|
Mahābhārata The History of the Great India
<< 101 Narada's Arrival >>
 |  | Having overstepped an agreement among the Pandava brothers, Arjuna leaves for the forest. The sage Vaisampayana is telling the history of the Pandavas to their great-grandson, King Janamejaya. As the narration continues, the great sage Narada visits the Pandavas after they have married Princess Draupadi and moved to their kingdom, Indraprastha.
| | | Janamejaya Said:
O ascetic, what did the noble Pandavas do after attaining a kingdom at Indraprastha? They were all my great-grandfathers, those great souls, but how could Draupadi, as a religious wife, follow five husbands? And how could those five exalted princes live with Draupadi as their only wife and not fight among themselves? Dear sage, I want to hear everything in detail—how they dealt with one another and managed their relationship with Draupadi.
| | | Sri Vaisampayana said:
The Pandavas were truly tigers of men, warriors who burned their enemies, yet they were noble and submissive to their elders. So with the permission of Dhrtarastra they and Draupadi enjoyed their new kingdom.
| | | On obtaining the realm, powerful Yudhisthira, fixed in truthfulness, ruled over the country with his brothers according to the pious law. Conquering their enemies and devoted to truth and justice, the very learned sons of Pandu dwelled there with the greatest of joy. Taking their seats on priceless royal thrones, they who were the best of men administered to all the needs of the citizens.
| | | Once when all those great souls were sitting on their thrones, the godly sage Narada happened to come there. Yudhisthira at once gave him his own lovely seat. When the Devarsi—the sage among the demigods—was seated, wise Yudhisthira honored him with the customary gift of arghya [water with auspicious substances] and then offered his kingdom to the sage.
| | | Narada happily accepted the honorable welcome, and after blessing the king to prosper, he told him, "Please be seated."
| | | With Narada's permission, King Yudhisthira sat down and at once sent word to Draupadi: "The holy one has come."
| | | Hearing this, Draupadi quickly bathed and with great attention went to where Narada was sitting with the Pandavas. After worshiping the Devarsi's feet, that very religious woman, the daughter of Drupada, stood before him, her body chastely covered and her hands folded in reverence.
| | | Godly Narada, ever truthful and immersed in spiritual life, pronounced various blessings upon the princess, and then that greatest of sages told that faultless woman, "You may go now."
|
|
| |
|---|
English
Español
Pусский
Português