He had full control over his senses. He was, however, a very poor man. He and his family had to go hungry without food, many a time and could barely cover themselves with clothing. In fact, he was knowsn as Kuchela because of the rags he wore. His wife was devoted to her husband, despite their abject poverty. Kuchela would tell her, "Krishna my friend is god on earth, my dear. He is beautiful, cheerful and charming and also courageous. He was deemed by all the students of the gurukulam as the prince among men. I understand that he is now in Dwaraka." Kuchela’s wife once told him, "If Krishna is such a good friend of yours, why don’t you go and meet him? Maybe, he will give our family some help." Kuchela agreed and enquired if there was anything in the house which he can take as a present to Krishna. Kuchela’s wife borrowed from her neighbor a handful of rice-flakes and put it in a bundle and gave it to Kuchela, "Present this to Krishna."
Kuchela started on foot to Dwaraka, with the precious bundle of rice-flakes in his hands. Dwaraka was a beautiful city of palaces, much grander than Ujjain of his childhood days. He go to the palace of the Vrishni chiefs within which was located the residence of Krishna and Rukmini. The liveried guards led Kuchela into the royal hall which was exquisitely adorned with gold and silk. Krishna rushed towards Kuchela, his old friend and hugged him and introduced him to Rukmini. "Rukmini, Kuchela is our honored guest. Let us treat him to a feast befitting a guest." Krishna washed the feet of the guest and offered him flowers and fruits. Rukmini fanned the guest with a jewelled fan. The old friends started talking about the pleasant memories of their life together in the gurukulam in Ujjain. They were in tears as they remembered their great guru and the knowledge the guru had imparted them.
Kuchela had been hiding the bundle of rice-flakes under his clothing. He was wondering if it was allright to present this as a gift to a prince. Krishna inquired, "You have brought something for me. Why are you hiding it? Give it to me." Krishna snatched the bundle from Kuchela’s hands and opened the bundle and started eating the rice-flakes with great relish, "This handful is more precious to me than all the wealth and expensive gifts visitors have given me. This is a gift of love and is superior to all form and ceremony." Kuchela stayed on in the palace for some days; he enjoyed the warmth of the hospitality of Krishna and Rukmini and was not enamored of the luxuries of the palace.
It was time to leave and Kuchela thanked the prince and Rukmini for their kindness. As he started for home, he realized that he had not asked for anything from his friend, which was one of the objectives of his journey to Dwaraka. Anyway, he said to himself, "I have got the love and affection of Krishna, what more do I need?"
Kuchela returned to his village. He was surprised to see a huge mansion in place of his old hut. A lady stepped out of the mansion. She was Kuchela’s wife. "What is going on here?" asked Kuchela. She replied, "Come and see your chidren. Don’t you know what Krishna has done for us? He has given all these riches to our family."
Kuchela reflected, "My Krishna is like a cloud which does not rain in the presence of the peasant but inundates the peasant’s field while he is asleep. His love is greater than the wealth He has granted us."
Kuchela lived happily thereafter, but was never infatuated with his wealth and always remembered the charm and affection of his friend and Lord, Krishna.
