Story of Kuchela and Krishna is found in the Srimad Bhagavad
Purana (11, 80). Kuchela, meaning one who wears shabby clothes, was a friend,
classmate and devotee of Bhagavan Sri Krishna. As students, they stayed together
in the ashram of Sage Sandipani.
After completing education, they went different ways. Kuchela
lived in abject poverty with his wife and large number of children. Despite his
trials and tribulations, he remained a devotee of Bhagavan but never went to
meet his old friend and seek his help.
Once his wife, unable to tolerate poverty, goaded him to
meet Krishna and seek financial help.
A reluctant, Kuchela
set out to visit his old friend and carried with him handful of poha or aval
(beaten rice). On reaching, the palace of Krishna at
Dwarka, Kuchela was ashamed to give the ‘poha’ to Krishna.
However, the ever playful Krishna noticed the
small bag in the hand of his schoolmate and soon grabbed it and ate a handful
of ‘poha’. Kuchela could not believe his eyes, Krishna, the king, eating
his poha.
It is said ‘Athiti Devo Bhava’ (Guest are equal to God) and Krishna treated
Kuchela like a God. The poor Brahmin was so overwhelmed by the love shown by Krishna that
he forgot to ask for financial help and returned home empty handed.
On reaching his village, Kuchela could not find his old hut.
Instead, a palace stood in its place. His wife and children were wearing good
clothes and everything that was old and worn out was replaced with new.
It did not take long for Kuchela to realize that all this
was the ‘leela’ of the ever-smiling Sri Krishna.
The story symbolically suggests that we need not ask
anything to the Lord. He knows what is best for us. We need not bother what we
are offering to the Lord but offer it with utmost devotion.