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Mahābhārata The History of the Great India
<< 121 The Obstacle to the Royal Sacrifice >>
 |  | King Yudhisthira, inspired to perform a great Vedic sacrifice, seeks the blessings of Lord Krsna. The sage Vaisampayana is telling the history of the five Pandava brothers to their great-grandson, King Janamejaya. As the narration continues, the great sage Narada has just visited the Pandavas in their royal assembly hall and described the glories of the sacrifice known as Rajasuya. [Abridged from the original translation.]
| | | Yudhisthira Sighed upon hearing Narada's words, and as he thought how he might achieve the Rajasuya, he could not be calm. Having heard the glories of exalted saintly kings who had offered sacrifice, and noting well how they had achieved higher planets through their pious deeds, Yudhisthira yearned to perform the Rajasuya.
| | | Even while that monarch of amazing courage and strength faithfully performed his duties, he again fixed his mind in this thought: Is the performance of the Rajasuya for the good of all people and all the worlds? Yudhisthira was the best of those who know the just laws of God, and being merciful toward all creatures, he acted for the good of all without exception. And so the people trusted him, as a child trusts his father. Indeed, he had the quality of being ajata-satru, "one whose enemy was never born," for there was no envy or malice in him.
| | | The monarch, who was an excellent speaker, brought his ministers and brothers together to ask them again and again about the Rajasuya. The assembled counselors replied to the vastly learned king, who yearned to offer a great sacrifice to the Supreme Lord.
| | | The counselors said, "When a king is consecrated by this sacrifice, he attains the virtue of Varuna, lord of the waters. And although already a king, by this sacrifice he aspires to gain the merit of an emperor. Dear Kuru child, your well-wishing friends feel the time has come for the Rajasuya, for you have earned the status of an emperor.
| | | "In that sacrifice, priests strict in their vows chant sacred hymns to gather fuel and build six holy fires. Having ladled the oblations into the fire, one who executes all the procedures of rite and is consecrated is said at the offering's end to have conquered all by his sacrifice.
| | | "O mighty-armed one, you can do it! We are all at your command. Without pondering further, Maharaja, set your mind on performing the Rajasuya."
| | | Thus all the well-wishing friends, individually as well as in a group, spoke their minds. Hearing their speech, the Pandava king, slayer of enemies, accepted it in his mind, for their words were virtuous, confident, and glorious, and they expressed what the king himself strongly desired. Having listened to his well-wishers' words, and knowing he could accomplish the Rajasuya, he set his mind again and again on its performance.
| | | Once more the wise king took counsel with his brothers, great-souled priests, and counselors headed by Dhaumya and Dvaipayana.
| | | Yudhisthira said, "I ask you in good faith, How can I fulfill my desire to perform the Rajasuya, that grand rite fit for emperors?"
| | | Thus addressed by the king, the priests and sages spoke these words at the proper moment to the most virtuous Yudhisthira: "You know the divine law, and you are worthy of the great Rajasuya ceremony."
| | | When the priests and seers had thus spoken to the king, his ministers and brothers welcomed their words. The king possessed great wisdom and was a self-realized soul. Once again that noble son of Prtha thought deeply on the matter, for he desired the good of all the world. [These were his thoughts:] "A wise man never fails when he carefully studies the time, place, and circumstances, and the income and expenditure, and when he then acts with full intelligence after considering the situation. After all, one does not undertake a sacrifice simply to lead oneself to ruin. With this understanding, one takes up one's task."
| | | But to know for certain his duty, the king went in his mind to Lord Krsna, the maintainer of all beings, for he considered Lord Krsna to be above all the world. Yudhisthira knew for good reasons that although the limitless and mighty-armed Lord Krsna is unborn, by His own desire He apparently takes birth in this world. Yudhisthira knew that Lord Krsna's activities are those of the Supreme God, that nothing is unknown to Him, and that there is nothing He cannot do or overcome. Thus the king thought of Krsna.
| | | Yudhisthira, son of Prtha, fixed his unflinching intelligence in Lord Krsna and at once dispatched a messenger to that spiritual teacher of all living beings, just as one might send word to one's guru.
| | | Traveling on a swift chariot, the messenger soon reached the land of the Yadavas. After entering the city of Dvaraka, he approached Lord Krsna, who dwells there. Just as Yudhisthira hankered to see Krsna, so the infallible Lord hankered to see that son of Prtha. With Indrasena, Lord Krsna went at once to the city of Indraprastha.
| | | Quickly traversing various lands on a swift chariot, Lord Krsna, maintainer of the people, came to Prtha's son, Yudhisthira, who waited at Indraprastha. There in the king's personal quarters, Yudhisthira and Bhima honored Lord Krsna as a loving brother honors his brother. The Lord was then pleased to see His father's sister, Kunti. Next, Lord Krsna happily enjoyed with His loving friend Arjuna while the twins, Nakula and Sahadeva, surrounded Him like disciples surrounding their guru.
| | | When Lord Krsna had rested in that happy land, was feeling well, and had time, Yudhisthira met with Him and explained his project.
| | | Yudhisthira said, "I desire to perform the Rajasuya, but one cannot attain it by desire alone. O Krsna, You know all that is required to achieve it. One in whom all the world is united, who is honored everywhere, who is the lord of all—such is the king who enjoys the Rajasuya.
| | | "I have met with my dear friends, and they have told me I should perform the Rajasuya. But it is by your word, Krsna, that the matter will be finally decided. Certainly there are those who out of loving friendship do not point out the shortcomings of a plan, and there are others who say what we want to hear to advance their own interest. In general we see that when people give advice about a project, they seek their own happiness and welfare. But You go beyond these motivations, for You are completely transcendental to material lust and anger. You should tell us exactly what is our greatest good in this world."
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