Krishna Blesses Sudama

In the eighty first chapter Krsna takes food from Sudama and unknown to Sudama rewards him with unlimited treasure to repay his debt to him.

Knowing the mind of all living entities, and therefore knowing his mind (sarva bhuta mano’jna), he could understand that Sudama had brought some chipped rice but was embarrassed to give it. By smiling he indicated that he would make him reveal his gift. Sudama is described as brahmana, qualified by being devoted to Brahman, Krsna, therefore Krsna was affectionate towards him (brahmanya). Sudama was dear to the Lord, thus being worshippable by the Lord himself (priyam). The Lord was laughing because Sudama was keeping the object which he had brought and was desired by the Lord hidden in his cloth at his waist. He noticed it there. Looking at Sudama he implied, “You will hide this gift from me?” His laugh indicated his boldness of his decision. Out of great affection (premna )he, the cause of things happening everywhere (satam gatih), thought, “Your emaciated state and your ragged cloth will be a cause of dismay amongst the inhabitants of Dvaraka up until two praharas of tomorrow and not beyond that.”

‘Have you brought anything from your house? I surmise that you having such affectionate for me would not come emptied coming so far from your house, to see me who have such affection for you.”

“But I am very embarrassed to show it because it is meager.”

“Even if my devotee offers only a little (anu) with devotion, it becomes plenty for me.”

“When I took this from my house to present to you, I did not think about it at all. But on considering now, it is not suitable for you to eat, so I am not giving it.” In this verse bhakty upahrtam means offered “with devotion” rather than cause, repeating the word from the previous phrase (bhatya prayacchati). “I accept that which is offered with devotion , whatever my devotee offers with devotion, not offered by any obligation to others. Something may be tasty or not tasty, But that which is given by my devotee with devotion thinking it is tasty, becomes very tasty to me, without me thinking twice about it. Bewildered by the prema of my devotee I also eat the flower (asnami), which though acceptable is not edible. Do I not eat that which is offered with devotion by persons who are devotees to the devatas, since I have said I accept what my devotee offers? True, I do not eat it. I eat that from my devotee, who has a pure heart and no one else (prayata atmanah), or whose mind is fixed in devotion alone. I accept his offering and no one elses’.”

He did not give his four handfuls (prasrti) of chipped rice to Krsna, being embarrassed (vriditah), as Krsna was the husband of Laksmi and all wealth (pataye sriyah). He was thinking, “How can I let the husband of Laksmi eat this hard tasteless flat rice?” His head was turned downwards indicated, “ O Lord, do not mock me. Though you have requested me many times, I have decided that I will not give it to you.”

But the Lord was thinking, “But you should do as you decided to do when you left home, and give it to me.”

The witness in the heart, or the seer of all souls of all entities, full of prema, then though, “ Though I know everything, how has my devotee become so poor?” Then, understanding the truth, he said to himself, “ He did not worship me with material desires.” The results of performing bhakti without material desires is spiritual enjoyment. Dharmasya hy apavargasya artho’ rthayopalalpate na rthasya dharmsyaikantasya kamo labhaya hi smrtah.. There are two types of niskama bhaktas those who dislike material objects, and those who are neutral to them. According to the differing natures of the niskama bhaktas, there are two different of results. Those who have a dislike of material enjoyment will not get such enjoyment. Bharata is an example of this type of devotee. Those who neither dislike nor like get those material enjoyments. Prahlada is an example of this type of devotee. Sudama in this and previous life had a dislike of material enjoyment. He had come to see the Lord only because of the insistence of his wife.

Then again he thought to himself. “Even her desire was motivated by loyalty to her husband alone (pati vratayah). Thus it is also without personal desire at all. Therefore I will give wealth that is rare even to mortals and devatas.”

With his hand he took the rice which was tied up in a strip of old cloth in Sudama’s worn out cloth tied around his waist.

“Do not think that this is not suitable for me because it is tasteless. I like this very much. Moreover do not think it is not enough, for it is completely satisfying to me, the embodiment of the universe.”

Rukmini grabbed his hand with her hand indicating to Krnsa, “Do not eat.”

“ If you eat all of this astonishing substance brought by your friend from his house, how can I divide the remainder up and distribute to my sisters-in-law, friends, co wives, and servants and myself? Even it I distribute one particle of rice to each persons, it will not be sufficient. ” This was her indication for the Sudama.

“This hard rice will injure his very tender stomach.” This was what she along with her friends really intended to say to Krsna,

She spoke mentally making her intentions known to her husband. “Eating that much is enough. Be satisfied with that and do not eat any more (etavata alam). O soul of the universe (visva atma) with your satisfaction the whole universe is also satisfied. ”

“In order to give my dear friend great wealth, I must eat more than one handful.”

“”Your being satisfied alone is the cause of increase of wealth of a person in this life and the next. Therefore you do not even have to chew much of this hard, tasteless rice.” This statement of Rukmini is internal, not spoken loudly, for if it were not so, Sudama, understanding her words would not speak verse twenty.

Eating and drinking sufficiently, it was as if he were in the heavenly planets (svargam yatha).

