KRSNA WELCOMES HIS FRIEND SUDĀMĀ

The brahmana Sudama, a personal friend of Lord Krsna's, was completely free of material desires. He maintained himself and his wife with whatever came of its own accord, and thus they were poverty-stricken. One day Sudama's wife, unable to find any food to prepare for her husband, went to him and asked that he visit his friend Krsna in Dvaraka and beg some charity. Sudama was reluctant, but when she persisted he agreed to go, reflecting that an opportunity to see the Lord was extremely auspicious. His wife begged a few handfuls of flattened rice as a gift for Śri Krsna, and Sudāmā set off for Dvaraka.

As Sudāmā approached the palace of Lord Krsna's principal wife, Rukmini-devi, the Lord saw him from a distance. Krsna immediately rose from His seat on Rukmini's bed and embraced His friend with great joy. Then He sat Sudama down on the bed, washed his feet with His own hands and sprinkled the wash water on His head. After this He presented him with various gifts and worshiped him with incense, lamps and so on. Meanwhile, Rukmini fanned the shabbily dressed brahmana with a yaktail whisk. All of this astonished the residents of the palace.

Lord Sri Krsna then took the hand of His friend, and the two of them reminisced about the things they had done together long ago, while living in the school of their spiritual master. Sudāmā pointed out that Krsna engages in the pastime of acquiring an education only to set an example for human society.