Krsna - Sudama Story

Hare Krsna!!!

Dear Parents,
Happy New Year!!! Welcome Back!! It was so good to see most of the kids back from vacation.

Prayers:  We started learning invocation prayers before reading Srimad Bhagavatam.
Om namo bhagavate Vaasudevaya

nārāyaṇaṁ namaskṛtya
 naraṁ caiva narottamam
devīṁ sarasvatīṁ vyāsaṁ
 tato jayam udīrayet
Translation: Before reciting this Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, which is the very means of conquest, one should offer respectful obeisances unto the Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa, unto Nara-nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi, the supermost human being, unto mother Sarasvatī, the goddess of learning, and unto Śrīla Vyāsadeva, the author. 
Audio link: narayanam namaskrtya 

Story: We heard the story of Sudama, a poor brahmana but a dear friend of Lord Krsna.
 Lord Krsna and Sudama Vipra studied in the same Gurukul when they were young boys. Once, their Guru asked them to collect firewoods from the forest. Lord Krsna and Sudama went but there was a great storm and both were lost in the woods. It was cold, fearful night and Sudama gave his shawl to cover Lord Krsna as He was shivering. They both held on to each other to pass the night. In the morning, their Guru came searching and found them and took them back to the Ashram. Lord Krsna never forgets even a small token of affection shown towards Him from His devotees.
They grew up and Lord Krsna became the King of Dwaraka and Sudama became a householder but remained a poor brahmana.
Sudama's wife was concerned for her husband and requested him to go visit Lord Krsna and get some wealth. On her repeated requests, Sudama decided to visit his dear most friend Lord Krsna but decided not to ask for any material wealth. He asked his wife for something to offer Lord Krsna. His wife collected four palmfuls of chipped rice from her neighbourhood friends and tied it in a small cloth and gave it to her husband to gift Lord Krsna. Without waiting any longer, Sudama Vipra went to Dvaraka to see the Lord.
Sudama, being poor, his clothing was torn and dirty and appeared not very clean. He was stopped by the security guard at the entrance to Lord Krsna's Palace. Lord Krsna being present in everyone's heart  knew that Sudama was at the gate and ran towards the gate. All the residents in the palace was surprised to see the Lord running and everyone ran after the Lord to see where the Lord is going. He ran to the gate and embraced Sudama even though he was not clean. Every resident in the Lord's palace was surprised to see the Lord embracing an unclean and poorly dressed brahmana. They all wanted to know who Sudama was and what was his relationship with the Lord and what pious activities Sudama performed to be dear to the Lord.
Lord Krsna brought Sudama Vipra into the palace seated him on His throne and washed Sudama's feet for Lord Krsna always received brahmana's as worshipable guest. Lord Krsna seated Sudama on His own bedstead and offered him sumptuous prasadam and Rukmini Devi, the goddess of fortune personally fanned Sudama. After that, Lord Krsna and Sudama talked for a long time about their younger gurkula days and Sudama's life after leaving gurukula.
Lord Krsna knew Sudama was hesitating to present Him with the paltry chipped rice, which was actually unfit fro His eating. Understanding the mind of Sudama Vipra, The Lord encouraged Sudama by saying that He would accept even the most insignificant things from His devotees. Lord Krsna knew Sudama has come on the request of his wife, and yet he didn't expect anything from Him. So, Lord Krsna decided to give more material wealth to Sudama Vipra. 
He then snatched the bundle of chipped rice which was hanging on the shoulder of  the poor brahmana and started eating it when Rukmini Devi held Lord Krsna's hand and wanted some for her. Sudama passed that night in Lord Krsna's palace and the next morning, he started for his home. He never thought to ask anything from the Lord. All the way home, he simply remembered the dealings of Lord Krsna and he felt very happy to have seen the Lord.
Thinking about Lord Krsna, Sudama reached his home. But there he saw that everything was wonderfully changed. He saw beautiful palace instead of his cottage and he wondered if he had come to the wrong place.
When he was considering this, his wife came out of the great palace and she appeared so beautiful dressed in new shiny garments, adorned with ornaments. Sudama was very surprised to see his wife so beautiful and happy and entered the palace with her. He understood these were the acts of his dear friend Lord Krsna for Lord Krsna knew the mind of His devotee and He completely fulfills the devotee's desires.
Sudama accepted his new wealth as the prasadam of the Lord and lived very peacefully always thinking of the greatness of the Lord.

We concluded the class with Krsna - Sudama coloring picture.

Looking forward to seeing all of you in the next class.
Haribol!!!
Gopala Class Teachers
Radhika Mataji
Amutha