SECTION –CCLX
(Ghosha-yatra Parva Continued)
Janamejaya said, "While the high-souled
Pandavas were living in those woods, delighted with the pleasant conversation
they held with the Munis, and engaged in distributing the food they obtained
from the sun, with various kinds of venison to Brahmanas and others that came
to them for edibles till the hour of Krishna's meal, how, O great Muni, did
Duryodhana and the other wicked and sinful sons of Dhritarashtra, guided by the
counsels of Dussasana, Karna and Sakuni, deal with them? I ask thee this. Do
thou, worshipful Sir, enlighten me."
Vaisampayana said, "When, O great king,
Duryodhana heard that the Pandavas were living as happily in the woods as in a
city, he longed, with the artful Karna, Dussasana and others, to do them harm.
And while those evil-minded persons were employed in concerting various wicked
designs, the virtuous and celebrated ascetic Durvasa, following the bent of his
own will, arrived at the city of the Kurus with ten thousand disciples. And
seeing the irascible ascetic arrived, Duryodhana and his brothers welcomed him
with great humility, self-abasement and gentleness. And himself attending on
the Rishi as a menial, the prince gave him a right worshipful reception. And
the illustrious Muni stayed there for a few days, while king Duryodhana,
watchful of his imprecations, attended on him diligently by day and night. And
sometimes the Muni would say, 'I am hungry, O king, give me some food quickly.'
And sometimes he would go out for a bath and, returning at a late hour, would
say, 'I shall not eat anything today as I have no appetite,' and so saying
would disappear from his sight. And sometimes, coming all on a sudden, he would
say, 'Feed us quickly.' And at other times, bent on some mischief, he would
awake at midnight and having caused his meals to be prepared as before, would
carp at them and not partake of them at all. And trying the prince in this way
for a while, when the Muni found that the king Duryodhana was neither angered,
nor annoyed, he became graciously inclined towards him. And then, O Bharata,
the intractable Durvasa said unto him, 'I have power to grant thee boons. Thou
mayst ask of me whatever lies nearest to thy heart. May good fortune be thine.
Pleased as I am with thee, thou mayst obtain from me anything that is not opposed
to religion and morals.'
Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words
of the great ascetic, Suyodhana felt himself to be inspired with new life.
Indeed, it had been agreed upon between himself and Karna and Dussasana as to
what the boon should be that he would ask of the Muni if the latter were
pleased with his reception. And the evil-minded king, bethinking himself of
what had previously been decided, joyfully solicited the following favour,
saying, 'The great king Yudhishthira is the eldest and the best of our race.
That pious man is now living in the forest with his brothers. Do thou,
therefore, once become the guest of that illustrious one even as, O Brahmana,
thou hast with thy disciples been mine for some time. If thou art minded to do
me a favour, do thou go unto him at a time when that delicate and excellent
lady, the celebrated princess of Panchala, after having regaled with food the
Brahmanas, her husbands and herself, may lie down to rest.' The Rishi replied,
'Even so shall I act for thy satisfaction.' And having said this to Suyodhana,
that great Brahmana, Durvasa, went away in the very same state in which he had
come. And Suyodhana regarded himself to have attained all the objects of his
desire. And holding Karna by the hand he expressed great satisfaction. And
Karna, too, joyfully addressed the king in the company of his brothers, saying,
'By a piece of singular good luck, thou hast fared well and attained the
objects of thy desire. And by good luck it is that thy enemies have been immersed
in a sea of dangers that is difficult to cross. The sons of Pandu are now
exposed to the fire of Durvasa's wrath. Through their own fault they have
fallen into an abyss of darkness.'"
Vaisampayana continued, "O king, expressing
their satisfaction in this strain, Duryodhana and others, bent on evil
machinations, returned merrily to their respective homes."
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