The great epic, the Mahabharata, tells of the bitter strife between the two related families, the Pandavas and the Kauravas. Principal among the Kauravas was Duryodhana, who looked for any opportunity to bring difficulty and distress upon the Pandava clan.

Once it happened that the sage Durvas, accompanied by a large retinue of students, arrived unexpectedly in the court of the Kauravas, but though he had come with no warning, Duryodhana was able to welcome him with sumptuous hospitality, showing all honor and respect and providing the finest food and accommodation for the entire party. Durvas was gratified to be so well received, and so he said to Duryodhana, “I am pleased with you. I will grant you a wish. What do you ask for?”

But instead of asking for something that would bless his clan or himself, Duryodhana thought of turning the wish against the Pandavas, who were at this time exiled in poverty in the jungle. “Great souled Durvas,” he said, “that you are pleased with the honour and respect I have shown you is a great pleasure to me. It has been a great satisfaction to me to feed and care for you and all your students and I feel deep gratitude for the chance to gain merit from this service. Now I wish that the same opportunity should be given to my brothers the Pandavas, who are living in the jungle. Please spend the rest of your stay in this region with the Pandavas. Together with all your disciples, take food with them. Please satisfy this desire of mine.”

The sage said, “So be it!”

Duryodhana now felt vicious pleasure to think of the sage arriving before the Pandavas with all his company of students. He knew they would have no means to offer even the most meagre hospitality, and he also knew that the sage Durvas was famous for his short temper. Perhaps, Duryodhana gloated, the sage would lay a curse upon the Pandavas!

The next day, when Durvas and his retinue arrived in the jungle where the Pandavas were sheltering, it was past midday. The exiled queen Draupadi greeted Durvas, who said to her, “We will go the river to bathe. Prepare food for when we return from bathing.”

And then Draupadi was in despair. She knew there was nothing at all in the kitchen, not even a grain of rice. How could she entertain so many guests? But to fail in offering hospitality was not only a disgrace, but also dangerous. With nowhere else to turn, she began to pray desperately to Lord Krishna. “Help us, Lord Krishna,” she prayed, “How shall I offer hospitality to these visitors?”

And then Lord Krishna appeared before her. With a beautiful smile, he said to her, “Daughter, feed me.”

“But Lord, we have nothing!”

“Look again, daughter. Look again.”

Then Draupadi went to the kitchen, and searched everywhere – but not a lentil nor grain of rice could she find – only a single leaf of methi clinging to a plate. Trembling with shame, she humbly brought this to Lord Krishna.

When he saw it, his smile broadened, and he put the leaf in his mouth, chewed it, and swallowed. Then he burped, and said, “Thank you daughter, I am full.”

And at that moment, Durvas and all his students also burped, and felt full. Realising that they need not stop with the Pandavas for lunch, they set off, and Draupadi saw them no more.