Story of Mudgal

[3-258] Yudhishthir asked - "Why did Mudgal give away a Drone (a small amount), and to whom and why? I am sure that his virtuous life must have borne meritorious fruits - six attributes witnessing everything must be well pleased." Vyaas jee said - "There lived a great sage in Kuru Kshetra area. He was very truthful and he had controlled his senses. He was leading the Shilaa and Unchch modes of life (Shilaa and Unchh modes of life are - when one supports of his life by corn ears and individual grains, left on the field by husbandmen after they have gathered and carried away the sheaves are called Shilaa and Unchh modes of life). Thus although he himself was like a pigeon, once he had to entertain guests. He did a Yagya called Ishtikrit, so he along with his wife and sons he ate the food for a fortnight and in the other fortnight he lived like a pigeon, collecting a Drone of corn. And doing the Darsh and Paurnmaasya Yagya he was passing his days like this after offering the food to Deities and guests. On auspicious Lunar days, Indra himself with other gods used to come to accept his offering at his Yagya. One day as he offered the food to Deities and guests, his one Drone food increased as one guest disappeared. Since the Muni's spirit was pure, that food increased so much that hundreds of hundreds Braahman were fed with it.

Hearing this Durvaasaa Muni came to him naked and his head shaved, like a mad man insulting him in many bad words. He said to Mudgal - "I have come here for food." Mudgal Rishi said - "You are welcome." He gave him some water to wash his feet and mouth and offered him the food respectfully. Durvaasaa Rishi was very hungry so he ate all the food that was offered to him, so Mudgal offered him more food. Rishi Durvaasaa finished that food also, wiped his body with the remaining morsel and went away. In the same way Durvaaasaa Rishi came again, ate up all the food offered to him. So without taking food himself, Mudgal again got busy in collecting the food. Hunger could not disturb his mental state, he was not angry, he was not agitated. In this way Durvaasaa Muni came there six times but his behavior could not agitate Mudgal's mind. he always found Mudgal's pure mind always pure.

Seeing this Muni Durvaasaa said to him - "There is no other sincere and charitable man on the Earth as you are. Feelings of hunger deprive the people from righteousness and all patience. The tongue is attracted towards the delicacies. Life is sustained by food, it is hard to control it. It is very hard to renounce a thing earned by hard work but you have achieved all this. In your company we feel obliged and gratified. Self-restraint, fortitude, justice, control of the senses and the faculties, mercy, and virtue, all these are established in you. You have conquered the different worlds by your deeds and have thus deserved the admission into paths of beatitude. Even the dwellers of Heaven are proclaiming your mighty deeds of charity. You will surely go to the Heaven even in your own body."

When Durvaasaa Muni was speaking like this, a celestial chariot descended adorned with bells, scented with Divine fragrance and going at will. His charioteer said to Mudgal - "O Sage, Because of your holy deeds, please ascend this chariot. You have got the fruits of your austerities." At this Mudgal Rishi said to him - "I wish to know the attributes of those who reside there? What looks like happiness there, and what are the disadvantages of there?  Virtuous people say that if somebody walks with pious people even seven steps, he becomes their friend, so I ask you this in the name of the same friendship. Do not hesitate to tell me the truth. Only after hearing from you I will decide that whether I should go with you or not."

[3-259] The messenger of the god said - "O Great Sage, You are very simple. Even after getting this great honor, you are still thinking like an unwise person? O Muni, Heaven exists above us. Those regions have excellent paths and they always echoed by celestial chariots' sounds. Who have not practiced austerities cannot go there. Only the men of virtues, having good control on their senses, free from malice, practice charity, or men bearing the marks of battles, who have performed meritorious rites can go there. Those regions are capable of providing everything to fulfill your all desires. There live Saadhya, Sages, Yam, Dharm and Gandharv and the Apsaraa. And there is the king of Mountains - Golden Meru Parvat which is spread over 33,000 Yojan distance. There are celestial gardens. There is no bunger, no thirst, no weariness, no fear and nothing is inauspicious there. There is  no grief, no labor, no repentance there. All air is scented and all sounds are captivating to the body and the ear.

There people come solely by there own merits, not from the meritorious works of their father or mother. There is no bad smell, no urine, and no sweat. Clothes do not get soiled, flowers never fade there. There are many chariots like this as I have brought for you. There are higher regions also there among which Brahmaa's region (Brahm Lok) is the hhighest. Rishi live there among Ribhu are the foremost. they are the gods of the gods. Their regions are supremely blessed and are adored even by the Deities. These Ribhu do not subsist on oblations, nor on Amrit. They have such a celestial form that they cannot be perceived by senses. They do not desire happiness, that is why they do  not change the revolution of Time (Kalp). Then where is their dissolution? They neither need happiness, joy or ecstasy; nor happiness nor misery. that is why they don't become angry. The number of those Deities is 33. Only wise men can go to their regions after having observed excellent vows, or bestowed gifts according to the ordinance. You have easily acquired that success by your charities. Such is the bliss of Heaven containing various worlds. These are the advantages of that world.

