The same Krishna who lifted Govardhan Hill with a mere finger, subdued serpent Kaliya, and vanquished the mighty Kans—is none other than the Supreme Lord. His power and majesty are such that even the gods stand in wonder.
Yet, in His sweet pastimes, this very Lord runs barefoot through forest groves, eyes twinkling with mischief and love, as His playful laughter with friends echoes through the trees. This is the wonder of Sakhya Bhav (the divine mood of friendship), where the Almighty sets aside His grandeur to simply be... a friend.
Come, walk the memory lanes of Braj. Then journey across years and miles to the humble dwelling of Shree Krishna’s childhood companion Sudama—where love runs so deep that even God is moved to tears. What makes the Supreme Being long for friendship? The answer awaits…
Camaraderie in Braj
The blessed land of Braj is rich with countless leelas of Shree Krishna, each steeped in a distinct flavor of love. To Nand Baba and Mother Yashoda, He was their precious Kanha, allowing Himself to be cared for like a child in Vatsalya Bhav. To the gopis who saw Him as their soul beloved, He reciprocated with the intimacy of Madhurya Bhav. And with His friends, He entered the realm of joyous camaraderie: where shared lunches, whispered secrets, and cherished moments blossomed in the forests of Vrindavan.
At just about four years of age, Krishna was too young to graze cows, so He took the calves to pasture. And there began the golden days filled with laughter and games, with His friends: Shridama, Dhansukh, Mansukh, Madhumangal, and others. Under the influence of Yogmaya (God’s divine power), they did not see Him as the Supreme Lord, but only as their dearest friend. And by that same divine power, Krishna too forgot His Godhood.
Each morning, Yashoda packed Krishna’s meal, and in the forest, He and His friends would share their tiffins together. Krishna would peer into another’s meal and ask, “What did your Maiya cook today? Let me have a bite!” The friend would frown in mock annoyance. “You greedy fellow! Always eyeing my food. Go eat your own lunch and stop begging like a bhikhari!” Krishna would laugh, delighting in being scolded like a mischievous child. If refused, He would reach over and snatch a morsel—sometimes straight from their hand, or even from their mouth—and eat it with utter joy. Then, licking His fingers, He would exclaim, “Wah! Your Maiya cooks better than mine. I must tell my Mother to learn from her!”
Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj captures this tender mood in his kirtan:
“Dekho dekho re, Gwalan mukh chori chori Hari, khat kaur kahī bali hārī…”
Look! Shree Krishna is stealing bites from His friends’ meals and praising their mothers over His own!
They played too, running, wrestling, rolling in the dust. And one day, they agreed: whoever loses the game must become a horse. Krishna lost. And so, the Lord of the universe got down on all fours as His friends climbed onto His back. “Chal ghode chal!” they cheered, one of them kicking Him to go faster.
But the matter would not end there. Eyes brimming with love, Krishna would say, “That kick you gave me was so sweet. Can I have another?”
Such is the flavor of Sakhya Bhav (the divine mood of friendship). A love so sweet that even the Lord longs for it. But how could the Supreme Being find joy in being teased, scolded, and kicked that too by these cowherd boys? Even the Gods would get baffled seeing this. However, none was more surprised than Brahma, the creator himself.
When Brahma Gets Baffled
When Sage Narad informed Brahma that the Supreme Lord had descended in Braj as a mischievous cowherd boy, Brahma was both curious and doubtful. “Come and witness His divine leela,” Narad ji urged. Intrigued, Brahma agreed at once. Ever seated within every heart, Shree Krishna heard Brahma’s wish—and decided to respond in His own playful way.
Soon, Brahma and Sage Narad arrived in Braj, where Krishna sat among His friends, relishing their half-eaten remnants. Brahma watched, puzzled. “Is this the Supreme Lord?” he asked. “Yes,” Narad replied, “the one with the peacock feather and blue complexion.” “But… He eats the leftovers of Ahirs? This is beyond belief,” Brahma scoffed. Sage Narad only smiled saying he had spoken the truth and departed from there.
Left alone, Brahma decided to test Krishna. In a flash, he took away all the calves and cowherd boys and hid them in a cave on Mount Sumeru. He thought to himself: If He is truly God, He will know about the whereabouts of His pals. If not, He will be left confused.
But Shree Krishna, the source of all creation, smiled knowingly.
At that very moment, Krishna invoked His Yogmaya shakti and effortlessly manifested exact replicas of every calf and cowherd boy. The forms matched not just in appearance and voice, but even in gestures and behavior. No one noticed a difference. Not even their mothers. And yet, something had changed. The mothers, who once longed to see Krishna playing in Nand Baba’s courtyard, now unknowingly held Him in their arms. A deeper, unexplainable love awakened within them. Even the cows, sensing a divine presence in their calves, overflowed with affection, their milk pouring from their bodies.
Meanwhile, Brahma returned to Brahmalok—only to find the gates barred. The guards refused to grant him entry saying there was already a Brahma seated on the throne. Shaken, Brahma rushed back to Earth. By then, a full celestial year had passed. To his amazement, Krishna was still there playing with the same calves and boys. Racing to the cave, Brahma found the original calves and boys still asleep. And then, the realization dawned upon Brahma. This was no ordinary child. This was the Supreme Lord Himself!
