Durvāsā Maharshi pleased with the devotion and service of Duryodhana offered him a boon. The evil-minded Duryodhana had already conferred with his brothers and Karna earlier, “O revered Brahman! Maharaja Yudhishtira is the oldest and the best in our lineage. At this moment, the pious Yudhishtira is residing in the forest along with his brothers.
Yudhishtira is virtuous, gentle and courteous. We wish that you will also be their honoured guest. We beg that you arrive at their ashram at the time when the chaste Draupadī has finished serving the Brahmans and the Pandavas their meal, partaken hers and is resting.”
“Since I have a lot of affection for you, I will do as you have asked”, saying thus, Durvāsā Maharshi left in the same way he arrived. Duryodhana, his brothers and Karna were mighty pleased with their devious plan. They felt confident that the Pandavas would fail to honour Durvāsā Maharshi and his disciples appropriately, incur his wrath and fall into the depths of the hellish worlds.
One day, Durvāsā Maharshi came to know that the Pancha Pandavas and Draupadī had partaken their meal and were resting. He decided to enter the forest with ten thousand disciples. On seeing the radiant Durvāsā Maharshi approaching, Raja Yudhishtira moved forward to greet him properly.
He humbly offered him a seat and offered prostrations. After the customary rites and rituals were accorded, he requested Durvāsā Maharshi and his disciples to finish their bath and prayers and partake a meal.
The revered sage along with his disciples went to take a bath without thinking for a moment how Yudhishtira would be able to prepare a meal at this hour. The entire group of sages took a dip in the water and sat down for dhyāna.
The accomplished Draupadī became anxious about serving food when there was no food available. When she failed to come up with an idea to procure food after thinking for a long time, she prayed to Bhagawan Shree Krishna, “O Krishna! O mighty-armed Krishna! O Lord of the universe who takes pity on those who have surrendered to Your Lotus Feet.
You are the Supreme Consciousness. You are the refuge and protector of all. You are the Supreme Lord who sustains this entire universe. You are worthy of praise and adoration by all and offer boons to those who are devoted to You.
Please come. I beg You. There is no one but You who can help the helpless. O ancient One! You are the witness of all and beyond the mind and intellect. I seek refuge in You. Please save me. I beseech You.
You are the beginning, the middle and the end and yet are beginningless and endless. You are the solace for one and all. You are the Supreme, Self-effulgent Self and the all-pervading Supreme Lord.
The wise persons declare that You are the seed of this universe and the treasure of the lands. O Lord of the gods! As You are my protector, I am unafraid even if the greatest misfortune befalls me.
Bhagawan! Just like how You saved me from the hands of Dusshaasana in the sabha, similarly I beseech You to save me from my present difficulty.”
Bhagawan Shree Krishna, the ocean of mercy heard her fervent pleas and knew that she was in trouble and rushed to her side. Draupadī was pleased to see Bhagawan Shree Krishna in front of her and offered prostrations. She quickly informed Him of all that had transpired.
Bhagawan Shree Krishna said, “Krishnae! I am very hungry at the moment. First, serve Me food and then get on with your preparations.” Draupadī looked down embarrassed, “Bhagawan! The pātra given by Lord Suryanarayan gives food only till I have not eaten. But today, I have also had my meal. There is no food remaining in the pātra.”
“Krishnae! I am tormented by hunger and tiredness. This is not a laughing matter. Go quickly and bring Me that pātra.” In this manner, Bhagawan Shree Krishna stubbornly demanded to see the pātra.
He looked into it and picked up whatever was left and ate it saying, “Pray that Bhagawan Shree Hari who is the Self of the universe and beneficiary of the yagnas will be content and happy with these greens.” Bhagawan Shree Krishna asked Sahadeva to call the sages for their meal.
Sahadeva hurried to the banks of the Deva River to invite Durvāsā Maharshi and the others for the meal prepared in their honour.
The sages had finished their bath and were doing japa of the Aghamarshana mantra. They suddenly felt full and began belching like they had enjoyed a delicious meal. They came out of the water and looked at each other.
All of them looked at Durvāsā Maharshi and said, “Brahmarshi! We had instructed Raja Yudhishtira to prepare a meal and came here to take a bath. But, strangely we are feeling full. How can we eat the food prepared? All the preparations will be in vain. So, what shall we do?”
Durvāsā Maharshi thoughtfully replied, “The truth is that we have committed a great crime by asking Raja Yudhishtira to prepare a meal for us. What if the Pandavas look at us in anger and reduce us to ashes.
Brahmans! I remember Raja Ambarīsh’s devotion and surrender to Bhagawan Shree Hari. I am always scared of such devotees.
The Pandavas are virtuous, chaste, steadfast, wise, brave, observers of vows and tapasvis and abide by dharma. They have sought refuge in Bhagawan Vāsudeva.
The Pandavas can easily reduce us to ashes if they get angry just like how cotton is reduced to ashes by the fire. Therefore, it is best to leave this forest without informing the Pandavas.”
The other sages agreed with Durvāsā Maharshi and scattered in ten directions out of fear of the Pandavas. When Sahadeva could not find them by the Deva River, he began searching for them in the nearby tīrths.
Sahadeva was told by some sages there that the entire group of sages had left the forest. He ran to inform Raja Yudhishtira.
The Pancha Pandavas waited in anticipation for their return for a long time. The Pandavas thought, “Perhaps, Durvāsā Maharshi will return in the middle of the night. Who will save us from this peril?”
Bhagawan Shree Krishna saw that the Pandavas were deeply troubled with these thoughts and revealed Himself, “O sons of Kuntī! Draupadī asked for My help to save you from the anger of Durvāsā Maharshi. I came immediately.
Now, you need not fear Durvāsā Maharshi. They have left out of fear of your radiance. Those who are on the path of dharma will not face any turmoil.
I seek your permission to return to Dwārakāpuri. May you be fortunate always.”
The Pandavas and Draupadī were astounded at the words of their beloved Bhagawan Shree Krishna. They folded their hands and offered prostrations,
“O benevolent One! You are our protector and it is with Your blessings only that we have overcome many trials and tribulations. We pray that You will be forever with us and protect us.”
[Excerpt: Draupadīharanaparva, Vanaparva, Mahābhārat]
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