Now you hear about the disadvantages of that region. In those celestial regions, when a person is reaping the fruits of the acts he has already performed, cannot be engaged in any other, and he must enjoy the consequences of the former acts until they are completely exhausted. And when he has finished all his merits, he must fall from there. In my opinion it is disadvantage of Heaven. Fall of a person whose mind has been steeped in pleasure should be considered as his fault. And as he will fall, the discontent and regret will follow. As their garlands start fading away, a fear sets in their hearts. These mighty drawbacks apply even to the region of Brahmaa. There live countless people of great virtues. There is another attribute of the fallen, that by reason of their merits they take birth among men and they attain high fortune and happiness. If one cannot acquire knowledge here he takes birth in lower species. The fruits of acts done in this world are reaped in the next world. Thus this world is Karm Bhoomi (world of actions), and the other worlds are of fruits. Hey Mudgal, As you wished, I have described you all, now shall we go?"

Vyaas Jee said - "Hearing this Mudgal thought and thought and then spoke to him - "O messenger of gods, I bow to you, You may go in peace. I have nothing to do with happiness or Heaven which has so many defects. People who enjoy Heaven, suffer with misery and regret, I do not want to go to such Heaven. I will look for such regions where people do not have to lament, to be pained. You have described me the faults of Heaven, can you describe such a place which is free from faults?" The celestial messenger said - "Above the Lok of Brahmaa, there is a Lok belonging to Vishnu known as Par Brahm. One who is attached to his senses, cannot go there; nor who gets angry, arrogance, greed, ignorance, anger, envy can go there. It is only for those who have no attachments, who are free from conflicting emotions and who have given their senses to contemplation and Yog."

Hearing this the Muni bade farewell to the messenger and got busy in his Unchh mode of life and assumed perfect contentment. Praise and insult became equal to him; and a stone, dust and gold all became same in his eyes; and with the aim of attaining Brahm he engaged in meditation. Having obtained power by knowledge, he acquired excellent understanding. Therefore you also, O Kuntee Putra, do not grieve. As you have lost your kingdom, you will again get it by means of ascetic austerities. After the end of 13 years you will surely get it back." After saying this Vyaas Jee went back."

Duryodhan and Durvaasaa

[3-260] Janamejaya said - "While the Paandav were living happily in the forest with conversations with Muni, distributing the food got from Soorya Dev, how did the wicked mind Duryodhan guided by Shakuni, Dushaasan and Karn behave with them? Please tell me about it."
Vaishampaayan Jee said - "When Duryodhan knew that Paandav were living in the forest as happily as they were living in the city, they thought to trouble them in various other wicked ways. Once Durvaasaa Rishi came to Hastinaapur with his 10,000 disciples. Seeing this angry Rishi Duryodhan welcomed him heartily, with humility and gentleness. He himself attended him menially and worshipped him respectfully. Muni stayed there for a few days and Duryodhan served him diligently. Sometimes Muni would say - "I am hungry, ghive me food quickly." and sometimes he would go for a bath and would come back in late hours and would say - "I will not eat anything today." and he would disappear from there. Sometime he would wake up till midnight, ask him to prepare the meal but did not take it later. But he found that Duryodhan was neither angered nor annoyed, he had special affection for him. So one day he said to Duryodhan - "I am very pleased with you. I have power to grant boons, so you may ask anything you desire that is not against morals and religion."

Vaishampaayan Jee said - "Hearing this Suyodhan got very happy. In fact they (Duryodhan, Karn and Dushaasan) have already planned for the boon, that if Muni will grant the boon what would they ask for. So Duryodhan said - "Hey Muni, Yudhishthir is the eldest among ourselves. Now a days he is living in forest with his brothers. You become his guest also as you have been mine. If you can extend me a favor then go to him at the time when Draupadee after feeding the Braahman and her husbands had taken the food herself and would be taking rest." Rishi replied - "I will do so for your satisfaction." Saying this to Suyodhan, Durvaasaa Muni went in the same state in which he had come. Suyodhan felt as if he had got everything. Karn also felt very happy, he said to Duryodhan - Just by luck you are doing well and you have attained what you wanted. And now your enemies will drown in the sea of dangers. Now Paandav will see the anger of Muni, and because of their own fault they have fallen into darkness."

Vaishampaayan Jee aid - "Thinking thus and smiling all came back to their respective homes."

3-Van Parv - Ghosh Yaatraa Parv Ends Here