Critical Edition
युधिष्ठिर उवाच व्रीहिद्रोणः परित्यक्तः कथं तेन महात्मना कस्मै दत्तश्च भगवन्विधिना केन चात्थ मे
M. N. Dutt: Yudhisthira said: O exalted one, why did that highsouled one give away a Drona of corn? To whom and in what prescribed way he gave it. Tell me this.
प्रत्यक्षधर्मा भगवान्यस्य तुष्टो हि कर्मभिः सफलं तस्य जन्माहं मन्ये सद्धर्मचारिणः
M. N. Dutt: O exalted one, I consider the life of that virtuous man as having borne fruits with whose acts the supreme one himself is well-pleased.
व्यास उवाच शिलोञ्छवृत्तिर्धर्मात्मा मुद्गलः संशितव्रतः आसीद्राजन्कुरुक्षेत्रे सत्यवागनसूयकः
M. N. Dutt: Vyasa said : O king, there lived in Kurukshetra a virtuous man, named Mudgala. He was truthful and free from malice. He was self-controlled. He led the Sila and Uncha modes of life.
अतिथिव्रती क्रियावांश्च कापोतीं वृत्तिमास्थितः सत्रमिष्टीकृतं नाम समुपास्ते महातपाः
AI Translation: One who is a guest-vow-holder, one who is engaged in ritual, one who has resorted to the way of life of a pigeon, The great ascetic performs the sacrifice called "Satra" (long-term sacrifice).
सपुत्रदारो हि मुनिः पक्षाहारो बभूव सः कपोतवृत्त्या पक्षेण व्रीहिद्रोणमुपार्जयत्
AI Translation: The sage, with his wife and son, ate only one part of the grain. By the method of the pigeon, he accumulated a handful of grain.
Supplementary Passages:
3.246.5 After 5ab, T1 G4 M ins.: *1184 मुनिः स तु महाराज महात्मा नियतव्रतः
दर्शं च पौर्णमासं च कुर्वन्विगतमत्सरः देवतातिथिशेषेण कुरुते देहयापनम्
M. N. Dutt: Celebrating the Darsa and Paurnamashya sacrifices that guileless Rishi used to pass his days by taking the food that remained after the deities and the guests had eaten.
तस्येन्द्रः सहितो देवैः साक्षात्त्रिभुवनेश्वरः प्रत्यगृह्णान्महाराज भागं पर्वणि पर्वणि
M. N. Dutt: In (all) auspicious lunar days, the lord of the three worlds, Indra accompained by the celestials, O great king, used to partake the food offered at his sacrifice.
स पर्वकालं कृत्वा तु मुनिवृत्त्या समन्वितः अतिथिभ्यो ददावन्नं प्रहृष्टेनान्तरात्मना
M. N. Dutt: On such (auspicious) days that Rishi leading the life of a Muni cheerfully entertained his guests also with food.
व्रीहिद्रोणस्य तदहो ददतोऽन्नं महात्मनः शिष्टं मात्सर्यहीनस्य वर्धत्यतिथिदर्शनात्
M. N. Dutt: As that high-souled one distributed his food with great speed, the reaminder of the Drona of corn increased as soon as (fresh) guests appeared.
तच्छतान्यपि भुञ्जन्ति ब्राह्मणानां मनीषिणाम् मुनेस्त्यागविशुद्ध्या तु तदन्नं वृद्धिमृच्छति
M. N. Dutt: By virtue of the pure spirit in which the Rishi gave away (food), it increased so much that hundreds upon hundreds of leanred Brahmanas were fed with it.
तं तु शुश्राव धर्मिष्ठं मुद्गलं संशितव्रतम् दुर्वासा नृप दिग्वासास्तमथाभ्याजगाम ह
AI Translation: He heard of the righteous Mudgala, who was of firm vows, and the naked ascetic Durvasa came to him.
बिभ्रच्चानियतं वेषमुन्मत्त इव पाण्डव विकचः परुषा वाचो व्याहरन्विविधा मुनिः
AI Translation: And he wore a strange costume, O son of Pandu, like a madman. The sage spoke various harsh words, like a flower in full bloom.
