Shree Sanwaliyaji

Ramayana exists at various levels:
Firstly it has the religious connotation but goes much beyond it.
Next, it is mega entertainment. The story was told to groups of people in the family, village and in satsangs. It was also performed on the stage with drama, music and dance.
Then it was a kind of instructional material that sets moral standards for human behaviour at different strata of the society under varying circumstances, and demonstrates ideal relationships within the family.
Fourthly it integrates Rama’s entourage with the animal kingdom in the form of an army of monkeys under that eternal loyalist Bhakta Hanuman, who assumes superman proportions.
Ramayana is a link for Hindus all over the world. Even the poor indentured labour sent to Mauritius and Fiji carried something of the Ramayana with them, while they had no other worldly possession to take with them.
It has permanence—it is relevant at all times, in all places and in all ages.

The fruit from the Ramayana
The Ramayana is the source of many stories told to adults and children.
It teaches:

importance of duty
correct behaviour
parental reverence
piety
friendship
justice
governance
peaceful co-existence between all God’s creatures
the respect and need to preserve the ecological balance and natural order of things.
The epic’s appeal lies in the human frailties it explores.
It is finally the victory of good over evil.
It is the viability of the utopian concept of ‘Rama Rajya’, in which Rama, the perfect and just
king ruled over a happy kingdom, free from want and war.

Sudama (सुदामा) was a childhood friend of Krishna from Mathura, the story of whose visit to Dwaraka to meet Krishna, is mentioned in the Bhagavata Purana.
Sudama was from a poor Brahmin family, while Krishna was from the royal family. But this difference in social status did not come in the way of their friendship. They lost contact over the years and while Krishna became a military leader and King of great repute at Dwaraka, while Sudama stayed as a humble, and somewhat impoverished Brahmin living in a village [2].
Some time later when Sudama was going through some bad times, not even having enough money to feed his children, his wife reminded him of his friendship with Krishna.
Though initially reluctant to go to his friend for help, Sudama finally agrees to go. He leaves with nothing but some beaten rice tied in a cloth as a present. He remembers that beaten rice (powa/poha in Hindi) is Krishna’s favorite and decided to give this as a gift to the Lord.
Krishna is greatly pleased to see his old friend. He treats him royally and with much love. Overwhelmed by all this Sudama forgets to ask for what he actually came to ask. But the Lord realises what His friend needs, and the lord’s consort Rukmini incarnation of Lakshmi, gifts him with his desires. On his return journey, Sudama ponders his circumstances and is thankful for the great friend he has in Lord Krishna. When Sudama finally returns to his home, he finds a palatial mansion instead of the hut he had left. He also finds his family dressed in extremely nice garb and waiting for him. He lives an austere life after that, always thankful to the Lord.