As we discussed a few episodes ago, Krishna did his schooling in a residential school run by a well-known teacher by name Sandipani. Such residential schools were called Gurukul – literally meaning ‘family of teachers’.
Students lived in such Gurukuls along with their teachers and their family, during the period of their study which could be as long as 12 years. During that period, these students not only studied various subjects but also took part in the day-to-day household activities of the teachers’ family. In a way, it used to be all-round-training.
Krishna had a close friend and companion in those days. His name was Sudama. After the studies, Krishna returned to Mathura and later to Dwarika to become the crown prince. And Sudama who was from a very poor family returned to his village and continued to live the life of a poor Brahmin struggling to carry on his life steeped in utter poverty. In due course of time he had married and probably had children.
In olden days, a Brahmin normally chose to live a frugal life. But in Sudama’s case, he had no other choice! There were days when he could not even afford to feed his family. They had nothing other than worn out rags to cover their body. His loyal wife never complained about their state. But one day she somehow managed to suggest to Sudama why he should not seek some help from his old schoolmate Krishna who was now a prince.
Sudama and Krishna had never met each other after they left the school. Being a self-respecting person, Sudama did not want to seek anything from his childhood friend. Moreover, now there was a wide status divide between them. But after a lot of cajoling, he agreed to go and meet Krishna in Dwarika. But poor fellow did not even have some decent dress to wear. All that he had was just one set of torn and soiled clothes. He had no option but to wear them and go to Dwarika.
But Krishna was a very rich man now – part of the royal family. It was a normal practice to carry some gift when one goes to meet such people. But Sudama had nothing to offer to Krishna. And he could not go empty handed either. At last, Sudama’s wife went to the neighborhood and borrowed a fistful of parched rice flakes. She tied that stuff in a piece of cloth and gave it to Sudama as a gift he could carry when he went to meet Krishna.
After a long journey, Sudama reached Dwarika. But Dwarika was a well forted city with guards everywhere. Sudama knew nobody there. And in his beggar like attire, it was unlikely that anybody would allow him inside. Finally, Sudama managed to befriend some local Brahmins and with their help he entered the city.
There were thousands of palaces all over the place each one more majestic than the other. How was he going to find the palace where Krishna lived ? Sudama had no nerve to ask any soldier. Luckily, his new Brahmin friends led him to the right place where Krishna lived.
Sudama was shocked to see the opulence which was evident all over. Sudama kept asking himself whether he had done the right thing by coming to such a place. Krishna might have been his childhood friend. But he was no longer that very same friend. He was a prince living in such a palatial house. Would he even care to recognize Sudama? What if he asked his soldiers to throw out this beggarly man in rags?
Krishna was taking rest inside the palace along with his wife Rukmini at that time. Probably, Krishna saw Sudama hesitantly moving near the entrance. Krishna recognized Sudama and he got up from his couch and came running to Sudama. To Sudama’s surprise, Krishna embraced him and led him inside. Tears started flowing from both of them out of extreme joy. Sudama never expected this welcome. His throat of choked with emotion.
Krishna offered his own seat to Sudama. Rukmini stood by his side and started fanning Sudama. Krishna washed Sudama’s feet and gently pressed them dry with silken towel. Other people in the palace were shocked to see the way Krishna was treating a beggar like person sitting in his torn and soiled clothes. ‘Who is this person who is so fortunate to receive such a welcome?’ – they kept whispering to each other!
Krishna asked Sudama about his life after both of them left Gurukul – ‘did he get married?, does he have children? ..’ so on an so forth, the way two old friends chat when meeting after a long time. Krishna recollected interesting incidents that happened during their stay in Gurukul. He also remembered his teachers who almost treated them like their own children with love and affection.
Krishna arranged elaborate meal for Sudama. They went on chatting endlessly. And finally, Krishna asked Sudama jovially- ‘Have you brought anything for me ?’.
Sudama did carry that fistful of parched rice flakes. But how could he offer such things to a wealthy person like Krishna? So, he never even took it out from his bag. But Krishna knew everything. He forcibly snatched the small packet of rice flakes tied in a rag and concealed in Sudama’s bag. And as if some great delicacy, he started enjoying the rice flakes. Even Rukmini was amazed at Krishna’s kindness.
Sudama had come all the way to ask help from Krishna. But he could never reveal his desire. Nor he wanted to express his poverty to Krishna. He was content just by meeting Krishna who was so close to him. He thanked God for making him so poor that a person like Krishna is still his friend. If he were a rich man like Krishna, probably he would have developed arrogance and would have never gone to meet Krishna. Even Krishna would have seen him in a different way. But Krishna was the same person that he was when they were in the Gurukul. What more Sudama could have asked for?
After this brief meeting, Sudama returned home. Throughout the return journey he was thinking about the way Krishna treated him. He mentally thanked his wife for sending him to meet Krishna. He had no regrets for not having asked Krishna for any help. He did not want to misuse their friendship. He was quite satisfied with having Krishna as his friend who still remembered him.
When Sudama finally reached his home, what did he find there ? His old hut was nowhere to be seen! In its place, was a majestic palace with lot of servants running around. One of them conveyed inside the news of Sudama’s coming. Sudama was shocked to see his wife bedecked like a queen slowly coming out of the palace to welcome him!
Sudama never asked Krishna for anything. But God knew everything and even without his asking, Krishna had bestowed everything on Sudama lot more than what he could have ever asked. That is the kindness of God.
This sudden wealth did not affect Sudama. He led a pious life as before. And finally, when he died, he reached God as a true righteous person. His story became a legend praising God for his magnanimity. How wonderful!
Interesting to know that the duration of basic education in those years was also for 12 years as it is now!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful illustration of Krishna embracing Sudhama!!
A small correction. 12 years was as per the scriptures. But Bhagavata says that Krishna completed his studies in a matter of months! After all, he is God ;-)
Delete