And then, Brahma was graced with a divine vision. Within each boy and calf stood a radiant form of Narayan—eternal, infinite, and resplendent. Overwhelmed, he fell at Krishna’s feet. “Ahobhagyam! How blessed are the residents of Braj, whose friend is the Lord Himself. I am called Bhagyavidhata, the writer of destinies, but what destiny can I write for such souls? Please don’t make me Brahma again. Let me be a blade of grass in Braj, just to touch the dust of their feet.” Shree Krishna smiled and blessed him. Brahma rose, humbled, transformed, and drenched in divine love. Such is the wonder of friendship in Braj—even the creator bows before it.
Long Lost Friends
Braj was only the beginning. Years later, when Krishna reigned as King in Dwarka, an old friend was about to knock at His door.
Sudama, a poor Brahmin, had once shared a humble gurukul life with Krishna under aegis of Sandipani Muni. A man of deep ethics, Sudama had taken the yati-vrata: never to ask for anything, only to accept what life gave. His wife, Sushila, silently bore years of their growing poverty. But when their children began starving, she folded her hands and pleaded, “You often say the King of Dwarka is your childhood friend. For our children's sake, please go to Him and ask for help."
“Yes, we were friends… but how can I ask him for anything?” Sudama hesitated. His wife still insisted with eyes full of hope. Sudama asked reluctantly, “But how can I go empty-handed?” Sushila tore a corner of her sari, wrapped a handful of dry borrowed rice in it, tied it carefully, and give it to him. “Here. Take this humble gift for your friend.” Sudama set off barefoot under the scorching sun. But Krishna, in His omniscience, saw His friend’s journey begin. Fearing Sudama’s frail body might not make it, He invoked His Yogmaya shakti, bringing Sudama miraculously to the gates of Dwarka. There, Sudama humbly requested the guards to inform Krishna of his arrival.
The moment Krishna heard the name of his childhood friend, He leapt from His throne in joy. “Sudama! My dearest friend has come!” He rushed out barefoot, His queens trailing behind in wonder. As Shree Krishna embraced Sudama tightly, years of distance melted away. Leading him inside with royal honor, Krishna knelt down and washed Sudama’s weary feet with His tears of love, which fell onto Sudama’s cracked soles before any water did.
That evening, the palace rang with laughter as the two friends recalled their childhood days. “Remember when Guru Ma gave us roasted chana? You ate it all hiding behind a tree!” Krishna teased. Sudama smiled faintly. “Maybe that is why I am poor today,” he said, thinking it might be the price of his wrongdoing. Krishna’s eyes welled up. Changing the topic, Krishna asked playfully, if Sudama brought anything for him. Sudama tried to hide the little bundle, but Krishna snatched it with joy. “Ah! A treasure!” He exclaimed, savoring every bite of the dry rice as if it were divine nectar.
Sudama stayed four days but never asked for help. I will just tell Sushila he treated me like a king, he thought. Content with Krishna’s love, he began the walk home, unaware that a miracle awaited him. When Sudama returned, his hut was gone. In its place stood a palace. His wife was adorned in fine clothes, eyes brimming with joy. Sudama understood, Shree Krishna had graced them profusely. Though offered royal robes, Sudama said, “This dhoti will only come off when my soul departs.” He remained detached from wealth, living with the same humility as before.
Through this divine friendship, Shree Krishna revealed a deeper truth: Love offered with humility is more precious than jewels to Him. And the Lord, all-powerful and all-knowing, subjugates Himself before such love.
From Fear to Friendship
Across the world, devotion to God is often infused with fear, reverence, and distance. But Sanatan Vedic Dharma highlights the loving aspect of the Almighty where one can establish a personal relationship with Him.
To Yashoda, He was a child.
To the gopis, a beloved.
And to Sudama—a friend forever.
Yes, He is God. But God has a ‘law of love.’
In the Bhagavad Gita, Shree Krishna declares:
Ye yatha mam prapadyante
tams tathaiva bhajamyaham ~ Verse 4.11
“In whatever way people surrender unto Me, I reciprocate accordingly.”
If the devotee says, “I want to care for You as a mother,” He becomes the child in her arms. If the devotee whispers, “You are my one true love,” Krishna becomes their beloved. If the devotee says, “You are my friend, Krishna,” He responds, “Then let Me be your closest companion.” Such is the beauty of God’s love that the Vedas praise Him not only as Bhakt-vatsal—affectionate towards His devotees—but even more as Bhakt-vashya—one who becomes beholden by His devotees’ love.
The Bhāgavatam reveals:
Aham bhakta-parādhīno hyasvatantra iva dvija ~ 9.4.63
“Although I am Supremely Independent, yet I become enslaved by My devotees.
Conclusion
The Supreme Being who holds the cosmos once rolled in the dust of Braj, giggled over stolen lunches, and wept for His friend. For Him, no throne is too high to step down from, no palace too grand to run barefoot through, and no offering too small to relish with joy. This is the realm of divine friendship: untainted by hierarchy or formality, where boundaries dissolve, and God becomes your dearest companion. He is the Lord of all, yet forever a friend to those who seek Him so. And today, as always, He waits—with arms open as if asking: hey, will you be my friend?
Call To Action
Watch this video. Let your heart take a step closer towards Shree Krishna!
https://youtu.be/TxzT8IzwXv0?si=MrKNpuA5hmH8EmRw
Resources
Watch these YouTube videos by Swami Mukundananda to dive deeper into bhakti:
- When Shree Krishna Shed Tears - The Love that Moves Krishna | Story of Sudama | Swami Mukundananda
- Shree Krishna WILL Become Your Friend if you Realize this - The Sakhya Bhav | Swami Mukundananda
- When Lord Brahma Tested Shree Krishna - The ULTIMATE Truth of Krishna Bhakti | Swami Mukundananda