03.246
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said.
vrīhidroṇaḥ parityaktaḥ kathaṃ tena mahātmanā। kasmai dattaś ca bhagavan vidhinā kena cāttha me ॥03-246-1॥
O venerable one, how did that great-souled one abandon the bucket of rice? To whom was it given, by what procedure, by whom, and what does it mean for me? (03-246-1)
pratyakṣadharmā bhagavān yasya tuṣṭo hi karmabhiḥ। saphalaṁ tasya janmāhaṁ manye saddharmacāriṇaḥ ॥03-246-2॥
I think the birth of one who follows true dharma, whose nature is manifest righteousness and whose actions indeed please the Divine, is fruitful. (03-246-2)
vyāsa uvāca॥
Vyāsa said;
śiloñchavṛttirdharmātmā mudgalaḥ saṃśitavrataḥ। āsīd rājankurukṣetre satyavāganasūyakaḥ॥03-246-3॥
Mudgala, who lived by gathering fallen grains and was virtuous, firm in his vow, truth-speaking, and free from envy, resided in Kurukṣetra, O king. (3-246-3)
atithivratī kriyāvāṃś ca kāpotīṃ vṛttim āsthitaḥ। satram iṣṭīkṛtaṃ nāma samupāste mahātapāḥ॥03-246-4॥
The great ascetic, who observes the vow of receiving guests, performs rituals and lives like a pigeon, worships the sacrificial session known as iṣṭīkṛta. (03-246-4)
saputradāro hi muniḥ pakṣāhāro babhūva saḥ। kapotavṛttyā pakṣeṇa vrīhidrōṇam upārjayat ॥03-246-5॥
The sage, along with his wife and son, lived eating only at intervals; like a pigeon, he would earn a measure of rice every fortnight. (03-246-5)
darśaṃ ca paurṇamāsaṃ ca kurvan vigatamatsaraḥ। devatātithiśeṣeṇa kurute dehayāpanam ॥03-246-6॥
Performing the new and full moon sacrifices, being free from envy, and sustaining his body with what remains after offering to the gods and guests, he maintains himself. (03-246-6)
tasyendraḥ sahito devaiḥ sākṣāt tribhuvaneśvaraḥ। pratyagṛhṇān mahārāja bhāgaṃ parvaṇi parvaṇi ॥03-246-7॥
O great king, Indra—the lord of the three worlds—together with the gods directly accepted his share at every festival. (03-246-7)
sa parvakālaṁ kṛtvā tu munivṛttyā samanvitaḥ। atithibhyo dadāv annaṁ prahṛṣṭenāntarātmanā॥03-246-8॥
He, following the conduct of a sage, observed the proper festive time and gladly offered food to the guests with a joyful heart. (03-246-8)
vrīhidroṇasya tad aho dadato'nnaṃ mahātmanaḥ। śiṣṭaṃ mātsaryahīnasya vardhaty-atithidarśanāt॥03-246-9॥
Indeed, the food left from a droṇa of rice, given by a great-souled person who is free from jealousy, increases upon the arrival of a guest. (03-246-9)
tacchatāny api bhuñjanti brāhmaṇānāṃ manīṣiṇām। munes tyāgaviśuddhyā tu tad annaṃ vṛddhim ṛcchati॥03-246-10॥
Those hundreds (of gifts) are indeed consumed by learned Brahmanas, but through the purity of the sage's renunciation, that food increases in merit. (03-246-10)
taṁ tu śuśrāva dharmiṣṭhaṁ mudgalaṁ saṁśitavratam। durvāsā nṛpa digvāsās tam athābhyājagāma ha ॥03-246-11॥
But Durvāsas, O king, clad only in the directions, having heard of the most righteous and firmly-vowed Mudgala, then approached him. (03-246-11)
bibhraccāniyataṁ veṣamunmatta iva pāṇḍava। vikacaḥ paruṣā vāco vyāharan vividhā muniḥ ॥03-246-12॥
O Pāṇḍava, the sage, clad in disordered garments and looking like a madman, shamelessly uttered various harsh words. (03-246-12)
