Sudama was a friend of Lord Krishna from their childhood, when they were students with the great teacher and rishi, Sandeepany. They were partners in the pranks of Lord Krishna. After they finished school, the friends separated and went their ways. Krishna became the king of Dwaraka. Sudama was married and it was said he had twenty-seven children. He became very poor and eventually could hardly feed his family. His wife urged him to go to Krishna and ask him for help. Sudama postponed it for as long as he could, as he was too sensitive to ask for the Lord's help. He didn't want to go to his friend's place with a begging bowl. Eventually he was forced to take this step. His wife gave him a small bag of puffed rice to give to Krishna, for one never goes empty-handed to meet a friend or relative.

When Sudama reached the magnificent door of the palace, the guards stopped him. Quite ashamed of himself, he told the guard to inform Krishna that his friend Sudama was at the door. The guard did not believe that this man wearing such tattered clothes could be the king's friend. Nevertheless he took pity on the poor fellow and went in to announce to the king.

Lord Krishna rushed out to greet his friend with loving respect. He hugged him with happiness and led him inside. Though he was the Lord of the Universe, he washed his friend's feet and wiped them dry with his own silk clothing. Both the friends were very happy to see each other. Krishna gently chided Sudama for not visiting him in such a long time. Sudama was greatly moved by this reception.

Krishna, known for his mischief, asked his friend, "What has my sister-in-law sent for me? Surely she would not have sent you empty-handed to me. Come on. Let me have it."
Sudama was embarrassed and agitated, and many thoughts were racing through his head.
"Was it OK to give such a mean gift to the Lord? Was it fitting? What if Krishna were to mistake his intention in bringing him a gift?"
Krishna saw the small bundle tucked under his friend's armpit, and quickly snatched it and found the rice inside. This was his favourite dish and he ate one handful immediately. He ate a second handful with great relish, and as he was about to put the third handful in his mouth, his wife Rukmini stopped him, saying it was enough.

Sudama was miserable, and even though Krishna bade him stay there for a couple of days he never could tell his friend why he had come. A few days later Sudama was sent home with all honours. As he came near his house, Sudama wondered what he would tell his wife. How could he tell her he had not got any money from his friend? But imagine his bewilderment when he saw a huge mansion where his house had been. As he stood wondering, out came his wife and family, all dressed in fine clothes! Sudama understood that his friend had done the needful even without his telling him anything.

Without Sudama even speaking his needs, the purpose of his visit had been fulfilled by the Lord in a divinely loving way. As Krishna ate the first mouthful of puffed rice, Sudama's family was transformed into a wealthy family back in their village. As he ate the second mouthful, his house became transformed into a golden mansion.

Had Krishna eaten a third handful, it is said that the wealth of the Lord Himself would have passed to Sudama.

Adapted with permission from the Shri Ram Chandra Mission, from Down Memory Lane, Volume Two, 1998, by Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari, and Teachers' Guide for Value-based Spiritual Education. Curriculum for Classes I to X, 2000, Sahaj Marg Research and Training Institute of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission, Chennai, India. For information contact Santosh Khanjee, Secretary of International Affairs at info@srcm.org.

Q: What do you think is the value of the tradition of taking a gift to a friend or relative, no matter how small? Do gifts need to be expensive and glamorous? In the book "Love and Death" (p.70), Chariji talks about gifts. He says:

" We have a saying in Hindi, 'Love! That is to say, be loving! It doesn't matter how you show that love.' To a child we bring a toy, to a guru we carry a gift of a fruit or a flower. To the beloved we may take something that pleases her. It is all an expression of our love. So in the oriental tradition of taking a gift, it is to find out how to express this love. It need not be expensive, it need not be wrapped up beautifully. It must be able to express my love for him to whom I am carrying something."

Q: Why was Sudama ashamed to ask his friend for help? What would you have done?

Q: Have you ever been in a situation of being ashamed to ask for help when you needed it? What did you do?

Q: Can you think of ways to become more sensitive to the needs of others, as Krishna was to Sudama?

Q: How was Krishna able to know what Sudama needed without being told? Is it necessary to ask for things of God?

Q: Do you think it is possible to achieve things in life without the assistance of the divine?

Q: Although Krishna was divine, he still listened to the advice of his wife Rukmini, and did not eat a third handful of rice. Why do you think he would have eaten the third handful without her intervention, and why did she stop him?

O, Master!
Thou art the real goal of human life.
We are yet but slaves of wishes
Putting bar to our advancement,
Thou art the only God and power
To bring us up to that stage.