186 Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

The statement of the brahmana Sudam is correct. An ordinary man
who is very poor and prays to the Lord for benediction in material opu-
lence, and who somehow or other becomes richer in material opulence,
immediately forgets his obligation to the Lord. Therefore, the Lord does
not offer opulences to His devotee unless the devotee is thoroughly desti-
tute. Rather, if a neophyte devotee serves the Lord very sincerely and at the
same time wants material opulence, the Lord keeps him from obtaining it.

Thinking in this way, the learned brahmana gradually reached his own
home. But on reaching there he saw that everything was wonderfully
changed. He saw that in place of his cottage there were big palaces made
of valuable stones and jewels, glittering like the sun, moon and rays of fire.
Not only were there big palaces, but at intervals there were beautifully
decorated parks, in which many beautiful men and women were strolling.
In those parks there were nice lakes full of lotus flowers and beautiful
lilies, and there were flocks of multicolored birds. Seeing the wonderful
conversion of his native place, the brahmana began to think to himself,
“How am I seeing all these changes? Does this place belong to me, or to
someone else? If it is the same place where I used to live, then how has it
so wonderfully changed?”

While the learned brahmana was considering this, a group of beautiful
men and women with features resembling those of the demigods, accom-
panied by musical chanters, approached to welcome him. All were singing
auspicious songs. The wife of the brahmana became very glad on hearing
the tidings of her husband’s arrival, and with great haste she also came out
of the palace. The brahmana’s wife appeared so beautiful that it seemed
as if the goddess of fortune herself had come to receive him. As soon as
she saw her husband present before her, tears of joy began to fall from
her eyes, and her voice became so choked up that she could not even
address her husband. She simply closed her eyes in ecstasy. But with
great love and affection she bowed down before her husband, and
within herself she thought of embracing him. She was fully decorated
with a gold necklace and ornaments, and while standing among the
maidservants she appeared like the wife of a demigod just alighting
from an airplane. The brahmana was surprised to see his wife so beautiful,
and in great affection and without saying a word he entered the palace
with his wife.

When the brahmana entered his personal apartment in the palace, he saw
that it was not an apartment, but the residence of the King of heaven. The
palace was surrounded by many columns of jewels. The couches and the
bedsteads were made of ivory, bedecked with gold and jewels, and the
