॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
***
If any reasonably well-informed Indian is asked to name five people connected with Sri Krishna, he or she would perhaps name
- Yashoda
- Radha
- Arjuna
- Uddhava
- Sudama
Each of these great characters holds a mirror to Sri Krishna:
- Yashoda - how to relate to Sri Krishna as a mother
- Radha - how to relate to Sri Krishna as a lover
- Arjuna - how to relate to Sri Krishna as a friend
- Uddhava - how to relate to Sri Krishna as a devotee
- Sudama - how to relate to Sri Krishna as a classmate. Here we must understand the kind of bonding that develops in childhood with a classmate is far richer in feeling and memory compared to friendship that develops in adulthood.
This chapter and the next cover the story of Sudama.
***
King Parikshit is engaged in listening to the Srimad Bhagavatam. Ever since his birth, he has been blessed by Bhagavan. In his last days, he has been blessed to hear the stories of the lord directly from Sage Shuka himself, an incomparable spiritual master and storyteller. Naturally, his eagerness to hear more and more stories knows no bounds. He says to the Sage, " Sir, by the Lord's grace, if one has come to know the essence of life and thus has eschewed worldly gratifications, how can one then stop listening to the Lord's stories and glories? So, would you kindly tell me more?"
In fact, Parikshit says something most significant for most aspirants:
सा वाग् यया तस्य गुणान् गृणीते करौ च तत्कर्मकरौ मनश्च ।
स्मरेद् वसन्तं स्थिरजङ्गमेषु शृणोति तत्पुण्यकथा: स कर्ण: ॥
शिरस्तु तस्योभयलिङ्गमानमेत्तदेव यत् पश्यति तद्धि चक्षु: ।
अङ्गानि विष्णोरथ तज्जनानां पादोदकं यानि भजन्ति नित्यम् ॥
T: Indeed, only that speech which describes the glories of the Lord can be truly called speech. True hands serve the Lord. The true mind is constantly engrossed in Him who is present in everything moving and non-moving. And true ears are those that listen to sanctifying topics about Him. The true head bows to Him always, and the limbs that sprinkle over themselves the holy water from bathing His feet, or even more, His devotees' feet, are worthwhile."
***
These words sent Shuka into ecstasy. He recovered after some time and began the story of Sudama. Sudama had studied in the Sandipani Ashrama Guru Kula with Sri Krishna and Balarama. He was an advanced Vedic scholar as well as a spiritual seeker.
यदृच्छयोपपन्नेन वर्तमानो गृहाश्रमी । तस्य भार्या कुचैलस्य क्षुत्क्षामा च तथाविधा ॥
पतिव्रता पतिं प्राह म्लायता वदनेन सा । दरिद्रं सीदमाना वै वेपमानाभिगम्य च ॥
T: Living as a householder, he maintained himself with whatever little came of its own accord. (This is indeed a core life-value extolled by true Brahmins who are never supposed to work for money.) The wife of that poorly dressed Brahmin suffered along with him and was emaciated from hunger. Sudama, wearing wornout clothes, went by the name of Kuchaila (one whose clothes are bad) or more popularly, Kuchela.
One day, his devoted wife spoke to Kuchela, with her emaciated face turned up, speaking eloquently of their pitiable subsistence. She trembled in fear, fearing she might upset Kuchela.
ननु ब्रह्मन् भगवत: सखा साक्षाच्छ्रिय: पति: । ब्रह्मण्यश्च शरण्यश्च भगवान् सात्वतर्षभ: ॥
तमुपैहि महाभाग साधूनां च परायणम् । दास्यति द्रविणं भूरि सीदते ते कुटुम्बिने ॥
आस्तेऽधुना द्वारवत्यां भोजवृष्ण्यन्धकेश्वर: । स्मरत: पादकमलमात्मानमपि यच्छति ।
किं न्वर्थकामान् भजतो नात्यभीष्टान् जगद्गुरु: ॥
T: "My lord, you are a holy Brahmin. You have told me that Sri Krishna, the Consort of Devi Lakshmi herself, the Goddess of Prosperity, was your close friend in your school days. Sri Krishna, the supreme lord of Yadavas, is well known to be compassionate towards Brahmins and a generous giver."
"Sir, you are fortunate that you know Sri Krishna. Would you kindly approach Him, the real succour of all holy men?. He will certainly give abundant wealth to such a suffering householder as you. In fact, Sri Krishna is now the ruler of the Bhojas, Vrishnis and Andhakas and lives in Dwaraka. Sri Krishna is such that he will give even himself to anyone who simply remembers his holy feet. Thus, what is there impossible for him, the Supreme Lord of the Universe, to give as material gifts, trifling as they are in the big picture? "
Kuchela or Sudama (which means one who had a fine waistband as a child - a must for all boys in school as it represents discipline and decorum) thought that this idea of meeting Sri Krishna was splendid. He said, "My dear, of course, I would love to go at once to Dwaraka and meet Sri Krishna. Just one thing. I cannot meet my dear Krishna empty-handed. Would you give me something for a gift, please? "
याचित्वा चतुरो मुष्टीन् विप्रान् पृथुकतण्डुलान् । चैलखण्डेन तान् बद्ध्वा भर्त्रे प्रादादुपायनम् ॥
T: Sudama’s wife went to her Brahmin neighbours, begged and got four handfuls of flattened/beaten rice. She tied it in a tatter of a cloth to be given as a present for Sri Krishna, and Sudama set out feeling most delighted.