अभिगम्याथ तं विप्रमुवाच मुनिसत्तमः अन्नार्थिनमनुप्राप्तं विद्धि मां मुनिसत्तम
M. N. Dutt: Having arrived there, that foremost of Rishis spoke thus to that Brahimana, “O best of Brahmanas, know that I have come here for food.
स्वागतं तेऽस्त्विति मुनिं मुद्गलः प्रत्यभाषत पाद्यमाचमनीयं च प्रतिवेद्यान्नमुत्तमम्
AI Translation: The sage Mudgala replied, "Welcome to you." Having offered him water for washing the feet and sipping, he offered him excellent food.
प्रादात्स तपसोपात्तं क्षुधितायातिथिव्रती उन्मत्ताय परां श्रद्धामास्थाय स धृतव्रतः
AI Translation: He gave to the hungry one, who was observing the vow of hospitality, the food obtained through austerities. The one who was observing the vow, having placed his faith in the insane one, gave him the highest faith.
ततस्तदन्नं रसवत्स एव क्षुधयान्वितः बुभुजे कृत्स्नमुन्मत्तः प्रादात्तस्मै च मुद्गलः
AI Translation: Then, that food, full of flavor, he himself, being afflicted with hunger, ate all of it, like a madman, and Mudgala gave it to him.
भुक्त्वा चान्नं ततः सर्वमुच्छिष्टेनात्मनस्ततः अथानुलिलिपेऽङ्गानि जगाम च यथागतम्
M. N. Dutt: Having eaten up all that food, he besmeared his body with the uncleaned remainder and went away as he had come.
Supplementary Passages:
3.246.17 After 17ab, K4 ins.: *1185 शेषे* * * *लिप्य हसन्गायन्प्रधावति नृत्यते धावते चैव बुद्ध्या तत्क्रोशते यथा
एवं द्वितीये संप्राप्ते पर्वकाले मनीषिणः आगम्य बुभुजे सर्वमन्नमुञ्छोपजीविनः
M. N. Dutt: In this manner during the next sea-son, he came again and ate up all the food given to him by that wise Rishi leading the Unccha mode of life.
निराहारस्तु स मुनिरुञ्छमार्जयते पुनः न चैनं विक्रियां नेतुमशकन्मुद्गलं क्षुधा
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon without eating any food himself, the Rishi Mudgala again became engaged in collecting corn, following the Unccha mode. Hunger could not disturb his equanimity,
न क्रोधो न च मात्सर्यं नावमानो न संभ्रमः सपुत्रदारमुञ्छन्तमाविवेश द्विजोत्तमम्
M. N. Dutt: Nor could anger or guile or sense of degradation or agitationenter into the heart of that best of Brahmanas leading the Unccha mode of life along with his son and his wife.
तथा तमुञ्छधर्माणं दुर्वासा मुनिसत्तमम् उपतस्थे यथाकालं षट्कृत्वः कृतनिश्चयः
AI Translation: Thus, the excellent sage Durvāsā approached him, who was practicing the practice of eating fallen grains, six times, with a determined mind.
न चास्य मानसं किंचिद्विकारं ददृशे मुनिः शुद्धसत्त्वस्य शुद्धं स ददृशे निर्मलं मनः
AI Translation: The sage saw no change in his mind at all. He saw the pure mind of the pure being, free from impurities.
तमुवाच ततः प्रीतः स मुनिर्मुद्गलं तदा त्वत्समो नास्ति लोकेऽस्मिन्दाता मात्सर्यवर्जितः
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon becoming very much pleased he thus spoke to the Rishi Mudgala, There is no other simpleand charitable being like you on earth.
क्षुद्धर्मसंज्ञां प्रणुदत्यादत्ते धैर्यमेव च विषयानुसारिणी जिह्वा कर्षत्येव रसान्प्रति
M. N. Dutt: The pangs of hunger drive away all sense of virtue and deprive people of patience. The gongues, that always love, delicacies, attract men towards them.
