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.

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.

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.

Although leading his life like a pigeon that great ascetic entertained his guests, celebrated the sacrefice called Ishtikhita and performed other rites. That Rishi, with his wife and son, ate for a fortnight and during the other fortnight he led the life of a pigeon collecting (but) a drona of corn.

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.

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.

On such (auspicious) days that Rishi leading the life of a Muni cheerfully entertained his guests also with food.

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.

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.

O king (once upon a time) having heard of the virtuous and bow-observing Mudgala, the naked Rishi Durvasa, with his dress like that of a maniac and his head bare of hair, came there, O Pandava, uttering various insulting words.

Having arrived there, that foremost of Rishis spoke thus to that Brahimana, “O best of Brahmanas, know that I have come here for food.

The Rishi Mudgala replied by saying “Welcome.” Offered to that hungry, mad ascetic, water to wash his feet and mouth; that Rishi, ever observant of the vow of feeding guests, then placed before him excellent food. Affected by hunger, the mad Rishi ate up all the food given to him. Then Mudgala gave him more food.

Having eaten up all that food, he besmeared his body with the uncleaned remainder and went away as he had come.

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.

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,

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.

In ths way Durvasa during successive seasons came for several times before that best of sages living according to the Unccha mode of life. But that rishi could not perceive any senses agitation in the heart of Mudgala. He found the heart of that virtuous-minded Rishi always pure.

Thereupon becoming very much pleased he thus spoke to the Rishi Mudgala, There is no other simpleand charitable being like you on earth.

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.

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.

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.

In your company we feel obliged and gratified. Self-restraint, Self-restraint, fortitude, justice, control of the senses and of the faculties, mercy and virtue are all established in you. You have conquered all the worlds by your deeds, you have obtained the highest state.

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.

When the Rishi Durvasa was thus speaking, celestial messenger appeared before Mudgala in a car yoked with swans and cranes, adorned with numerous bells, scented with divine fragrance, picturesquely painted and possessing the power of going everywhere at will.

He spoke thus to the Brahmanas. Ascend this car. O Rishis, the result of your acts, you have obtained the fruit of your asceticism.

When the celestial messenger was thus talking, the Rishi told him, O celestial messenger, I desire that you should describe to methe attributes of those that live there. What is their asceticism and what is their purpose? What is the happiness in heaven and what are its defects?

O lord, it has been declared by nobly born virtuous men that friendship with five men is formed by only walking with them seven faces. In the name of friendship, I ask you, tell me the truth and that which is good for me to know. Hearing you, I shall according to your words fix the course I ought to follow.