The Friendship of Sudama and Krishna

One of Krishna's schoolmates at the gurukul was a Brahmin known in tradition as Sudama. He was learned, calm and content, but very poor. Often there was nothing to eat at home. His wife said: your friend is the king of Dwarka; go and meet him once. Sudama agreed to go, not to ask for anything, but simply to see his friend.

His wife borrowed a handful of chivda from the neighbours and tied it in a torn cloth. In ragged clothes Sudama reached Dwarka. Seeing the splendour of the palace, he felt shy. But the moment Krishna saw him, He rose from Rukmini's couch, ran to him and embraced His friend.

Krishna seated Sudama on His own bed, washed his feet with His own hands and touched that water to His head. Rukmini began to fan him. The two friends remembered their days at guru Sandipani's ashram: how once, sent to collect firewood, they were caught in a storm all night in the forest, until their guru came searching for them in the morning.

Then Krishna asked with a laugh: what has my sister-in-law sent for me? Sudama, embarrassed, was hiding the bundle. Krishna snatched it and ate a handful of the rice, saying: I love this. As He reached for a second handful, Rukmini lovingly held His hand: this is enough.

Sudama asked for nothing and went home thinking: the Lord has not given me wealth, perhaps so that I do not grow proud and forget Him. But when he arrived, a beautiful palace stood in place of his hut. Even so, Sudama stayed as humble as before and spent his whole life in devotion.