“Who am I? A sinful, poor man. And who is Krishna? The Supreme
Personality of Godhead, full in six opulences. Nonetheless, He has
embraced me with His two arms.” – Sudama’s prayer in Srimad
Bhagavatam (10.81.16)

Srila prabhupada writes in srimad bhagavatam purport to 1.15.19: “the
Lord relishes the reproaches of friends, parents or fiancees more than
the vedic hymns offered to him by great learned scholars and
religionists in an official fashion.”

Of course this doesn’t mean we don’t follow the rituals or rules in
our devotional service. We can’t artificially jump to level 3 or 4. We
need the regulative principles and devotional practises that help us,
just like following traffic rules helps a driver drive smoothly to his
destination. However, the goal of the driver is not to simply drive,
but to reach the end point. Similarly we follow rules but want to rise
to the level 2.5 where we add the element of devotion in our offerings
to Krishna. And fortunately for us, Krishna sees our mood and intent,
even as we may sometimes slip from the ideal standards. It’s our
sincerity at this level that attracts Krishna to pick us up to the
elite club of level 3. It’s here that spontaneous loving offerings and
sweet exchanges with Krishna are a daily affair. But we can’t reach
this stage by our effort. Krishna pulls us up as we endeavour to
please him. We have to add the element of ‘remembrance of Krishna’ to
our offerings – that is level 2.5! The journey upwards from here would
be Krishna’s mercy on us.

Sudama felt very shy to offer the chipped rice to Krishna when he
visited him at his royal palace in dwaraka. His poverty had compelled
him to visit Krishna and due to his wife’s insistence, he approached
Krishna for help. And Krishna received him with love and honoured him
as a most special guest. Sudama was always aware of his inferior
social position and didn’t ask Krishna for any favour. He was also
hesitant to offer the poor quality of chipped rice that he had brought
for Krishna. However Krishna forcefully snatched from him the rice
packet and ate a mouthful with great relish. He took another morsel
when his wife srimati rukmini devi prevented him; she too wanted to
relish and share the remnants with her maid servants.

To be continued…