Akshaya Patra

April – 8 – 2012                  (Easter Sunday)

When the Pandavas were in the forest for 12 years, during their long exile, it happened that one day the sage Durvasa came to visit them. In fact the Kauravas had sent Durvasa to pronounce a curse on the Pandavas. Durvasa had once gone to the Kauravas and been welcomed, given princely honour by Duryodhana, the eldest. Since he was highly pleased with Duryodhana, Durvasa said he would grant him a boon. So Duryodhana had asked him to go to the forest where the Pandavas were.                                                                          Now Sri Krishna had given the Pandavas a silver pot “Akshaya Patra” out of which any number of people might be sumptuously fed. However, they would be able to do so only before Draupadi had taken her last meal of the day. After Draupadi had eaten, the Pandavas would not be able to feed a single person on that day.  Duryodhana asked Durvasa to go there after Draupadi had eaten, after she had finished her meal.  Durvasa listened to Duryodhana’s request.  He came after Draupadi had finished her meal only to torture her.                 In those days, when a Sage (Maharshi; spiritual master) came, the first thing was to feed him.  If you did not feed Durvasa, he would curse you and turn you into ashes.  When Durvasa came, he brought his thousands of followers. Poor Draupadi had no food left.  Durvasa came in and said, “I am very hungry.”                                                                                                                She knew that if she could not feed Durvasa, he would curse them.  So she invoked Bhagavan Sri Krishna.  Sri Krishna was at that time nowhere near the forest, but he immediately saw with his occult vision, and he came physically to save her.  “I am very hungry,” he said. “Please give me something to eat.” Draupadi answered, “I have invoked you to help me, and you come here to torture me. How am I to give you food?”                                                            Sri Krishna said, “No, you have to give me food. Examine your pot carefully.” She replied, “There is nothing left. I am not telling you a lie. I have washed it. I have eaten. We have all eaten. There is nothing left. I can show it to you.” So she brought the pot, and he discovered that there was a single grain of rice remaining. He ate it and said, “Now I am satisfied. Now you ask me anything. I am pleased with you.”                                                                                        She said ‘save me! Sage Durvasa has gone now, with his disciples, to bathe in the near by river.  When he comes back he will want food!”  So Krishna, with his spiritual power, immediately filled the stomachs of Sage Durvasa and his disciples up to their necks.  Now Durvasa with his Yogic vision came to know that Sri Krishna had already arrived.   He said, “It is useless for me to go there, because now they will be able to feed me. I don’t want to go there. Our bellies are full.  I am fully satisfied.”  He left the forest.   Thus Sri Krishna averted a great calamity.