Post by jksivan on Sept 5, 2013 15:18:27 GMT 5.5
Dear Chidren
65 ‘’ATHITHI UPACHARAM‘’
Quick temper is something everybody exhibits at times. What is noteworthy about it is, many people don’t become a prey to such emotional outburst. Some control it effectively. Some could not but regret their impatience and momentary uncontrolled reflection. But some are famous for their quick temper and anger all the time!! Sage Dhurvasa was one such person who was highly combustible!!
Many kings, rishis and others whenever dealing with him were doubly careful not to infuriate him lest they should be recipients of his angry outbursts resulting in curses which would be disastrous. Dhurvas was not a bad person. He was a good teacher and loved his disciples and others. His anger was against those who wronged or irritated him.
“ I never knew that you would be showering so much love and devotion on me, exclaimed sage Dhurvas, addressing his appreciation of Dhuryodhana's courtesies extended to him and his disciples at Hasthinapuram palace.. In fact Duryodhana had planned this long ago in consultation with his evil uncle Shakuni, to invite Sage Dhurvas and his numerous disciples for a feast in his palace one day. Tfhe feast was grand and after enjoying it only Dhurvas was appreciating Dhuryodhana.
''Dhuryodhana, if you wish to ask me any anything , you may express it to me as I want to reciprocate your true devotion and respect for me by granting your wish'' said the sage Dhurvas.
"Guruji, I am fortunate to have you as our honoured guest to receive bikshavandhan from us today. It gives us immense pleasure and happiness. We have nothing to ask you but for your blessing always. Yet we have a small wish which Guruji should fulfil for us to make us still more happier''
''Tell me Dhuryodhana what is your wish?
''Our cousin brothers Pandavas unfortunately are doing Vanavas now. They also need your blessing. Normally they return from their day's outing only in the evening before sunset. Your holiness may visit them just before sunset on any day and afford them an opportunity to do bikshavandhanam to thee and thy disciples without fail''
The innocent sage Dhurvas thought Duryodhana's wish was out of love for his cousin brothers. But there was a scheme behind it which the sage never knew.
During their Vanvas for 12 years, Pandavas were blessed with an Akshaya Pathra from Lord Sun, which will produce any amount of food for any number of people to eat because Pandavas were very philanthropic and fed almost all in the forest during their stay and Sun god was pleased to assist them perform this Annadhan by presenting the Akshayapathra. But once the Akshayapathra is washed after using it, it will not produce any food item until next sunrise. So Dhraupathi used it for feeding all of them and visitors and washed it only after there was no one to be fed and no further use for the day was required.
Dhuryodhana knew that all the feeding would be over by noon and after that Dhraupadhi would not require the Akshayapathra and so would wash it and keep for the next day's use. That is why he wanted to embarrass the Pandavas by sending the short tempered hungry Dhurvas for taking food from them after the normal time she would have washed and kept aside the Akshaya pathra by sending the sage and his hundreds of disciples for food from Pandavas in the late after noon hours.
Once the Sage is irrirated Dhuryodhana pretty well knew how angry the rishi would be and hurl curses on Pandavas which would add to their woes. He wished it.
One evening just before sunset Sage Dhurvas with hundreds of his disciples reached Kamyavan where the Pandavas were staying in the forest. Yudhishtra was very happy to receive the great sage and his disciples. The sage always loved Yudhishtra for his good character and respect for Rishis and saints. When Yudhishtra prostrated before him the sage blessed him.
''Yudhishtra, it is a pity all of you had to do this Vanvas when you were at the prime of glory and fame. But even at this time of your distress, I am glad that you wished to do bikshavandhan to me and my disciples which Dhuryodhana who invited me sometime ago revealed to me. I promised him that I will certainly accept your bikshavandhan. That is why we have all arrived today so late. We will be too happy to have whatever you have to offer us"
Yudhishtra was perplexed. On the one hand he was too happy to have the sage and his disciples as his athithi for the day, but they were late and the akshayapathra would have been emptied , washed and kept upside down for the day!! How to feed them all at this hour in the mid forest with nothing available.?
He wanted to gain some time to organise the food for them and so he requested the sage to refresh themselves in the nearby river and return back for the biksha which would be ready by then for all of them.
''You are right Yudhishtra, we are too tired and sweating after a long walk to the Kamyavan. We will have a good bath first and then comeback"' said the sage and they all proceeded to the forest river close by.