आहारप्रभवाः प्राणा मनो दुर्निग्रहं चलम् मनसश्चेन्द्रियाणां चाप्यैकाग्र्यं निश्चितं तपः
M. N. Dutt: Life is sustained by food. The mind is however fickle and it is hard to keep it in subjection. The concentration of mind and the control of the constitute (true) asceticism.
श्रमेणोपार्जितं त्यक्तुं दुःखं शुद्धेन चेतसा तत्सर्वं भवता साधो यथावदुपपादितम्
M. N. Dutt: It is very hard to abandon in a pure spirit a thing earned by pain. O virtuous one, but all this has been duly achieved by you.
प्रीताः स्मोऽनुगृहीताश्च समेत्य भवता सह इन्द्रियाभिजयो धैर्यं संविभागो दमः शमः
AI Translation: We are pleased and favored by having come together with you. Victory over the senses, patience, sharing, self-control, and tranquility,
Supplementary Passages:
3.246.27 After 27ab, K4 D1-3 ins.: *1186 सद्भिः समागमो नित्यं सर्वपापहरः स्मृतः while S (except G3) ins.: *1187 पावनं परमं मन्ये दर्शनं ते महामुने
दया सत्यं च धर्मश्च त्वयि सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम् जितास्ते कर्मभिर्लोकाः प्राप्तोऽसि परमां गतिम्
AI Translation: Compassion, truth, and righteousness are all established in you. You have conquered the worlds through your deeds and have attained the highest state.
Supplementary Passages:
3.246.28 After 28ab, K4 D1-3 ins.: *1188 लोकाः समस्ता धर्मेण धार्यन्ते सचराचराः धर्मोऽपि धार्यते ब्रह्मन्धृतियुक्तात्मना त्वया while S (except G3) ins.: *1189 विशुद्धसत्त्वसंपन्नो न त्वदन्योऽस्ति कश्चन
अहो दानं विघुष्टं ते सुमहत्स्वर्गवासिभिः सशरीरो भवान्गन्ता स्वर्गं सुचरितव्रत
M. N. Dutt: Even the dwellers of heaven are proclaiming your great deeds of charity. O vow-observing Rishi, you shall go to heaven in your own body.
इत्येवं वदतस्तस्य तदा दुर्वाससो मुनेः देवदूतो विमानेन मुद्गलं प्रत्युपस्थितः
AI Translation: Thus, when the sage Durvāsas was speaking like this, a messenger of the gods approached Mudgala in an aerial chariot.
हंससारसयुक्तेन किङ्किणीजालमालिना कामगेन विचित्रेण दिव्यगन्धवता तथा
AI Translation: Adorned with a net of bells, drawn by swans and cranes, With a divine fragrance, and with a variety of forms,
उवाच चैनं विप्रर्षिं विमानं कर्मभिर्जितम् समुपारोह संसिद्धिं प्राप्तोऽसि परमां मुने
M. N. Dutt: He spoke thus to the Brahmanas. Ascend this car. O Rishis, the result of your acts, you have obtained the fruit of your asceticism.
तमेवंवादिनमृषिर्देवदूतमुवाच ह इच्छामि भवता प्रोक्तान्गुणान्स्वर्गनिवासिनाम्
AI Translation: To the sage who spoke thus, the messenger of the gods replied: "I wish to hear from you the qualities of those who dwell in heaven."
के गुणास्तत्र वसतां किं तपः कश्च निश्चयः स्वर्गे स्वर्गसुखं किं च दोषो वा देवदूतक
AI Translation: What are the virtues of those who live there? What is the austerity? What is the certainty? What is the happiness of heaven in heaven? What is the fault, O messenger of the gods?
सतां सप्तपदं मित्रमाहुः सन्तः कुलोचिताः मित्रतां च पुरस्कृत्य पृच्छामि त्वामहं विभो
AI Translation: The good say that the friendship of the good lasts for seven steps. And, making friendship foremost, I ask you, O Lord.
यदत्र तथ्यं पथ्यं च तद्ब्रवीह्यविचारयन् श्रुत्वा तथा करिष्यामि व्यवसायं गिरा तव
AI Translation: Tell me what is true and beneficial here, without hesitation. Having heard it, I will act according to your words with determination.