Sudama was a poor brahmin boy who became a close friend of Krishna in sage Sandipani's hermitage. Krishna learnt to chant from Sudama.

After completing their studies, Sudama and Krishna went their own ways. Krishna became the king of Dwaraka. Sudama, on the other hand, married a simple brahmin girl and began to lead the life of a devotee, reading scriptures, praying, forsaking worldly pleasures. Everyone loved Sudama. His family was quite happy.

Then Sudama's wife gave birth to two children. Because of Sudama's simple life style, the family began to face difficult days, with little food to eat and no clothes to wear. Finally on a cold night, when her children were without blanket, Sudama's wife approached Sudama and humbly said, "Aren't you and Krishna, the lord of Dwaraka, friends? Go my lord, I beseech you, for the sake of our dear children, meet Krishna."

The very prospect of meeting Krishna, his old friend, made Sudama happy.

"I will go and see him, but I will not ask him for anything." Sudama's wife could hardly conceal her joy. She happily said, "Even a visit to Krishna will bless our family."

Just before his departure for Dwaraka, Sudama came to his wife. Both had the same thought. "What will I give to Krishna when I see him after such a long time?"

Sudama's wife suddenly remembered, "My lord you used to tell me that Krishna immensely loved the flattened rice!" Sudama too remembered Krishna's great liking for Powa. Sudama's wife ran to her neighbor's house and they happily gave her the gift of flattened in a small bundle. Sudama then set out on his long journey to Dwaraka.

When Sudama came to the palace, Krishna saw Sudama he ran to embrace him. Then Krishna sat down and washed Sudama's tired feet with warm water and put sandalwood paste on them.

After the royal meal, they all settled down to chat. Krishna and Sudama exchanged the happenings of their lives since they departed from Sandipani's hermitage. Suddenly Krishna noticed a small bundle on Sudama's waist. He remarked, "Ah! You have brought a present for me!"

Sudama hesitated, "How do I give a king, a poor man's Powa?" When Krishna noticed that Sudama was ashamed to give him the bundle, he remarked, "Sudama, the poorest gifts given to me with love is dearer to me than the richest of gifts given without love."

Krishna was thoughtful, "He has not come to ask anything for himself. He came out of love for his wife and me." Then he quickly snatched off the bundle and opened it. There it was, his favorite Powa! He tossed some in his mouth with great satisfaction. Then they talked and talked, as old friends, to their heart's content. Sudama could not ask anything from Krishna.