"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.[46] 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 away, that food of his increased so much that
hundreds upon hundreds of learned Brahmanas were fed with it.
[46] Picking up for support (1) ears of corn and (2) individual
grains, left on the field by husbandmen after they have gathered
and carried away the sheaves, are called the Sila and the Unchha
modes of life.
"'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,[47] 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. Hunger could not disturb his equanimity.
Nor could anger, nor guile, nor a sense of degradation, nor agitation,
enter into the heart of that best of Brahmanas leading the _Unchha_ mode
of life along with his son and his wife. In this way, Durvasa having
made up his mind, during successive seasons presented himself for six
several times before that best of sages living according to the _Unchha_
mode; yet that _Muni_ could not perceive any agitation in Mudgala's
heart; and he found the pure heart of the pure-souled ascetic always
pure. Thereupon, well-pleased, the sage addressed Mudgala, saying,
"There is not another guileless and charitable being like thee on earth.
The pangs of hunger drive away to a distance the sense of righteousness
and deprive people of all patience. The tongue, loving delicacies,
attracteth men towards them. Life is sustained by food. The mind,
moreover, is fickle, and it is hard to keep it in subjection. The
concentration of the mind and of the senses surely constitutes ascetic
austerities. It must be hard to renounce in a pure spirit a thing earned
by pains. Yet, O pious one, all this hath been duly achieved by thee. In
thy company we feel obliged and gratified. Self-restraint, fortitude,
justice, control of the senses and of faculties, mercy, and virtue, all
these are established in thee. Thou hast by thy deeds conquered the
different worlds and have thereby obtained admission into paths of
beautitude. Ah! even the dwellers of heaven are proclaiming thy mighty
deeds of charity. O thou observant of vows, thou shalt go to heaven even
in thine own body."
[47] Naked.
"'Whilst the _Muni_ Durvasa was speaking thus, a celestial messenger
appeared before Mudgala, upon a car yoked with swans and cranes, hung
with a neat work of bells, scented with divine fragrance, painted
picturesquely, and possessed of the power of going everywhere at will.
And he addressed the Brahmana sage, saying, "O sage, do thou ascend into
this chariot earned by thy acts. Thou hast attained the fruit of thy
asceticism!"
"'As the messenger of the gods was speaking thus, the sage told him, "O
divine messenger, I desire that thou mayst describe unto me the
attributes of those that reside there. What are their austerities, and
what their purposes? And, O messenger of the gods, what constitutes
happiness in heaven, and what are the disadvantages thereof? It is
declared by virtuous men of good lineage that friendship with pious
people is contracted by only walking with them seven paces. O lord, in
the name of that friendship I ask thee, do thou without hesitation tell
me the truth, and that which is good for me now. Having heard thee, I
shall, according to thy words, ascertain the course I ought to
follow."'"