Shuka describes that the fortified Dwaraka with its moats and gateways and bridges and so on was negotiated by Sudama and finally he entered the most splendid of the sixteen thousand palaces of Sri Krishna's queens that presented themselves to him in that magnificent city. That splendid palace was indeed that of Devi Rukmini! Sudama felt as if he were attaining the bliss of Moksha!
तं विलोक्याच्युतो दूरात् प्रियापर्यङ्कमास्थित: । सहसोत्थाय चाभ्येत्य दोर्भ्यां पर्यग्रहीन्मुदा ॥
सख्यु: प्रियस्य विप्रर्षेरङ्गसङ्गातिनिर्वृत: । प्रीतो व्यमुञ्चदब्बिन्दून् नेत्राभ्यां पुष्करेक्षण: ॥
T: Sri Krishna was seated on Devi Rukmini's couch when he saw Sudama coming. He got up and rushed to receive him with a tight embrace. The lotus-eyed Supreme Lord felt intense ecstasy upon touching the body of his dear friend, the wise Brahmin Sudama, and his eyes dimmed with tears of love.
Sri Krishna made Sudama comfortable on that couch bed. The Lord who purifies creation now washed Sudama's feet and sprinkled that water on his own head. He anointed him with divinely fragrant sandalwood, aguru and kuṅkuma pastes and happily worshipped him with the waving of incense and lamps (Nirajana). After finally offering him betel nut and the gift of a cow (a must when any Brahmin guest arrives) Sri Krishna began speaking wonderfully charming words.
कुचैलं मलिनं क्षामं द्विजं धमनिसन्ततम् । देवी पर्यचरत् साक्षाच्चामरव्यजनेन वै ॥
T: Meanwhile, lest we forget, Shuka tells us how Devi Rukmini, the Goddess of Fortune herself born to be physically present with Sri Krishna, fanned Sudama with Chamara (a bouquet of fine horse hair). The picture is one of stark contrasts as Sudama wore torn clothes and was most emaciated and his veins stood out from his bag of bones. This was noticed by the maidens in attendance and they spoke:
"What pious acts must this unkempt, impoverished Brahmin have performed to be received here thus when anyone in this world would regard him as lowly and contemptible! The Lord of the Goddess of Fortune has turned his attention from Devi Rukmini to this poor Brahmin! Look at the reception accorded to him!"
The next few verses are truly esoteric. They reveal the personality of Sri Krishna and the purpose of his avatara as much as conveyed through the Srimad Bhagavadgita, in my opinion!
श्रीभगवानुवाच
अपि ब्रह्मन् गुरुकुलाद् भवता लब्धदक्षिणात् ।
समावृत्तेन धर्मज्ञ भार्योढा सदृशी न वा ॥
प्रायो गृहेषु ते चित्तमकामविहितं तथा ।
नैवातिप्रीयसे विद्वन् धनेषु विदितं हि मे ॥
केचित् कुर्वन्ति कर्माणि कामैरहतचेतस:।
त्यजन्त: प्रकृतीर्दैवीर्यथाहं लोकसङ्ग्रहम् ॥
कच्चिद् गुरुकुले वासं ब्रह्मन् स्मरसि नौ यत: ।
द्विजो विज्ञाय विज्ञेयं तमस: पारमश्नुते ॥
स वै सत्कर्मणां साक्षाद् द्विजातेरिह सम्भव: ।
आद्योऽङ्ग यत्राश्रमिणां यथाहं ज्ञानदो गुरु: ॥
नन्वर्थकोविदा ब्रह्मन् वर्णाश्रमवतामिह ।
ये मया गुरुणा वाचा तरन्त्यञ्जो भवार्णवम् ॥
नाहमिज्याप्रजातिभ्यां तपसोपशमेन वा ।
तुष्येयं सर्वभूतात्मा गुरुशुश्रूषया यथा ॥
अपि न: स्मर्यते ब्रह्मन् वृत्तं निवसतां गुरौ ।
गुरुदारैश्चोदितानामिन्धनानयने क्वचित् ॥
प्रविष्टानां महारण्यमपर्तौ सुमहद् द्विज ।
वातवर्षमभूत्तीव्रं निष्ठुरा: स्तनयित्नव: ॥
सूर्यश्चास्तं गतस्तावत् तमसा चावृता दिश: ।
निम्नं कूलं जलमयं न प्राज्ञायत किञ्चन ॥
वयं भृशं तत्र महानिलाम्बुभिर्निहन्यमाना महुरम्बुसम्प्लवे ।
दिशोऽविदन्तोऽथ परस्परं वनेगृहीतहस्ता: परिबभ्रिमातुरा: ॥
एतद् विदित्वा उदिते रवौ सान्दीपनिर्गुरु: ।
अन्वेषमाणो न: शिष्यानाचार्योऽपश्यदातुरान् ॥
अहो हे पुत्रका यूयमस्मदर्थेऽतिदु:खिता: ।
आत्मा वै प्राणिनां प्रेष्ठस्तमनादृत्य मत्परा: ॥
एतदेव हि सच्छिष्यै: कर्तव्यं गुरुनिष्कृतम् ।
यद् वै विशुद्धभावेन सर्वार्थात्मार्पणं गुरौ ॥
तुष्टोऽहं भो द्विजश्रेष्ठा: सत्या: सन्तु मनोरथा: ।
छन्दांस्ययातयामानि भवन्त्विह परत्र च ॥
इत्थंविधान्यनेकानि वसतां गुरुवेश्मनि ।
गुरोरनुग्रहेणैव पुमान् पूर्ण: प्रशान्तये ॥
T:
Sri Krishna spoke:
My dear Sudama, you are adept in Dharma! At your graduation from the Sandipani Gurukula, you offered Guru Dakshina and went home. Have you married a worthy lady? You are one who would be engaged in worldly duties and yet would remain above material desires. I am well aware that you do not take pleasure in pursuing material wealth and well-being.(Note: Sri Krishna is not like any ordinary man. He is rich and famous when he meets an old classmate who looks simply destitute. Yet, he notices what is great in that man, not how miserable he looks!)There are some who see the play of Maya and give up material cravings. They function in this world with a detachment much like I do! Indeed they set an example.Having renounced all material propensities, which spring from the Lord’s illusory energy, some people execute worldly duties with their minds undisturbed by mundane desires. They act for the welfare of all in this world. This is what I do, to set an example.Dear Sudama, do you recall our days in the Guru Kula!? The true test for a Brahmin or Kshatriya who has graduated from such a Guru Kula is to see if he has adopted a spiritual lifestyle that transcends the worldly bondage of ignorance. My dear friend, there are three types of teachers. He who gives a person his physical birth (i.e. his biological father) is his first spiritual master. He who initiates him as a twice-born Brahmin into Vedic knowledge and rituals is indeed more directly his spiritual master. But the person who bestows transcendental knowledge that confers liberation upon all people of all walks of life is the ultimate spiritual master. Indeed, he is as good as my own self - the Supreme Person.Those, irrespective of their position in the Varna-Ashrama system, who derive the benefit of my spiritual instruction are the most blessed. I, the Soul of all beings, am not as much satisfied by ritual worship, Vedic rites, penances or self-discipline as I am by faithful service rendered to one’s spiritual master i.e. one's Guru तुष्येयं सर्वभूतात्मा गुरुशुश्रूषया यथा.Now Sri Krishna mentions an unforgettable episode during their school days."Oh, Sudama, do you remember what happened to us once while we were living with our spiritual master? Once our guru’s wife sent us to fetch firewood, and after we entered the vast forest, an unseasonal storm arose with fierce wind and rain and harsh thunder. Then, as the sun set, the forest was covered by darkness in every direction, and there was such flooding that we could not distinguish high land from low!Constantly buffeted by the powerful wind and rain, we lost our way amidst the flooding waters. We simply held each other’s hands and, in great distress, wandered aimlessly about the forest.The next morning, just at sunrise, our Guru, Sage Sandipani, came full of anxiety in search of us. He discovered us in utter distress. Remember his words?"My dear children, you have suffered so much for my sake! The body is most dear to every living creature, but you are so dedicated to me that you completely disregarded your own physical comfort and were totally immersed in your task (of collecting firewood). This indeed is the ideal conduct of all true disciples: to repay the debt to their spiritual master by offering him, with pure hearts, their wealth and even their very lives. You boys are best among the twice-born, and I am satisfied with you. May all your desires be fulfilled, and may the Vedic mantras you have learned never lose their meaning for you, in this world or the next."This was a true Guru's blessing for his true disciples. We had many similar experiences while living in our spiritual master’s home. Simply, by the grace of the spiritual master, can a person fulfill life’s purpose and attain eternal peace.
श्रीब्राह्मण उवाच
किमस्माभिरनिर्वृत्तं देवदेव जगद्गुरो ।
भवता सत्यकामेन येषां वासो गुरोरभूत् ॥
यस्यच्छन्दोमयं ब्रह्म देह आवपनं विभो ।
श्रेयसां तस्य गुरुषु वासोऽत्यन्तविडम्बनम् ॥
T: Sudama had so far not spoken, he had been simply dazed by Sri Krishna's loving reception and his exalted mood. This episode narrated brought the mood down a bit. But Sudama had to speak what he felt. He gushed:
"What could I possibly have failed to achieve, Oh Lord of lords, Oh universal teacher, since I was able to personally live in your company at the home of our spiritual master? I mean you whose wishes are always fulfilled! भवता सत्यकामेन"
"Oh almighty Lord, Your body comprises the Absolute Truth in the form of the Vedas and is thus the source of all auspicious goals of life. That you took up residence at the school of a spiritual master is simply one of your Leelas in which you played the role of a human being!"
See the way Sudama answered Sri Krishna's enquiry about his welfare since graduation.
***
॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
