(Pic courtesy: Desaraju Lakshmi - taken at Srikurmam)

Also known as Sudama.

A poor brahmin classmate of Krishna. (Glossary for the Vahinis)

The story of Kuchela reveals the nature of real friendship between God and His devotee. It is SakhyaBhakti. It teaches us how to meditate upon God, how to worship Him and how to serve Him. Kuchela knew very well what is to be offered to God and with what bhava (feeling). In fact, God values more bhava underlying the offering. Lord Krishna felt moved the quantity or value of the offering. Lord Krishna felt contented and happy when Draupadi offered him a piece of leaf that stuck to the vessel in which food was cooked earler. He felt His hunger was satisfied. Similarly, in the Krishna Tulabharam episode, a small leaf of basil plant put by Rukmini with all her devotion and surrender could weigh Krishna against huge offering of jewellery made by Satyabhama. During his visit to Krishna’s palace, Kuchela took a handful of parched rice wrapped in his cloth to be offered to Krishna. And, Krishna partookto receive Kuchela’s offering suffused with intense love and devotion.

A piece of white paper with no markings carries no value. On the other hand, if the paper contains the marking of the Reserve bank it carries lot of value eve if it is soiled. Similarly, the parched rice offered by Kuchela were so valuable since they carried the mark of devotion.

(Beacons of Divine Wisdom Part 2, pp. 108-109)

Women are more devoted than men

In the story of Kuchela, the role of Kuchela’s wife is more important than that of kuchela. In fact, her devotion for Lord Krishna excels that of Kuchela. It is also a fact that women are more devoted to God than men. They can easily control their minds. The motherly love and affection in her towards her children who were suffering from acute hunger prompted her to send her husband to Krishna to seek His help. She had total faith in Lord Krishna. It was Kuchela who was hesitant to go to Krishna. He was doubtful whether Krishna would recognise his childhood friend, receive him and accept his seva. His wife prompted him to go near the palace of Krishna at least, leaving aside his doubts. She firmly believed that Krishna would surely receive her husband warmly, if he could take that much trouble. She pleaded with her husband to go up to the entrance of Krishna’s palace.

( Sudama bows at the glimpse of Krishna s golden palace in Dwarka)

Once Kuchela’s trip was finalised , she took out a handful of grains from the paddy stored for use in the rainy season, boiled them and pounded to prepare rice. She learnt from her husband Kuchela that Krishna had a liking for parched rice. Kuchela wrapped the parched rice in his upper cloth and set out to Dwaraka to meet Krishna. Never-the-less he was diffident to meet Krishna. A true devotee should never doubt or fear. He can approach God straight and seek His grace, as a matter of right. People may doubt how can there be friendship between Krishna, the Lord of the Universe and the poor Kuchela who was suffering for want of food. The same doubt troubled Kuchela too, His wife prompted him to go to Krishna. Accordingly, he went near the palace of Krishna and stopped at the entrance. He was hesitant to send word inside about his arrival.

(Krishna welcomes Sudama)

Finally, he picked up courage and sent message to Krishna, ‘Your childhood friend Kuchela had come.’ Immediately, Krishna ordered his servants to bring him in. Krishna exchanged pleasantries with him with great love and affection, recollecting their student days. While kuchela was mulling over various options as to how to offer the parched rice to Lord Krishna, his childhood friend and classmate, Krishna Himself opened the cloth bundle and took out a few grains of parched rice and started eating with great eagerness. The intense devotion of kuchela made those parched rice very tasty. Krishna took out two handfuls from Kuchela and was about to the third. It was said that Rukmini who was watching that scene stopped Him by holding His hand. The reason attributed by the commentators for this act of Rukmini was that she was afraid that if Krishna partakes the third handful of parched rice also, all His riches would go Kuchela. What a foolish thinking! This cannot be true. God’s riches are infinite and they can never diminish by parting away a portion of it.. In fact, Rukmini also wanted to partake a portion of the parched rice offered with great devotion by Kuchela to Lord Krishna. She being the consort of Lord Krishna, she wished to have a share of that offering. That was the reason why she held the hands of Krishna. (Beacons of Divine Wisdom Part 2, pp. 110-111)

Kuchela disappointed

( Sudama returns home to find in place of it, a golden palace, the gift of Krishna)

Kuchela left for his village disappointed, since Krishna did not grant him any gifts or make a promise atleast. As he recollected the pitiable conditions prevailing in his house as also the hungry face of his wife and children, his heart sank, immersed as he was in deep sorrow and bypassed his house in that dejected mood, his wife saw him and called him back. He could not recognise his own house. Just in one night his thatched house was transformed into a palatial building with all conveniences and looked like a palace. His wife related to him how happy and prosperous they all have become overnight, by the divine grace of Lord Krishna. (Beacons of Divine Wisdom Part 2, p. 111)

In many ways, Bhagavatam teaches us lessons of great importance. On one occasion, even Kuchela was doubting Krishna. He thought that although Krishna was his childhood friend, as later he became a very rich and powerful King, Krishna may not even recognise him. Kuchela was very agitated. However, Kuchela’s wife never had such doubt, and she encouraged him to go and see Krishna, who has a very broad mind, and would not forget his friends. God is such that He will give value to one’s own mind and purity of character. He will not give any value to external appearances. After passing through such doubts and several tribulations, Kuchela entered Krishna’s mansion. Krishna welcomed him heartily and honoured him.

Even without being asked, Krishna gave a lot of material wealth and a lot of grace to Kuchela. The moment God‘s grace spreads, one will even forget his own desires. After this, Kuchela returned to his own home and to his great surprise, found his poor home transformed into a big mansion. He explained to his wife how Krishna looked after him and said, ‘He received me as if He was longing to meet me, and He showed such kindness that He appeared as kindness and compassion personified. He accepted a small quantity of parched rice from poor Kuchela and gave us this large mansion.’ If you give the Lord even a small quantity, He returns it back several fold. If you are willing to take at least one step forward, God will take ten steps towards you to receive you. Only when you direct your vision towards God, can He direct His vision towards you. If you are looking in some other direction, what is the use even if God looks at you? There is a small example for this.

When you are right in front of me, you can look into my eyes and I can look into your eyes. If you are far away and are looking in a different direction, how can I look at you and how can you look at me? Krishna was one who always directed His vision towards His devotees, and the Bhagavatam is the story of Krishna. (SSB 1978)

Kuchela began real Sadhana

The real sadhana of Kuchela began from that day. Till then, he used to follow certain ascetic practices only. He practiced certain directions stipulated in Spiritual Texts only outwardly. On that day, he realised how God by His miraculous powers could transform his poverty into riches overnight and decide to win God’sgrace to attain eternal bliss from then on, He realised fully that which was really beneficial to him. Amidst the vast riches conferred on him by Lord Krishna, he started to live like a renunciant with no desire for anything. He could now realise that his present wealth and the earlier poverty were all a dream. He felt contented that God’s love was the only real wealth. Kuchela used to forget himself contemplating on the compassion and divine love of Krishna and singing His glory. (Beacons of Divine Wisdom Part 2, p. 112)