The Brahmana Sudama Benedicted by Lord Krsna 185

that she has to personally go to the devotee’s home to turn it into the
most opulent home in the world. If one feeds Narayana sumptuously, the
goddess of fortune, Laksmi, automatically becomes a guest in one’s house,
which means that one’s home becomes opulent. The learned brahmana
Sudama passed that night at the house of Lord Krsna, and while he was
there he felt as if he were living in the Vaikuntha planet. Actually he was
living in Vaikuntha, because wherever Lord Krsna, the original Narayana,
and Rukminidevi, the goddess of fortune, live is not different from the
spiritual planet, Vaikunthaloka.

The learned brahmana Sudama did not appear to have received anything
substantial from Lord Krsna while he was at His place, and yet he did not
ask anything from the Lord. The next morning he started for his home,
thinking always about his reception by Krsna, and thus he became merged
in transcendental bliss. All the way home he was simply remembering the
dealings of Lord Krsna, and he was feeling very happy to have seen the
Lord.

The brahmana began to think as follows: “It is most pleasurable to see
Lord Krsna, who is most devoted to the brahmanas. How great a lover He
is of the brahminical culture! He is the Supreme Brahman Himself, yet He
reciprocates with the brahmanas. He also respects the brahmanas so much
that He embraced to His chest a poor brahmana like me, although He never
embraces anyone to His chest except the goddess of fortune. How can
there be any comparison between me, a poor, sinful brahmana, and the
Supreme Lord Krsna, who is the only shelter of the goddess of fortune?
And yet, considering me as a brahmana, He embraced me with heartfelt
pleasure in His two transcendental arms. Lord Krsna was so kind to me
that He allowed me to sit down on the same bedstead where the goddess of
fortune lies down. He considered me to be His real brother. How can I
appreciate my obligation to Him? When I was tired, Srimati Rukminidevi,
the goddess of fortune, began to fan me, holding the camara whisk in her’
own hand. She never considered her exalted position as the first queen of
Lord Krsna. I was rendered service by the Supreme Personality of Godhead
because of His high regard for the brahmanas, and by massaging my legs
and feeding me with His own hand, He practically worshiped me! Aspiring
for elevation to the heavenly planets, or liberation or all kinds of material
opulences, or perfection in the mystic yoga powers, everyone throughout
the universe worships the lotus feet of Lord Krsna. Yet the Lord was so
kind to me that He did not give me even a farthing, knowing very well that
I am a poverty-stricken man who, if I got some money, might become
puffed up and mad after material opulence and so forget Him.”
