His wife chuckled and said, “Have we to ask anything from God? God gives us everything without asking.” 

Sudama exclaimed, “Oh God, Krishna! You have done a miracle! I stand here like a farmer who sees that his dry field  has been filled with ripe grains, when he wakes up in the morning.”

Sudama changed from a poor farmer to a rich man. Yet, the devotion he had for God and love for everyone did not shake at all. His name went down into history as one of the most faithful of friends, and a man of great moral character.

(Adapted from a Puranic tale by Mahesh Paudyal)