And then, O Bharata, the
intractable Durvasa said unto him, 'I have power to grant thee boons.
Thou mayst ask of me whatever lies nearest to thy heart. May good
fortune be thine. Pleased as I am with thee, thou mayst obtain from me
anything that is not opposed to religion and morals.'"
Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words of the great ascetic,
Suyodhana felt himself to be inspired with new life. Indeed, it had been
agreed upon between himself and Karna and Dussasana as to what the boon
should be that he would ask of the _Muni_ if the latter were pleased
with his reception. And the evil-minded king, bethinking himself of what
had previously been decided, joyfully solicited the following favour,
saying, 'The great king Yudhishthira is the eldest and the best of our
race. That pious man is now living in the forest with his brothers. Do
thou, therefore, once become the guest of that illustrious one even as,
O Brahmana, thou hast with thy disciples been mine for some time. If
thou art minded to do me a favour, do thou go unto him at a time when
that delicate and excellent lady, the celebrated princess of Panchala,
after having regaled with food the Brahmanas, her husbands and herself,
may lie down to rest.' The _Rishi_ replied, 'Even so shall I act for thy
satisfaction.' And having said this to Suyodhana, that great Brahmana,
Durvasa, went away in the very same state in which he had come. And
Suyodhana regarded himself to have attained all the objects of his
desire.
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