It is related in Hindu Mythology that Sudama and Krishna were childhood friends. As legend states, Krishna grew up and became king of Dwarka while Sudama got married and lived in abject poverty in another kingdom. Nevertheless, a great childhood love existed between them.One day Sudama’s wife asked him that why don’t he visit his childhood friend Krishna.
Sudama was so poor that he had no money to buy a gift and hesitated to meet his friend who is a King of Dwarka. His wife, however, encouraged him to go and renew acquaintances and packed the family’s last handful of rice as a gift. Sudama gained enough courage to go and visit his childhood friend out of genuine love, but felt little ashamed about the gift.
After a long and tiresome journey on foot, Sudama arrived at the gates of Krishna’s palace tired, hungry and looking very beggarly. The King’s guard reluctantly carried the message to the Krishna that someone by the name Sudama had come by invitation. On hearing the name Sudama, Krishna dismissed his engagements, begged leave, and hurried to the gate where Sudama was detained. Everyone was surprised, as this was not the normal palace protocol.
Krishna, on seeing Sudama, relinquished all protocol by bowing and hugging his dear and long lost childhood friend.
Krishna himself assisted in refreshing Sudama with a bath and clean comfortable clothes. Lord Krishna washed the dirty foot of Sudama with his tears.
After the exchange of past memories, Krishna asked Sudama what he had brought for him. Sudama summoned all his courage and in a moment of weakness handed Krishna the packaged handful of rice wrapped in cloth.
Sudama watched in eager anticipation, as Krishna opened the rice and lovingly chewed on the first helping to the amazement of Sudama and the curious guests. Krishna ate the rice with great love and devotion with a contented smiling face, showing the happiness of meeting his true childhood friend. This meeting was more to Krishna than all the royal friends and the array of beautiful gifts that adored the palace.
While Krishna ate the first helping of the rice, Sudama’s humble home was transformed into a beautiful palace with all the pomp and splendor of a kingdom. Each helping produced the additional glory that made up the residence of a king. On Sudama’s return, he was pleasantly surprised of this magical transformation of his tiny home that he thought he was in the wrong place. Even his poorly dressed wife was now adorned with royal clothes and he had to be persuaded that this was in fact his home and family.
The spiritual significance of this event reveals that when charity is given from the heart without expectations of name, fame, appreciation or recognition, then the rewards multi-million fold. This is the characteristic of a karma yogi who performs actions without the motive of expecting reward, but one who performs actions relinquishing the fruits of the actions. This legend has deeper historical significance associated with Gita c4v7&8 at the end of kaliyug called the confluence age.
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