SECTION CCLVIII

Yudhishthira said, “Why did that high-souled one give away a drona of corn?  And, O eminently pious one, to whom and in what prescribed way did he give it?  Do thou tell me this.  Surely, I consider the life of that virtuous person as having borne fruit with whose practices the possessor himself of the six attributes, witnessing everything, was well pleased.”

“Vyasa said, ’There lived, O king, in Kurukshetra a virtuous man (sage), Mudgala by name.  And he was truthful, and free from malice, and of subdued senses.  And he used to lead the Sila and Unchha modes of life.[86] And although living like a pigeon, yet that one of mighty austerities entertained his guests, celebrated the sacrifice called Istikrita, and performed other rites.  And that sage together with his son and wife, ate for a fortnight, and during the other fortnight led the life of a pigeon, collecting a drona of corn.  And celebrating the Darsa and Paurnamasya sacrifices, that one devoid of guile, used to pass his days by taking the food that remained after the deities and the guests had eaten.  And on auspicious lunar days, that lord of the three worlds, Indra himself, accompanied by the celestials used, O mighty monarch, to partake of the food offered at his sacrifice.  And that one, having adopted the life of a Muni, with a cheerful heart entertained his guests also with food on such days.  And as that high-souled one distributed his food with alacrity, the remainder of the drona of corn increased as soon as a guest appeared.  And by virtue of the pure spirit in which the sage gave a way, that food of his increased so much that hundreds upon hundreds of learned Brahmanas were fed with it.

“And, O king, it came to pass that having heard of the virtuous Mudgala observant of vows, the Muni Durvasa, having space alone for his covering,[87] his accoutrements worn like that of maniac, and his head bare of hair, came there, uttering, O Pandava various insulting words.  And having arrived there that best of Munis said unto the Brahmana.  ’Know thou, O foremost of Brahmanas, that I have come hither seeking for food.  Thereupon Mudgala said unto the sage, ‘Thou art welcome!’ And then offering to that maniac of an ascetic affected by hunger, water to wash his feet and mouth, that one observant of the vow of feeding guests, respectfully placed before him excellent fare.  Affected by hunger, the frantic Rishi completely exhausted the food that had been offered unto him.  Thereupon, Mudgala furnished him again with food.  Then having eaten up all that food, he besmeared his body with the unclean orts and went away as he had come.  In this manner, during the next season, he came again and ate up all the food supplied by that wise one leading the Unchha mode of life.  Thereupon, without partaking any food himself, the sage Mudgala again became engaged in collecting corn, following the Unchha mode.