10. RISHI MAITREYA CURSES DURYODHANA

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > AARANYA PARVA > AARANYAKA PARVA > CHAPTER 10 - RISHI MAITREYA CURSES DURYODHANA

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘O Muni of profound wisdom (Maha Pragnaa in Sanskrit), it is as you say! I know it well as do all these kings! Indeed, what you consider to be beneficial for the Kurus was pointed out to me, O Muni, by Vidura, Bhishma and Drona. If I deserve your favour, and if you have kindness for the Kurus, you do urge my wicked son (Duraatmaanam Putram in Sanskrit) Duryodhana!’

“Vyaasa said, ‘O king (Dhritarashtra), after having seen the Paandavaa brothers, here comes the holy Rishi (Bhagawaan Rishi in Sanskrit) Maitreya, with the desire of seeing us. That mighty Rishi, O king (Dhritarashtra), will urge your son for the welfare of this race. O Kauravya (Dhritarashtra), what he advises must be followed undoubtingly, for if what he recommends is not done, the sage will curse your son in anger.’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Saying this, Vyaasa departed, and Maitreya made his appearance. The king (Dhritarashtra) with his son respectfully received that chief of Munis who was tired of travelling, with offerings of the Arghya and other rites. King Dhritarashtra, the son of Ambika, in words of respect thus addressed the sage, ‘O holy one (Bhagawan in Sanskrit), has journey from the Kuru-jaangala been a pleasant one? Are those heroes (Veera in Sanskrit), the five Paandavaas living happily? Do those bulls of the Kuru race intend to stay out their time? Will the brotherly affection of the Kauravaas ever be damaged?’

“Maitreya said, ‘Setting out on a pilgrimage to the different shrines (Teertha Yaatraa in Sanskrit), I arrived at Kuru-jaangala, and there I unexpectedly saw Dharmaraja Yudhishthira in Kaamyaka forest. O noble one, many Munis had come there to see the Mahatma Yudhishthira, dwelling in an Tapaswi ashrama, dressed in deer-skin and wearing matted locks (Jataa in Sanskrit). It was there, O Maharaja (Dhritarashtra), that I heard of the grave error committed by your sons, the calamity and terrible danger arisen from dice that had overtaken them. Therefore, it is that I have come to you, for the good of the Kauravaas, since, O noble one, my affection is great for you and I am delighted with you! O king, it is not fit that your sons should on any account quarrel with one another, yourself and Bhishma living. You are, O king, the pole at which bulls are tied (in treading cord), and you are competent to punish and reward! Why do you overlook then this great evil that is about to overtake all? O descendant of the Kurus (Dhritarashtra), for those wrongs that have been committed in your sabha, which are like the acts of Dasyoo, you are not well-thought among Tapaswis!’

“Vaishampayana continued, ‘Then turning to the angry prince Duryodhana, the Bhagawan Rishi Maitreya addressed him in these soft words, ‘O mighty-armed Duryodhana, O best of all fluent men, O illustrious one, give attention to the words I utter for your good! O king (Duryodhana), do not seek to quarrel with the Paandavaas! O bull among men, you scope your own good as also of the Paandavaas, of the Kurus and of the world! All those tigers among men (Paandavaas) are heroes (Shooraa in Sanskrit) of high prowess in war, gifted with the strength of ten thousand elephants, with bodies hard as Vajra, holding fast by their promises (Satya Vrata in Sanskrit), and proud of their manliness! They have slain the enemies of Devas – those Rakshasaas capable of assuming any form at will, such as were headed by Hidimba, Baka and Kirmeera! When those Mahatmas went from here, that Rakshasa of fierce soul (Raudraatma in Sanskrit) obstructed their night-time path like an immoveable hill. As a tiger slays a little deer, Bhima, that foremost of all filled with strength, and ever delighted in fight, slew that Raakshasa. Also consider, O king (Duryodhana), how while out on his campaign of conquest, Bhima slew in battle that mighty warrior, Jaraasandha, possessing the strength of ten thousand elephants. Related to Vaasudeva (Sri Krishna) and having the sons of king Drupada as their brothers-in-law, who that is subject to weakness and death would undertake to cope with them in battle? O bull of the Bharata race (Duryodhana), let there be peace between you and Paandavaas! You follow my counsels and do not surrender yourself to anger!’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘O king (Janamejaya), thus urged by (Rishi) Maitreya, Duryodhana began to slap his thigh resembling the trunk of the elephant, and smilingly began to scratch the ground with his foot. The wicked wretch (Durmedhaa in Sanskrit) did no spoke a word but hung down his head. O monarch (Janamejaya), seeing Duryodhana thus offer him an insult by scratching the earth silently, Maitreya became angry. As if commissioned by fate, Maitreya, the best of Munis, overwhelmed by anger, set his mind upon cursing Duryodhana! Then, with eyes red in anger, Maitreya, touching water, caused the evil-minded (Dushtachetasam in Sanskrit) son of Dhritarashtra, saying, ‘Since, insulting me you decline to act according to my words, you shalt speedily reap the fruit of this your rude and disrespectful behaviour! In the great war which shall spring out of the wrongs committed by you, the mighty Bhima shall smash that thigh of yours with a stroke of his mace (Gada in Sanskrit)!’

“When the Muni (Maitreya) had spoken so, king Dhritarashtra began to pacify the sage, in order that what he had said might not happen. But Maitreya said, ‘O king (Dhritarashtra), if your son concludes peace with the Paandavaas, this curse of mine, O child, will not take effect, otherwise it must be as I have said!’

“Vaishampaayana said, ‘Desirous of discovering the might of Bhima, that foremost of kings, the father of Duryodhana (Dhritarashtra), then asked Maitreya, saying, ‘How was Kirmeera slain by Bhima?’

“Maitreya said, ‘I shall not speak again to you, O king, for my words are not regarded by your son. After I have gone away, Vidura will narrate everything to you!’

“Saying this, (Rishi) Maitreya went away to the place from where he had come. Duryodhana also went out disturbed at the news of Kirmeera’s death (at the hand of Bhima).’”