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).’”
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