abhigamyātha taṃ vipramuvāca munisattamaḥ। annārthinamanuprāptaṃ viddhi māṃ munisattama ॥03-246-13॥
Then, approaching him, the best of sages said to the brāhmaṇa: Know me to be the one who has come desiring food, O best among sages. (03-246-13)
svāgataṃ te'stviti muniṃ mudgalaḥ pratyabhāṣata. pādyam ācamanīyaṃ ca pratica vedya annam uttamam ॥03-246-14॥
Mudgala addressed the sage, saying, "Welcome to you." He offered water for washing feet and sipping, and then informed him about the excellent food. (03-246-14)
prādāts tapasopāttaṃ kṣudhittāyātithivratī। un-mattāya parāṃ śraddhām āsthāya sa dhṛtavvrataḥ॥03-246-15॥
He, resolute in his vows, observing the guest vow, gave what had been gained by austerity to a hungry madman, acting with supreme faith. (03-246-15)
tatas tad annaṃ rasavat sa eva kṣudhā-anvitaḥ। bubhuje kṛtsnam unmattaḥ prādāt tasmai ca mudgalaḥ ॥03-246-16॥
Then, being hungry, he ate all that tasty food in his excitement; and Mudgala gave it to him as well. (03-246-16)
bhuktvā cānnaṁ tataḥ sarvam ucchiṣṭenātmanas tataḥ। athānulilipe'ṅgāni jagāma ca yathāgatam ॥03-246-17॥
Having eaten the food, and then with his own leftovers, thereafter he smeared his limbs and went back just as he had come. (03-246-17)
evaṃ dvitīye samprāpte parvakāle manīṣiṇaḥ। āgamya bubhuje sarvam annam uñchopajīvinaḥ॥03-246-18॥
Thus, when the second day of the festival arrived, the wise gleaner came and ate all the food. (03-246-18)
nirāhāras tu sa munir uñcham ārjayate punaḥ। na ca enaṃ vikriyaṃ netum aśakan mudgalaṃ kṣudhā॥03-246-19॥
But he, the sage, having no food, again procured gleanings. Even then, hunger was not able to cause any disturbance to Mudgala. (03-246-19)
na krodho na ca mātsaryaṃ nāvamāno na sambhramaḥ. saputradhāramuñchantam āviveśa dvijottamam ॥03-246-20॥
Anger did not enter the mind of the foremost Brahmin, nor envy, nor humiliation, nor confusion, as he lived a gleaner's life with his wife and son. (03-246-20)
tathā tam uñcha-dharmāṇaṃ durvāsā muni-sattamam। upatasthe yathā-kālaṃ ṣaṭ-kṛtvaḥ kṛta-niścayaḥ॥03-246-21॥
Thus Durvasa, the foremost of sages who observed the vow of gleaning (uncha-dharma), approached him at the proper time, having resolved, six times. (03-246-21)
na cāsya mānasaṃ kiñcid vikāraṃ dadṛśe muniḥ। śuddhasattvasya śuddhaṃ sa dadṛśe nirmalaṃ manaḥ ॥03-246-22॥
The sage saw no change at all in his mind. He observed that the mind of the pure-souled one was pure and spotless. (03-246-22)
tam uvāca tataḥ prītaḥ sa munir mudgalaṃ tadā। tvat-samo nāsti loke 'smin dātā mātsarya-varjitaḥ ॥03-246-23॥
Then, being pleased, that sage said to Mudgala, "There is no giver free from envy equal to you in this world." (03-246-23)
kṣuddharmasañjñāṃ praṇudatyādatte dhairyameva ca। viṣayānusāriṇī jihvā karṣatyeva rasānprati ॥03-246-24॥
By pushing away the awareness of hunger's nature, one takes up only fortitude; but the tongue, ever following its objects, constantly draws toward flavors. (03-246-24)
āhāra-prabhavāḥ prāṇā mano durnigrahaṁ calam। manasaś cendriyāṇāṁ cāpy aikāgryaṁ niścitaṁ tapaḥ॥03-246-25॥