When Yudhishtra announced the sage Dhurvas' visit with his numerous disciples for biksha for the day, Dhraupadhi was shocked. The Akshayapathra had been cleaned and kept aside.
''Dhraupadhi how do you propose to prepare food for the sage and his disciples who will come now any time?"
''I dont know honestly and am afraid we are going to earn the wrath of the sage. I will try to use the akshayapathra again if possible''
She took it out and tried it unsuccessfully. Whatever little hope she had was now completely lost and she started crying and her only refuge was always to think of Krishna, the redeemer!
''Aapathbaandhav, Krishnaa, please save us from this crisis she prayed sincerely and was wondering whether he will listen to her plea. But someone was knocking the door when she was praying. Yudhishtra opened the wooden door to find Krishna standing there.
''Krishna, just now I was praying to you" exclaimed Dhraupadhi falling at his feet in tears. Krishna was sad to find her crying and Yudhishtra standing uneasily. What is the matter why are you both so sad and in utter discomfiture?. It is a strange coincidence that I came here to see you all on this particular day when I had to pass through this region and thought I will have some food from you. I am very hungry. Where are your other brothers? asked Krishna
Yudhishtra explained to Krishna their plight and the predicament they were facing to feed hundreds of people and the sage Dhurvasa within a few hours with nothing to offer.
Krishna was disappointed. ''When I am hungry myself with no food to offer by you, how do you think I can help you to find food for hundreds of people? Anyway bring your Akshayapathra, let me try'' said Krishna. Dhraupadhi handed him the pot. Krishna looked at it with a smile. He found a small bit of leaf sticking to the pot. He carefully took it out of the Akshayapathra and swallowed it and asked Dhraupathi to fetch some water . He poured it into the pot and drank it.
''Dhraupadhi, you are a liar, You had some food reserved for me. You know I always like green leaves and I was lucky to find the the small leaf you left behind for me, before completely washing the akshayapathra had been sufficient to appease me and I feel no longer hungry after eating the leaf and drinking the water through the akshayapathra my thirst too now quenched.
''Yudhishtra and Dhraupadhi, I am glad you helped me find some food for the day and thank you. l am happy and let me go on my way'' said Krishna and began walking away.
''Krishna, Krishna, why are you so aloof, how am I to provide the food for the sage and his disciples...?'' asked Dhraupadhi.
''Dhraupadhi, how do I know. Perhaps you will be able to feed them also as you fed me now using yourAkshaya pathram'' smiled Krishna and went away.
Dhraupadhi was baffled and Yudhishtra who sent Sahadev to be with the Sage and his disciples, to the river was seen returning alone towards them .
Yudhishtra thought he was preceding them and the group would soon follow him.
"''Sahadev, where are the sage Dhurvas and his disciples?''
"Respected bhaiyaa, the sage and his disciples were in water for long as they found the cool waters quite refreshing and when they came out sometime ago, the sage called me and said ''Sahadev, I am very sorry, I cannot go with you to your ashram to have my biksha today, because when I was taking bath in this river and drank a handful of water, I dont know I felt quite stomachfull with no feeling or appetite or interest to eat anything. I dont think until tomorrow noon I can consume anything because I feel quite satisfied and content now though I came to Kamyavan quite thirsty and hungry, but the moment I entered this river, bathed and took some water, I find it quite different'' I am on my way back from here. If any of my disciples want to have biksha from you all, please take them with you''
As if waiting for such a signal, the disciples all were in a chorus to say "'Guru Maharaj, we did not know how to tell you, it is the same condition with us too. We will not be able to consume even a spoonful of water anymore as we find our stomachs filled with food and we agree with you that we will be able to think of food only tomorrow noon, if at all we feel again hungry. So we will be too glad to acompany you and leave this forest''
Dhurvasa therefore blessed Yudhishtra and and the other Pandavas and their family, to be quite happy and healthy and end their vanvas satisfacatorily with all due comforts available to them wherever they moved. Tell Yudhishtra he will meet with success in all his efforts is my blessing"
When Sahadeva told this Yudhishtra and Dhraupadhi looked at each other and in their minds, there was only one thought unanimously and it was ''Hare Krishna, abathbaandhava, how to praise you and express our gratitude to you for your mercy and kindness towards us''
Dear Children, you will now undersand why we offer a small quantity of whatever we prepare wholeheartedly to Krishna as naivedyam everyday before we cosume the food prepared! If He is pleased and happy everything and everyone in the universe is pleasant and happy.