Chapter 2
Krishna and Sudama
1. Who were Krishna and Sudama, and how did their friendship begin?
Answer: Krishna and Sudama were close childhood companions who received their education together at the same gurukul. Even though Krishna was wealthy and Sudama was poor, their friendship grew strong through mutual affection, understanding, and respect for each other.
2. What was the difference between Krishna’s and Sudama’s living conditions?
Answer: Krishna ruled over Dwarika as a powerful and prosperous king, enjoying every comfort and luxury. In contrast, Sudama lived a life full of hardship and poverty, where his family often suffered from hunger and lacked even basic necessities.
3. Why did Sudama’s wife urge him to visit Krishna?
Answer:Seeing her family suffer in extreme poverty, Sudama’s wife pleaded with him to meet his old friend Krishna, who was now the king of Dwarika. She hoped that Krishna’s kindness and friendship would help them come out of their miserable condition.
4. How did Sudama feel about asking Krishna for help?
Answer: Sudama felt very uneasy and embarrassed to ask Krishna for any kind of help. His sense of dignity and modesty stopped him from seeking assistance, as he did not want to turn his friendship into a request for charity.
5. What did Sudama’s wife give him as a gift for Krishna?
Answer: Sudama’s wife prepared a little bundle of parched rice to send with him as a token of love for Krishna. Though it was a simple and inexpensive gift, it carried her heartfelt affection and respect for Krishna.
6. What happened when Sudama reached the palace of Krishna?
Answer: When Sudama arrived at Krishna’s grand palace, the royal guards stopped him at the gate. Seeing his worn-out clothes and humble look, they doubted his claim of being the king’s friend and did not allow him to enter.
7. How did Krishna react when he heard Sudama’s name?
Answer:The moment Krishna learned that his dearest childhood friend Sudama had come to see him, he was filled with joy. Without a moment’s delay, he ran to the gate, lovingly embraced Sudama, and welcomed him with great warmth and respect.
8. Why were the palace people astonished at Krishna’s behavior?
Answer: The people in the palace were amazed because their king, surrounded by wealth and power, ran barefoot to welcome a poor man dressed in rags, proving that true friendship transcends social status.
9. How did Krishna welcome Sudama to the palace?
Answer: Krishna joyfully brought Sudama into the palace, gently washed his feet, and made him sit with honor. He then served him food with great affection and offered him fine clothes to wear, showing deep respect and heartfelt love for his dear friend.
10. Why did Sudama hide the potali of parched rice from Krishna?
Answer: Sudama was shy and hesitant to offer the small bundle of parched rice because he thought it was too humble a gift for his royal friend. Out of modesty and embarrassment, he tried to keep it hidden from Krishna
11. What did Krishna do when he noticed Sudama hiding the gift?
Answer: The moment Krishna saw Sudama hiding the little bundle, he gently took it from his friend’s hand, unwrapped it with great delight, and tasted the parched rice with immense joy. For Krishna, the affection and sincerity in Sudama’s offering were far more precious than any riches.
12. What does Krishna’s reaction to the parched rice show about his character?
Answer: Krishna’s heartfelt happiness on receiving the simple parched rice reveals his noble and compassionate nature. It shows that he cherished true feelings of love and friendship more than luxury or riches, proving his humility and purity of heart.
13. Why did Sudama feel happy during his stay in the palace?
Answer: Sudama’s heart was filled with joy and gratitude as Krishna treated him with immense love and respect. Though he had come as a poor man, Krishna’s warm hospitality, kind words, and genuine affection made him feel valued and truly blessed.
14. Why did Sudama not tell Krishna about his poor condition?
Answer: Sudama remained silent about his hardships because his love for Krishna was pure and selfless. He didn’t want to turn their sacred friendship into a means of seeking help. His dignity and devotion prevented him from speaking of his poverty.
15. What happened when Sudama returned home from Dwarika?
Answer: As Sudama reached home, he was filled with wonder to see that his humble hut had turned into a magnificent mansion. His wife and children, now dressed in beautiful garments, greeted him with joy — it was Krishna’s unseen blessing that had transformed their lives.
16. How did Sudama react after seeing the palace?
Answer: Sudama was filled with wonder and disbelief. He asked a passerby about the palace and was told that it belonged to him. He realized Krishna had blessed him silently.
17. What did Sudama realize about Krishna’s help?
Answer: Sudama realized that Krishna, out of his divine love, had blessed him with prosperity without a single request. He understood that true friendship needs no words—Krishna had read his heart and helped him silently with affection and grace.
18. How did Sudama express his gratitude toward Krishna?
Answer: Sudama’s heart overflowed with emotion and devotion when he saw Krishna’s blessings. He did not express his gratitude through words but through silent tears of joy and prayer, feeling deeply thankful for Krishna’s love, compassion, and understanding.
19. What does the story teach about true friendship?
Answer: The story beautifully conveys that genuine friendship goes beyond material riches or social positions. It shows that true friends value the bond of the heart, where love, respect, and sincerity matter more than wealth or power.
20. How did Krishna’s behavior influence others in the palace?
Answer: Krishna’s warm and respectful treatment of Sudama deeply moved everyone in the palace. His actions made them realize that true greatness comes from kindness, humility, and treating every person with love and respect, regardless of their status or wealth.