The life forces arise from food; the mind is difficult to control and unsteady; and one-pointedness of the mind and senses is declared to be austerity. (03-246-25)
śrameṇopārjitaṃ tyaktuṃ duḥkhaṃ śuddhena cetasā। tatsarvaṃ bhavatā sādho yathāvadupapāditam ॥03-246-26॥
It is difficult to give up what has been acquired by effort with a pure mind; yet, O good man, all this has been properly accomplished by you. (03-246-26)
prītāḥ smo'nugṛhītāś ca sametya bhavatā saha। indriyābhijayo dhairyaṃ saṃvibhāgo damaḥ śamaḥ ॥03-246-27॥
We are pleased and favored, having come together with you. Victory over the senses, steadfastness, sharing, self-restraint, and tranquility are present. (03-246-27)
dayā satyaṃ ca dharmaś ca tvayi sarvaṃ pratiṣṭhitam। jitās te karmabhir lokāḥ prāpto’si paramāṃ gatim ॥03-246-28॥
Compassion, truth, and righteousness are all established in you. By your actions, you have conquered the worlds and attained the highest state. (03-246-28)
aho dānaṃ vighuṣṭaṃ te sumahat svargavāsibhiḥ। saśarīro bhavān gantā svargaṃ sucaritavrata ॥03-246-29॥
Indeed, the great gift given by you has been proclaimed by the dwellers of heaven. You, of virtuous conduct, will go bodily to heaven. (03-246-29)
ityevaṁ vadatas tasya tadā durvāsaso muneḥ। devadūto vimānena mudgalaṁ pratyupasthitaḥ ॥03-246-30॥
Thus, as he was speaking, at that time, the divine messenger of the sage Durvāsas arrived before Mudgala in a celestial chariot. (03-246-30)
haṃsa-sārasayuktena kiṅkiṇī-jāla-mālinā। kāmagenavicitreṇa divya-gandhavatā tathā ॥03-246-31॥
Also with the one adorned with rows of small bells, joined by swans and cranes, wondrous, moving as desired, and having divine fragrance. (03-246-31)
uvāca cainaṃ viprarṣiṃ vimānaṃ karmabhirjitam। samuparoha saṃsiddhiṃ prāpto'si paramāṃ mune ॥03-246-32॥
He said to him, the Brāhmana sage, "Ascend the celestial car earned by your deeds; you have achieved the highest accomplishment, O sage." (03-246-32)
tam evaṃvādinam ṛṣir devadūtam uvāca ha। icchāmi bhavatā proktān guṇān svarganivāsinām॥03-246-33॥
The seer then said to the divine messenger, "I wish to hear from you the qualities of the dwellers of heaven." (03-246-33)
ke guṇās tatra vasatāṃ kiṃ tapaḥ kaś ca niścayaḥ। svarge svargasukhaṃ kiṃ ca doṣo vā devadūtaka ॥03-246-34॥
O divine messenger, what are the qualities of those dwelling there, what is their asceticism, what is their resolve, what is the heavenly happiness in heaven, and is there any fault? (03-246-34)
satāṃ saptapadaṃ mitram āhuḥ santaḥ kulocitāḥ। mitratāṃ ca puraskṛtya pṛcchāmi tvām ahaṃ vibho॥03-246-35॥
It is said that for virtuous people, even sharing seven steps makes one a friend; righteous persons who are worthy of their family believe so. Therefore, considering our friendship foremost, O lord, I ask you this question. (03-246-35)
yad atra tathyaṃ pathyaṃ ca tad bravīhi avicārayan। śrutvā tathā kariṣyāmi vyavāsaṃ girā tava ॥03-246-36॥
Whatever here is true and beneficial, say that without hesitation; having heard it, I will act decisively according to your word. (03-246-36)
