The life journey and significance of lord Krishna’s best friend
Sudama bows at the glimpse of Krishna’s golden palace in Dwarka; Image Source: V & A Museum
EARLY LIFE
Sudama is known for being Krishna’s best friend. Krishna is Vishnu’s, the god of preservation, eighth avatar. He was also one of Krishna’s biggest devotees and the most loyal friend and follower. Sudama was born in a poor Brahmin household to father Sudhamaya. Being a Brahmin in itself reflects how he dedicated his life to the spiritual upliftment and guidance of the society and particularly Krishna in this case.
He and Krishna both went to Sandipani ashram in Mathura to study together as even though they belonged to different sections of the society, the institute for seeking education remained the same. Their first interaction was when both of them were sent to collect wood and Krishna grew hungry. At first Sudama hesitated from sharing his lowly puffed rice but when he realised Krishna was very hungry, he offered it to him. Krishna admitted that puffed rice was his favourite and then established an era of a great friendship.
LIFE EVENTS AND CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY
Through a legend it is believed that a persistent poor lifestyle was chosen by Sudama to save Krishna from the same. The story goes as, a poor Brahmin was unable to collect alms for five days straight. When she finally managed to collect them, it was already night and even though she was extremely hungry, she decided to keep a few grams of food wrapped in a cloth for the next day. Being a devotee of Krishna, she took the lord’s name and fell asleep with a gratitude filled heart for the supreme deity. But she was awakened by a robbery where the thieves mistook her parcel of grains as a treasure of diamonds and stole it. They then landed at Sandipani ashram and out of fear of being caught, left the grains there. A saint looked at the grains and fleeting sight of thieves understanding what had happened. He placed a curse over the parcel that anyone who eats its contents shall be impoverished. Next day, another saint mistakenly gives the parcel to Krishna and Sudama. Upon grabbing the parcel first, Sudama realises what the curse is. Although he was supposed to share it with Krishna, he ate it all by himself to prevent a poor lifestyle for a man destined to bring great changes in that era.
LIFE AFTER MAJOR EVENTS
After their education, both Krishna and Sudama parted ways. Krishna went on being the king of Dwarka, adorned with wealth and powers. Little changed in Sudama’s life, he remained the same poor saint as he once was. His wife Susheela, who was although proud of her husband, sometimes worried about their economic state. She kept urging Sudama to reach out to his friend from Mathura and ask for some help as Krishna possessed immense wealths. Sudama only had love for Krishna and did not want to ask for anything else, the lord’s devotion was enough for his sustainment.
But once it was Krishna who visited Sudama. Sudama was ashamed of his condition and did not ask Krsihna to even enter his small hut. Krishna then jokingly asked for a snack and as puffed rice was the only available item in the house, they offered it to him. After Krishna left, he was surprised to see how the lord had blessed their house. He had a comfortable house to live in and good food to eat from then on. This depicts how the lord showered his blessings on Sudama for being a kind friend from the very first day.
LIFE LESSONS
Sudama taught how kindness never goes in vain. With a pure heart and good intentions, one will always be rewarded for their deeds.
