Sudama

In Hindu mythology, one of the god
Krishna’s childhood friends who is a
symbol for god’s grace and providence.
In later life Sudama is desperately poor
and, at his wife’s urging, goes to beg for
help from his childhood friend, who is
now the king of Dwaraka. Sudama is so
poor that the only gift he can bring for
Krishna is a small packet of parched
rice, but Krishna greets him and graciously accepts it. The two have an
enjoyable visit in which they reminisce
about old times, and Sudama goes home
without asking for anything. Some of the
stories explain this lapse as stemming
from shame, but in others Sudama is
portrayed as having had such a nice
time that he simply forgets. During his
homeward journey Sudama worries
over the reception he will get from his
wife, but when he arrives he discovers
that his hut has been transformed into a
palace by Krishna’s divine power, and
from that day he is never poor again.