Durvasa was a little startled at the strange boon the Kaurava wanted; but he was bound to grant Duryodhana whatever he asked. So it was that, when he left Hastinapura, Durvasa and his party of a hundred made straight for the Kamyaka aranya and Yudhishtira's asrama. They arrived late in the afternoon when Durvasa knew, clairvoyantly, that Draupadi had finished eating. Yudhishtira came out to welcome the sage and his party. Reverently , the eldest Pandava washed Durvasa's feet. The rishi cried, "We are starving, Yudhishtira. And we have heard about the unworldly fare Draupadi serves in this asrama." Behind the door of the wooden hut, Draupadi gave a groan. Innocent of her plight, Yudhishtira said, "My lord, there is a river nearby where you can wash. I will show you the way and we will have a meal served for you when you return." Yudhishtira called Draupadi, "Panchali, we are going to the river. Have food ready for our guests when we return." He and his brothers walked away into the forest with their visitors. Draupadi felt faint. She had just eaten and had washed the platter clean. Where would she find food for Durvasa and his disciples? Like everyone else, Draupadi had heard of the rishi's temper. She sat on the floor with her head in her hands and whispered in despair, "Krishna, help me!" Hardly had she said this , when a bright voice hailed her from the door. "I am starving, Panchali! Give me something to eat, quickly." She jumped up with a cry. There he was, the Dark One, wearing a pitambara robe, the peacock-feather gleaming above his head. Draupadi wailed, "Krishna, there is nothing to eat here! I have just eaten myself and washed the Sun's platter clean. Durvasa and a hundred of his munis have arrived and they are hungry. Yudhishtira took them to the river and they will return any moment. When Durvasa finds there is nothing to eat, he will curse us. Oh Krishna , I am terrified. I don't know what to do." "Is there nothing in the copper plate, Draupadi?" asked the Dark One. "Come, let us take a look at your wonderful platter." "I just washed it, Krishna. There is nothing in it." "But show me, just in case you left something. Anything you serve will do for me, even a grain of rice." "There's nothing in the platter. I'll fetch it, look for yourself." Krishna took the platter from Draupadi. As he looked at it, a smile touched his lips. He said, "You say there is nothing in this plate? I tell you, Draupadi, if you have faith there is enough here to feed every creature in the world!" Draupadi came near and stared at the plate she had just washed. Krishna pointed with his finger: nestling at the very rim of the platter was a particle of vegetable, barely visible. Despite her anxiety, Draupadi giggled, "You are going to satisfy your hunger with that?" Krishna said serenely, "Not only mine, Panchali, but the hunger of your untimely guests." With his finger, Krishna scraped the green shred from the plate. He said softly, "Let the hunger of every creature on earth be sated with what I eat," and licked the bit of green off his finger. "Aaah!" cried Krishna, as Draupadi stood watching him in disbelief. "That was the best meal I've had in years. You must invite me to eat with you more often!" Just then, Sahadeva called from outside, "Panchali , is the food ready? You know what a temper Durvasa has, you mustn't keep him waiting."
But it was Krishna who strode out of the kutila . Sahadeva gasped to see him. Before Draupadi could say anything, Krishna cried, "Yes! Food is served and I have just finished eating . And a curse on anyone who does not do justice to such a meal. Go to the river, Sahadeva and tell them to hurry back. Say Draupadi has laid on a feast, but it will get cold if they don't come quickly." Yudhishtira, Bheema, Arjuna and Nakula appeared. "Krishna!" cried Yudhishtira . "How are you here?" "I will tell you. But first, Sahadeva , go and call your guests for lunch. And mind you don't tell Durvasa I am here." Sahadeva went off down the path. Yudhishtira had not let go of Krishna's hand. He said again, "How are you here, Krishna?" The Dark One smiled quizzically, "You should ask your wife that, cousin. I heard her calling me and here I am." Yudhishtira knew nothing of Draupadi's panic. "What happened, Panchali?" "I had eaten," she said. "How were we going to feed Durvasa and his munis?" Yudhishtira cried, "How are we going to feed them now?" Krishna said softly, "Somehow, I don't think they are as hungry as they were. In fact, I don't think they want to eat any more." The Pandavas stared at him. Meanwhile, Sahadeva had run back to the river. To his surprise, he found its bank deserted. He saw the munis ' footprints on wet sand, leading not toward the asrama but away from it. Earlier, even as the Pandavas were on their way back to the asrama to see if lunch was served this was when Krishna ate the green scrap he found in Draupadi's plate Durvasa and his party, bathing luxuriantly in the river, abruptly felt as if they had eaten three feasts. In a moment , they found their bellies bloated and even belched helplessly. One of them cried, "I feel gorged, though no food has passed my lips!" Another said , "So do I. How will we eat Draupadi's meal?" Durvasa himself looked worried. "I couldn't eat another grain of rice, if my life depended on it. I feel as if I have eaten all the food in the world." "But how can we not eat, when we go back?" Because it is in every man's nature to think that other men share his traits, Durvasa said anxiously, "What if the Pandavas curse us? We told Draupadi to serve us food and if we go back and say we are not hungry, it will seem we mocked them in the most arrogant way. If anyone did that to me I wouldn't spare him." "A fine mess we are in. What shall we do?" Durvasa thought for no more than a moment. "There is only one sensible thing to do. We must not go back to the asrama." "Then let us leave before one of them comes to call us!" They beat a hasty retreat through the forest, some of them without even drying themselves. When Sahadeva arrived at the river, he found Durvasa and his munis gone. Back at the asrama, Krishna smiled, "I think your guests have been called away suddenly. I don't think they were hungry, after all." Sahadeva came and announced, "Yudhishtira, they left without eating."
Anupamaa