Sudama departed, accompanied part way by Krsna, who is the creator of the universe (visva bhava), filled with his own bliss (sva sukhna). If he can create the universe by his mere wish, what endeavor is it for him to create a great wealthy house for Sudama? And what endeavor is it for him if he is filled with bliss, to give such material bliss to Sudama?

Sudama expresses his bliss in four verses. I have seen how Krsna is affectionate to the brahmanas, because he, who holds Laksmi on his chest, embraced me.

Though (iti) I am a fallen brahmana, I was embraced by his arms.

He did not give me even a little wealth (abhuri api na adadat).

Another meaning is; He did not give me anything is my great wealth (adadhat bhuri me dhanam).

Another meaning is: Certainly he did not give me a little wealth but gave me great wealth ( nu unam dhanam na adadat, bhuri dhanam me adadat).

He then (tat) approached his own house. The house is described.

Seeing the effulgence of the place he said, “What is this?” Seeing the towers, he said, “Whose is this place?” Recognizing it as his own house he said, “How did this happen?”

Verifying that the servants had been given by the Lord, he decided to accept them. After that, they approached and responded by accepting him as their master (praty agrhnan).

His wife had fallen asleep at night with withered breasts and body, and ragged clothing, in the house with broken walls and roof. Waking up in the morning and finding her body and house transformed in this way, she was struck with astonishment for a moment, and then concluded that all this wealth had been given by Krsna. Then she went out to meet her husband.

The Lord did not transform Sudama with his old cloth and protruding veins so that his wife would recognize him.

Sudama could not recognize his wife. This is described in this verse. Seeing his wife who was like a demigoddess, he became astonished. He fell into an ocean of astonishment thinking “Some goddess is approaching me, so fallen.” On being informed by the servants that she was his wife, at that moment, he saw his body become young and beautiful covered with ornaments. Then being pleased (pritah), along with his wife, he entered the house which was like Indra’s. Brhat sahasra nama stotra describes Krsna as one who brought the treasure of Indra to earth for his devotee beggar Sridama.

He began to think about the sudden (ahaitukim) increase in fortune.

The great opulence of this house and myself can come from no other than seeing the Lord.

If that is so, when he saw me and then gave the great wealth, why did he not tell me that he had done so?

Certainly my friend, saying directly, gives to such beggars as me more than abundant wealth. But his reason for not saying so is that he is known to have excessive wealth because he is the husband of Laksmi (bhuri bhojah). The wish of the Lord is as follows.

“My dear friend has given me a quantity rice more than what he eats himself,,more than his capacity. He has brought that , begging from the others in his house. Therefore, I should also give to him wealth beyond my own capacity. But my offerings are not equal to his. What then to speak of offering beyond my capacity? I cannot surpass or even equal his giving of his food.”

Thinking that even offering me a post of Indra or Brahma would be insignificant, he, bhuri bhojah, became embarrassed, and therefore without saying, gave this to me without my knowing.

He gives an example. The merciful rain cloud, capable of filling the ocean, accepts the articles of worship from the farmer. Thinking that what he gives is very little, though great by the expectations of the farmer, the cloud in embarrassment does not give rain in the presence of the farmer, but gives rain at night while the farmer is sleeping. This is the position of Krsna, the best of the generous dynasty of the Yadus (dasarhakanam rsabaha).

Krsna thought that what he was giving to me though great (uru) was small, and that what his friend was giving though insignificant (phalgu), was great. For that reason he accepted the rice offered by me with devotion.

May I have affection (sauhrda--sneha), equality (sakhya -pranaya), friendliness (maitri), and service (dasyam), birth after birth, with that person who has such affection for his devotee (tasya eva) . Having attained special association (visajjatah) with the Lord endowed with great expressions of love (mahanubhavena),, the abode all good qualities, may I attain association with the Lord’s devotees (tat purusa prasangah).

“So you have devotion and the result of that devotion is gaining wealth?”

“ No, I do not have bhakti, and the result of bhakti is not wealth.”

That is expressed in this verse.

“He does not give wealth (sampadah), power (rajyam) or wife and family (vibhutih).

There is no danger for them if the Lord gives wealth to such intelligent devotees as Prahlada. However, I am not intelligent (adhirgha bodhaya), since I have no devotion, so the Lord does not giveto me.”

This means that Sudama,,having got that wealth, then thought “What is the use of it?” Enjoying what was there as was necessary to maintain himself, he became fixed in his vows, and sleeping on the earth, he became completely absorbed in hearing, chanting and other types of service.

The Lord does not increase wealth to make the devotee happy. However some say that he will give a slight amount in order to help the service the devotee is performing in prema.

Though Krsna is affectionate to his devotees, he is famous among the people as being affectionate to the brahmanas. Krsna is the Lord (prabhoh) of all, but the brahmanas are the lords (prabhavah) of him. He is the deva among the devas, but the brahmanas are also deva (daivam) of him. He is the lord of sacrifice and worship (yajna pateh), but he worships the brahmanas. This is the meaning here.

This verse shows Sudama’s liberation from material wealth and his attainment of spiritual wealth. Seeing that the Lord, unconquerable by any, is conquered or controlled by his devotees, Sudama returned to his previous nature and meditated on the Lord.