The Mahābhārata is no different though the episodes related to Hāsya are few and far. Bhima’s childhood antics are sure to invoke some laughs, so does Uttarakumāra’s boasting in Virāṭa Parva followed by Bṛhannalā’s antics (Mahābhārata Virāṭa Parva Critical Text BORI, sargas 34-36) which has been utilized well by the later poets like Kumāravyāsa, who wrote in Kannada.
Vīravara’s son woke up and quickly understood the situation and said, “Father! I am indeed fortunate to be of service for our master’s wellbeing! We owe him our daily bread - hence it is only fit that I serve him in his time of need! Take me along, by all means!”. Vīravara happily said “Truly you take after me, my son!”. The king who had followed Vīravara overheard all this and felt amazed at their courage. Vīravara took his son on his shoulders and his wife Dharmavatī took her daughter up her arms.
On yet another occasion, the king had to fight a war with a rival from the frontiers. The seeker went with him and defeated many enemy men with his staff. The king was victorious and returned home. Though he had witnessed the strength and skill of the seeker, he did not reward him at all.
He followed her instructions and performed intense tapas to propriate Vindhyavāsinī. She appeared before him and said, “O brāhmaṇa! All four of you were my gaṇas; Pañcamūla, Caturvaktra, Mahodaramukha, and Vikaṭavadana; once when you were wandering on the banks of Gaṅgā you were attracted towards Cāpalekhā, who was the daughter of a muni; she protested saying, ‘I’m a kanyā; go away!’ the other three heeded her warning; but you persisted; she screamed, ‘Father!
ವ್ಯಂಜನಾವ್ಯಾಪಾರವು ಪ್ರಮಾಣವಲ್ಲವೆಂಬ ಮತ್ತೊಂದು ಆಕ್ಷೇಪ ಹೀಗಿದೆ:
ಧೂಮೇನ ಧ್ವನ್ಯತಾಂ ವಹ್ನಿಶ್ಚಕ್ಷುಷಾ ಧ್ವನ್ಯತಾಂ ಘಟಃ |
ಅರ್ಥಶ್ಚೇದ್ಧ್ವನಯೇದರ್ಥಂ ಕಾ ಪ್ರಮಾಣವ್ಯವಸ್ಥಿತಿಃ || (೨೦.೧೬)
ಅರ್ಥಶಕ್ತಿಮೂಲಧ್ವನಿಯು ಹೇಗೆ ತಾನೆ ಪ್ರಮಾಣವೆನಿಸೀತು? ಹಾಗೊಮ್ಮೆ ಒಪ್ಪಿದಲ್ಲಿ ಹೊಗೆಯಿಂದ ಬೆಂಕಿಯೂ ಕಣ್ಣಿಂದ ಮಡಕೆಯೂ ಧ್ವನಿತವಾಗಬೇಕು!
Won't you be able to tolerate it for a night? – Kāñcanaprabhā said. Soon after, she went away with her child. Naravāhanadatta came to Kauśāmbi. At night, as he was falling asleep, Gomukha narrated to him this tale of Pṛthvīrūpa –
ಮೀಮಾಂಸಕರು ಮೊದಲಿನಿಂದಲೂ ಕಾವ್ಯವಿರೋಧಿಗಳು. ಅವರತ್ತ ಕವಿ ಹೀಗೆ ಕಟಾಕ್ಷಿಸುತ್ತಾನೆ:
ಅರ್ಥೇಷ್ವಲಂಕಾರವಿದಃ ಪ್ರಮಾಣಂ
ಶಬ್ದೇಷು ನಃ ಶಬ್ದವಿದೋ ಮುನೀಂದ್ರಾಃ |
ಕೇ ತಾಂತ್ರಿಕಾಣಾಂ ಕವಯೋ ಭವಂತಿ
ಕೇ ವಾ ಕವೀನಾಮಪಿ ತಾಂತ್ರಿಕಾಃ ಸ್ಯುಃ || (೧.೭೦)
निशुम्भभरनम्रोर्वीखर्विताः पर्वता अपि |
यं नमन्तीव नृत्यन्तं नमामस्तं विनायकम् ||[Owing to the crushing weight capable of bending even the earth, the mountains too seem to bow down, we salute that dancing Vināyaka]