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Yudhishthira, the eldest of the Pandavas and the rightful heir for the throne of Hastinapur was most loyal to Dharma, which was why he was well-known among the common people as Dharmaraja (Lord Dharma). He was known to be the most honest and truthful of all, as he was the son of the god of Dharma and Kunti. Yudhishthira ruled over the kingdom of Khandavaprastha from the city of Indraprastha that he had built with the help of Deva Architect Vishwakarma. Yudhishthira had four brothers – Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula & Sahadeva twins. He had two wives, Draupadi and Devika.
Yudhishthira respected Dharma the most and would never reject a challenge. Shakuni, Duryodhana’s uncle was an expert in the game of dice and suggested Duryodhana to challenge Dharmaraja to the gamble of the game of dice. Yudhishthira who never turned down a challenge accepted the offer even though he was an amateur at the game. At first, he lost a golden chain he wore but eventually he lost everything he owned. His land, kingdom, herds, possessions, and even his brothers and wife. After he lost all he had, they were proscribed from his own kingdom along with his brothers and wife and sent on an exile for thirteen long years.
Sages and subjects of Indraprastha too followed Dharmaraja, and he could not send them back. The Pandavas were worried as they had only a little to eat and weren’t capable of feeding the sages. Yudhishthira was devastated as he could not bear not keeping his followers well fed and satisfied. So he requested the sages to return to Indraprastha, to which the sages commanded him to perform penance to the Sun God, Surya. Dharmaraja performed meditations and prayed Surya with utmost devotion which pleased the Sun God who appeared before him. Yudhishthira was so dedicated that he did not realise the presence of Surya and was still indulged in the penance. Pleased by the everlasting devotion of the eldest Pandava, the Sun God provided him the marvellous Akshaya Patra.
With the power of Akshaya Patra, all the sages ate to satisfaction as it would provide unlimited amount of food to eat. Until Draupadi, the last person to eat among the Pandavas feasted, the Akshaya Patra would not be emptied. Pandavas were very happy and contended that they can survive in the forests without any worries with the Akshaya Patra in their possession. Eventually, many sages would visit the hermitage of the Pandavas and were never unsatisfied with the hospitality of the truthful, honest son of Pandu.
Bhima, who was the hungriest of all the Pandavas could not be happier about the Akshaya Patra. He was the son of the God of Wind, Vayu, which gave him a large appetite which meant he was always hungry. He was also named Vrikodara in accordance to his appetite. It meant “one bearing wolf belly”. The presence of Akshaya Patra meant that he could eat satisfactorily until he was content. Not only did he have a big appetite, he also was very strong, so strong that he could defeat hundreds of warriors single handed, which worried Duryodhana a glut.
The news of Akshaya Patra reached Hastinapur. The sages who were enthralled by the feast at the Pandavas’ hermitage started speaking and the word spread like a wildfire. Eventually Duryodhana heard of the autocratic hospitalities offered by his rivals, and was enraged and immensely jealous. He could not be any patient and wanted to ruin the Pandavas’ stature. He was angry that he had snatched everything from the Pandavas yet they managed to live happily and serve the sages pleasingly. Duryodhana decided to do something and made a plan.
Durvasa was a powerful sage with great magical abilities which he attained long penances to the demigods. Durvasa was born as a son to Anasuya, when Lord Shiva who had a fight with Brahma transferred all his anger to Anasuya. The result of which was Durvasa, an extremely short tempered sage. His name literally means ‘difficult to live with’. A lot of people were cursed by Durvasa and suffered a great amount of misery. On the contrary, if he was pleased by the hospitality of his guests, Durvasa granted boons to them.
Duryodhana invited Durvasa to his palace. All the workers of the palace toiled to make sure Durvasa did not grow fierce over them. Duryodhana enquired if the sage was satisfied by his treatment at the palace. Making sure if the sage was calm, he told Durvasa about how all the sages were captivated by the cordiality at the Pandavas’ hermitage in the forest. Durvasa’s interest grew when he heard about it. Duryodhana asked Durvasa to visit them and enjoy the hospitality. But he added a twist in the story. He asked the sage to visit Pandavas after Draupadi has finished eating as she would serve better when she has eaten and has more energy. Durvasa agreed with Duryodhana and thus the sage and his Shishyas set out to the humble abode of Pandavas in the forest.
Draupadi, or Panchali was a common wife to all the Pandavas and daughter of Drupada, the king of Panchala. Akshaya Patra was given to Draupadi by Yudhishthira as she would serve everyone and then eat what is left in the Akshaya Patra. And hence after she ate and cleaned the vessel there would be no more food left in the Patra. Durvasa and his Shishyas approached the Pandavas’ hermitage late in the evening when Draupadi had already finished eating. Draupadi saw Durvasa approach her as she cleaned the Akshay Patra. She was trembled seeing Durvasa as she knew he would curse them very badly if he wasn’t treated well.
Durvasa arrived at his destination and Yudhishthira happily welcomed the sage inside. Little did he know, about the consequences. He asked Durvasa to take bath and assured that the food will be ready by the time he returns. Dharmaraja sent Sahadeva to inform Draupadi to prepare food. He found Draupadi closing her eyes and praying. Sahadeva realised what happened and went to bring Yudhishthira. When he came, he saw Lord Krishna before Draupadi shining bright. Krishna asked Draupadi to show him the Akshaya patra to which she said there was nothing left and she cleaned it completely with her very hands. Yet, Krishna demanded the Akshaya Patra be brought before him. He took the single grain of rice left in the Akshaya Patra and said that was the most delicious meal he had eaten while he ate the rice grain.
Durvasa and his Shishyas came out of the lake after bathing and found something unusual happening to them. Suddenly Durvasa started feeling full. As if he could not eat a grain more. He looked towards his Shishyas and found them in the same state. One of the Shishyas said they cannot eat any more to which Durvasa said that would not be right and Yudhishthira may curse them. The Shishya suggested they run away.
In the house, Yudhishthira asked Krishna what to do as there was nothing left to serve Durvasa. Krishna asked him to go bring Durvasa inside. Dharmaraja sent Sahadeva to bring the guests in and to his surprise he could not find Durvasa or his Shishyas anywhere around the lake.
Lord Krishna smiled at Yudhishthira and said the food was very delicious. I shall visit you more often.