21. What lesson do we learn from Sudama’s honesty and simplicity?
Answer: Sudama’s honesty and simplicity teach us that true happiness does not depend on wealth or luxury. His pure heart, self-respect, and sincere devotion show that integrity and love are far greater treasures than material possessions.
22. Why did the guards disrespect Sudama initially?
Answer:When Sudama arrived at the palace gate dressed in tattered clothes, the guards mistook him for a beggar. They refused him entry and treated him with disrespect, unaware that he was Lord Krishna’s beloved childhood friend.
23. How did Krishna’s actions prove the value of love over status?
Answer: Krishna’s warm welcome to Sudama, despite his poverty, showed that genuine affection matters more than social rank or riches. His loving behavior proved that true friendship is built on the heart’s bond, not on wealth or power.
24. What role did Sudama’s wife play in the story?
Answer: Sudama’s wife played a crucial role by reminding him of Krishna’s friendship and urging him to seek help. Her trust in Krishna’s kindness and her devotion became the reason behind Sudama’s good fortune and transformation.
25. How did Sudama’s visit to Dwarika change his life?
Answer: Sudama’s visit to Dwarika brought a miraculous change in his life. Without asking for anything, Krishna blessed him with immense wealth and comfort. His days of hardship ended, and he and his family began living a happy and prosperous life.
26. Why can Krishna and Sudama’s story be called a story of divine friendship?
Answer: The story of Krishna and Sudama is known as a tale of divine friendship because it reflects unconditional love and spiritual connection. Krishna, though a mighty king and divine being, saw no difference between himself and his poor friend. His selfless act of love and understanding showed that true friendship is sacred and beyond material boundaries.
27. What emotions did Sudama experience during his visit?
Answer:During his visit, Sudama went through many emotions. At first, he felt shy and hesitant to meet Krishna because of his poverty. When Krishna welcomed him with open arms, Sudama was filled with joy, love, and gratitude. He felt deeply touched by Krishna’s kindness and divine affection.
28. How did Krishna’s wife (Rukmini) take part in welcoming Sudama?
Answer: Rukmini, sharing Krishna’s deep affection for Sudama, helped in receiving him with great warmth and respect. She gladly ate the simple parched rice offered by Sudama, showing that love and devotion are more precious than luxury or fine food.
29. How does the story highlight Krishna’s humility?
Answer:The story beautifully portrays Krishna’s humility when he, despite being a powerful king, lovingly welcomed his poor friend, washed his feet, and treated him with utmost respect. His actions proved that real greatness is shown through love, respect, and humility toward others, regardless of their social status.
30. What message does the story convey about wealth and happiness?
Answer: The story shows that material wealth alone cannot bring true happiness. Genuine joy comes from love, friendship, and caring for others. Sudama’s life changed not just because of riches, but because of Krishna’s affection and their pure friendship.
31. How did Krishna prove that he understood Sudama’s unspoken needs?
Answer: Krishna showed his deep understanding of Sudama’s heart by granting him wealth and comfort without Sudama ever asking for help. This act demonstrated that true friendship perceives and responds to the needs of a friend even in silence.
32. What do the parched rice symbolize in the story?
Answer: In the story, the parched rice stands for Sudama’s love, humility, and sincere devotion. Though small and simple, it becomes priceless because it is given with true affection, showing that heartfelt gestures are more valuable than material wealth.
33. Why did Krishna eat the parched rice with joy?
Answer:Krishna relished the parched rice with delight because it was offered with genuine love and devotion by Sudama. The gift’s emotional value far outweighed its material worth, and Krishna appreciated the sincerity behind it more than anything else.
34. How does Sudama’s character inspire us?
Answer: Sudama’s life teaches us the importance of humility, honesty, and loyalty. His respect for friendship, simplicity, and pure-heartedness inspire us to value relationships and integrity above wealth or personal gain.
35. How did Krishna’s generosity change Sudama’s fate?
Answer: Through his boundless kindness, Krishna turned Sudama’s life around, replacing his hardships with wealth and comfort. This act showed that true generosity, motivated by love and friendship, can create life-changing miracles.
36. Why didn’t Sudama ask Krishna for help directly?
Answer:Sudama refrained from asking Krishna for assistance because of his pride and humility. He valued their friendship deeply and did not wish to exploit it for material benefits, keeping his dignity intact.
37. What was Sudama’s greatest realization after returning home?
Answer:Sudama understood that Krishna’s affection and care required no words. He realized that genuine friendship senses unspoken needs and responds with love, showing that true friends understand each other’s hearts perfectly.
38. How does the story show the importance of gratitude?
Answer: The story highlights that true gratitude comes from the heart. Sudama’s thankfulness was directed toward Krishna’s affection and care, demonstrating that valuing kindness and friendship is more important than merely acknowledging material gifts.
39. What moral lesson can children learn from this story?
Answer: Children can understand that real friendship is based on love, trust, and respect. It teaches them to care for friends sincerely and value relationships over wealth, status, or outward appearances.
40. Why is the friendship of Krishna and Sudama remembered even today?
Answer: The bond between Krishna and Sudama is celebrated even now because it exemplifies selfless love, humility, and unwavering devotion. Their story continues to inspire people to value true friendship and compassion above all else.
Answer by Mrinmoee
