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Sudaamaa Jee

Sudaamaa was a poor Braahman who met Krishn in Gurukul at Guru Saandeepan's place. Krishn learned chanting from him. One day their Guru Jee sent them to bring Samidhaa (wood for Havan) from the jungle. Guru's wife gave them some Chivadaa (beaten rice) to eat. A storm came and they lost their way. They could not come home the whole night. They spent their night on two trees. Sudaamaa felt very hungry so he ate the whole Chivadaa [given by Guru's wife], even that of Krishn's share. In the morning Guru Jee went to look for them and brought them home. Seeing their faithfulness Guru Jee blessed them that "you will remember everything readily that you have learnt here."

After they completed their education, both went to their homes. Krishn became the King of Dwaarakaa and married Rukminee, and Sudaamaa also came to his house and married a simple Braahman girl and lived happily. Sudaamaa was leading an austere life which created some troubles later in his life. So one day Sudaamaa's wife asked him - "Is this true that you and Krishn were friends at one time?" "Yes"  "He is the King of Dwaarakaa now. Why don't you go and see Him once? He respects Braahman very much." Sudaamaa got very happy at her idea of seeing his old friend, but he understood that his wife was feeling the poverty. So he said - "I will go there but I will not ask for anything." She again said, "You just  go and see Him, don't ask for anything." "But what I should take for Him? I am going there for the first time." She quickly went to her neighbors and brought some Chivadaa, tied it in an old cloth and gave it to him. And Sudaamaa started his journey to Dwaarakaa.

Sudaamaa and Krishn
When he reached there, he found Krishn's palace and entered it. There he saw Krishn with Rukminee sitting on a bed. Krishn came running to him and met him very dearly. He washed his feet, worshipped him, offered him royal meal. Then they settled down for long talks. While talking, Krishn saw a small bundle tied to his waist. "Ahaa, My Bhaabhee has sent some gift for me. Let me see what it is?" Sudaamaa tried to hide it but Krishn snatched it from his waist and opened it. It was His favorite Chivadaa. He immediately took one handful of Chivadaa and ate it saying "Oh, how tasty it is. "It was not even finished that he took another handful of Chivadaa and ate it. He said, "You did not give me this before, it is so tasty. Where did you hide it for so long?" When He extended his hand to eat that Chivadaa for the third time, Rukminee Jee held His hand and said, "Will you keep something for yourself also or you will give everything to him?"

Next day Sudaamaa Jee bade farewell to Krishn, Krishn also bade farewell to him, and Sudaamaa Jee started his journey backwards to his home. He was very happy to see his old friend. He was not sorry for not asking anything from Him, rather he had a Divine joy in his heart. When he came close to his home, then he thought, "Oh, now I will have to live in the same poverty again. What my wife will say that I didn't ask anything from Him. But how could I ask anything from Him? I met Him after so long time. If I had asked anything, He would have thought as if I had come to Him only for asking something. This wouldn't look good in friendship." He became contented thinking thus and came back home happily.

As he came home he did not find his old Kutee, instead there was standing a grand palace there. He thought maybe he has come to a wrong place, but at the same time he saw his wife coming out of the palace to welcome him. There was everything now in that palace, but Sudaamaa still lived with the same austerity while his family enjoyed the riches and pleasures. Such like was the friendship of Sudaamaa and Krishn.