Friendship: Krishna and Sudama

There is a story between Sudama, a poor brahmin and Lord Krishna. They became close in Rishi Sandipani's Ashram. It is said that Krishna learnt to chant from Sudama.

Their story is worth sharing, as it teaches us many thing.

After their education at Sandipani's ashram, both of them set off in their own path. Krishna became King of Dwarika but Sudama hit by misfortune was living in poverty to a extent that they could live on only one meal a day.

Once Sudama's wife, Susheela, requested Sudama to visit Krishna and tell him about his misfortune, so that Krishna would grant them some wealth. Sudama hesitated but couldnot win over Sushila.

Sudama on the way to Dwarika was thinking about Krishna and started comparing. The monlogue started, at one point he was confident that Krishna would recognize him and help him and again at another point he imagined Krishna not recognizing him.

When he reached Dwarika, he was amazed to see the beauty of Dwarika. On reaching the palace door, he requested guards to relay the message to Krishna that his old friend Sudama was in his palace door. 

Guard seeing Sudama in torn cloths, bare foot didnt believe that Sudama was Krishna's friend. After long discussion guard went inside the palace and informed krishna.

As soon as the name Sudama came from the mouth of Guard, Krishna ran to the door to welcome his friend. Rukmini, Krishna's wife, was amazed at this seen. The person for whom the whole world run toward is today running at someone else. She also followed Krishna.

Seeing Sudama, Rukmani was amazed, with his appearance but Krishna, soon jumped into Sudama's arm and started to cry. Krishna escorted Sudam to the palace and asked him to sit in his throne. This surprised Rukmini and other even more. Krishna asked Ruknini to bring water and he cleaned Sudama's feet and dried with the Pitambar he was wearing. There was constant flood of tears flowing from Krishna's eyes when he saw blood coming out of Sudama's leg, who came bare foot all the way.

Krishna even took Sudama to his bed and asked Sudama to lie down and started pressing his leg. During the conversation, Krishna asked if Sushila has sent anything for him.

While coming to  Dwarika, Sushila after begging in many houses collected some rice grain and had given it to Sudama, asking him to give it to Krishna. Sudam after experiencing all the royality and love hesitated to give the rice grain. Krishna saw it and started eating it. With every grain, Krishna ate, Dwarika's wealth started to decrease while Sudam's started to increase. Knowing his Rukmini took the rice grain from Krishna's hand and also started eating, as her eating it would not impact on Dwarika's wealth. 

Krishna knew the reason Rukmini ate the rice grain and commented, my pride is not in me being king and possesing all wealth wwhile my best friend is  struggling even to eat one meal a day.

Krishna's Love for Sudama was unconditional with no barrier of ego and selfishness.

Being a King he served his friend as if he was Sudama's servant. Krishna blessed Sudama with wealth and happiness.

During their ashram days, Sudama cheated on Krishna by eating, Krishna's part of meal. So Krishna had to remain hungry for whole day. Krishna so easily not even allowing this bad thought to come in his mind, welcomed his friend Sudama as if nothing had happened in the past.

We might have made good friends but we might not be in good term now. We can't gurantee about other but atleast from our side we can make an effort to start it again.

Let this friendship week bring us back our old treasured friend.....who are angry with us, or with whom we are angry with..... lets revive the freindship again....Lets celebrate friendship.....