Shri Sai Sat Charitra-Chapter XXIV-Part III

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Sudama's Story

When the story was being narrated, Hemadpant was reminded of similar story of Sudama, which illustrates the same principle and, therefore, it is given here.

Shri Krishna and His elder brother, Balaram, were living with a co-student, named Sudama, in the ashram of their Guru, Sandipani. Once Krishna and Balaram were sent to the forest for bringing fuel. Then the wife of Sandipani sent Sudama also for the same purpose with some quantity of grams for the three. When Krishna met Sudama in the forest, he said to him - "Dada, I want water as I am thirsty". Sudama replied - "No water should be drunk on an empty stomach, so it is better to rest a while". He did not say that he had got grams with him and that He should take some.

As Krishna was tired, He lay down for rest on the lap of Sudama and was snoring. Seeing this, Sudama took out the grams and began to eat. Then Krishna suddenly asked him - "Dada, what are you eating, whence is the sound?" He replied - "What is there to eat? I am shivering with cold and my teeth are chattering. I can't even repeat distinctly Vishnu Sahasranama".

Sai Ram. Sudama was a Brahmin boy and it is surprising that he should utter such lies. God is truth and God is love. That thought came into Sudama's mind only because of his poorva janma karma and Sri Krishna's divine intention that Sudama should learn a very important spiritual lesson in this birth. The price that he had to pay for his selfishness and thus the poverty of mind was quite severe as you can see below. And this lesson is for all of us. Sai Ram.

Hearing this, the Omniscient Krishna said - "I just dreamt a dream, in which I saw a man, eating things of another, and when asked about this, he said - "What earth (dust) should he eat?", meaning thereby that he had nothing to eat? The other man said - "Let it be so". Dada, this is only a dream. I know that you won't eat anything without Me; under the influence of the dream I asked you what you were eating?" If Sudama had known a bit of the omniscient, Shri Krishna and His Leelas, he would not have acted, as he did. Therefore, he had to suffer for what he did. Though he was a chum of Shri Krishna he had to pass his later life in utter poverty. But when he later offered Krishna a handful of parched rice, earned by his wife with her own labour, Krishna was pleased and gave him a golden city to enjoy. This story should be remembered by those who have the habit of eating things alone without partaking them with others.

Sai Ram. Buddhih karmanusarini is the saying meaning that our Buddhi follows our karma. Since Sudama had to learn that important lesson, he got such thoughts unfit for a friend of Sri Krishna. From a previous chapter, the readers will remember the teachings of Isa Upansihad that God pervades the whole universe. Thus nothing really belongs to us. The above sentence uttered by Sri Krishna is in conformity with the same truth. And seemingly small actions, which appear insignificant may lead to major results as seen above, just as a mighty plant sprouts from a tiny seed. Sudama learnt a very valuable spiritual lesson from the above and we all can learn the same lesson if we follow Sai's teachings and such stories. Sai Ram.

The Shruti also emphasizes this lesson, and asks us to offer things first to God and then enjoy them after they are renounced by Him. Baba also has taught us the same lesson in His inimitable and humorous way.

Sai Ram. Since nothing belongs to us, what we get we should first offer to the rightful owner namely God and then accept it as His prasad. Sai Ram.