|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 281 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  132

Prithukopakhyanam

Shushrushaya  Paramaya  Padhasamvahanadhibhi: | Poojitho Devadevena Vipradevena Devavath || Kinchith  Karothyurvapi Yathsvadhaththam Suhrithkritham Phalgvapi Bhoorikari | Mayopaneetham Prithukaikamushtim Prathyagraheeth Preethiyutho Mahathma||

Shuka Bhramam continues “ Oh! Rajan, thus Sudhama arrived on the pathways to his home.  He was in a false impression that he had lost track of his way home.  The pathway was leading to a magnificent fortress which has the brilliance of Surya and the luster of the moon, there was a number of marvelous fortresses all around, beautiful pleasure gardens, streams, wells,  ponds, flower gardens, plants and trees, birds and domesticated animals.  Once again, he assumed that he ended up in a wrong place; anyway, he moved further, suddenly he could hear the voice of Susheela accompanied by several female attendants dressed in magnificent clothes and divine musical instruments.  He looked around in search of the voice, found Susheela attired in a marvelous costume, he could hardly recognize her, he could not believe his eyes.  He looked at her in awe, she has completely changed, approached him with a pleasing smile,  she was adorned in various precious ornaments all over the body.  She was accompanied by female servants, she took Sudhama inside the fortress which has the resemblance to the abode of Lord Indra, washed his legs, and offered him a magnificent seat.  The whole house was decorated with gem decorated furniture and various household equipment, beautiful pillars of exquisite carvings, and the whole house was decorated with the most expensive gem.  The entire walls of the fortress were decorated with exquisite paintings, one of the pictures holding a precious gem spreading brilliance all over the chamber.  Susheela narrated the supremely brilliant transformation took place in overnight in the house, she was not aware of the phenomenon, in the morning she was greeted with several female attendants and realized herself in the midst of royal comforts, she was stunned to witness a marvelous fortress in place of their dilapidated home.  She walked on to the entire fortress witnessing exquisite pieces of household equipments, could not believe her eyes, she saw number of female attendants all over the fortress, even her appearance has changed at once.” 

Sudhama remembered the amusements of the supreme Lord to remove his poverty; he firmly believed that it must be the kindness of him.  Sudhama understood without requesting for anything to his close companion, he had provided all those richness in abundance. Sudhama heartily prayed “ Oh! Bhagavan,  Oh! Janardhana, If have to take birth again and again, I want you as my constant companion, I should not forget your presence in my heart, I should serve you, as a sincere servant, I will ask for nearness to you always.  I should attain constant association with the saintly people so that I could unite my mind and intellect upon your lotus feet.” Sudhama did not get distracted living in the material welfare; he tirelessly contemplated upon supreme Lord and elevated his soul.  Thus, Sudhama with his constant practice of meditation and devotion conquered the Maya of supreme Lord, even the sincere attendants of Lord could not defeat the Maya of supreme Lord, and  finally, Sudhama attained the abode of Supreme Lord.

Yethath  Bhramanasya Devasya Shruthva  Bhramanyatham Nara: | Labdhabhavo Bhagavathi Karmabandhath Vimuchyathe||

Hence, whoever learns or recite the glorious legend of Sudhama would get relieved from the attachment to material matters and bondage.

In this legend Sudhama is one who vested his mind and intellect upon supreme Lord, the four handful of flattened rice is the mind, unprocessed rice has to undergo a few procedures to get it as flattened rice.  The mind and intellect easily get attached to worldly matters, people and wealth, and remains like the unprocessed rice, it has to be cleansed with the constant practice of devotion and meditation.  The mind and intellect which is drenched in the constant remembrance of the Supreme Lord by any of these methods of Shravanam, Keerthanam, Smaranam, Mananam, Archanam, Vandhanam, Dhasyam, Athmanivedhanam attains union with the Supreme Lord and resides in the abode of Sri Vaikundam/free from trepidations and impurities.  Sudhama did not expect any material comforts from Supreme Lord; he kept intense devotion and faith upon him so that he could forget all those miseries and sufferings of poverty.  Sudhama had an extreme fondness to supreme Lord who resides as a soul in living beings; therefore he was neither troubled with the suffering of poverty nor fascinated by the sudden richness, ultimately attained the abode of the supreme Lord.