SECTION CXXVI
(Sambhava Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana said, 'The godlike Rishis,
wise in counsels, beholding the death of Pandu, consulted with one another, and
said, 'The virtuous and renowned king Pandu, abandoning both sovereignty, and
kingdom came hither for practising ascetic austerities and resigned himself to
the ascetics dwelling on this mountain. He hath hence ascended to heaven,
leaving his wife and infant sons as a trust in our hands. Our duty now is to
repair to his kingdom with these his offspring, and his wife.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Then those godlike
Rishis of magnanimous hearts, and crowned with ascetic success, summoning one
another, resolved to go to Hastinapura with Pandu's children ahead, desiring to
place them in the hands of Bhishma and Dhritarashtra. The ascetics set out that
very moment, taking with them those children and Kunti and the two dead bodies.
And though unused to toil all her life, the affectionate Kunti now regarded as
very short the really long journey she had to perform. Having arrived at
Kurujangala within a short time, the illustrious Kunti presented herself at the
principal gate. The ascetics then charged the porters to inform the king of
their arrival. The men carried the message in a trice to the court. And the
citizens of Hastinapura, hearing of the arrival of thousands of Charanas and
Munis, were filled with wonder. And it was soon after sunrise that they began
to come out in numbers with their wives and children to behold those ascetics.
Seated in all kinds of cars and conveyances by thousands, vast numbers of
Kshatriyas with their wives, and Brahmanas with theirs came out. And the
concourse of Vaisyas and Sudras too was as large on the occasion. The vast
assemblage was very peaceful, for every heart then was inclined to piety. And
there also came out Bhishma, the son of Santanu, and Somadatta or Valhika and
the royal sage (Dhritarashtra) endued with the vision of knowledge and Vidura
himself and the venerable Satyavati and the illustrious princess of Kosala and
Gandhari accompanied by the other ladies of the royal household. And the
hundred sons of Dhritarashtra, decked with various ornaments, also came out.
"The Kauravas, then, accompanied by their
priest, saluted the Rishis by lowering their heads, and took their seats before
them. The citizens also saluting the ascetics and bowing down unto them with
touching the ground, took their seats there. Then Bhishma, setting that vast
concourse perfectly still, duly worshipped, O king, those ascetics by offering
them water to wash their feet with and the customary Arghya. And having done
this, he spoke unto them about the sovereignty and the kingdom. Then the oldest
of the ascetics with matted locks on head and loins covered with animal skin,
stood up, and with the concurrence of the other Rishis, spoke as follows, 'You
all know that that possessor of the sovereignty of the Kurus who was called
king Pandu, had, after abandoning the pleasures of the world, repaired hence to
dwell on the mountain of a hundred peaks. He adopted the Brahmacharya mode of
life, but for some inscrutable purpose the gods have in view, this his eldest
son, Yudhishthira, was born there, begotten by Dharma himself. Then that
illustrious king obtained from Vayu this other son--the foremost of all mighty
men--called Bhima. This other son, begotten upon Kunti by Indra, is Dhananjaya
whose achievements will humble all bowmen in the world. Look here again at
these tigers among men, mighty in the use of the bow, the twin children
begotten upon Madri by the twin Aswins. Leading in righteousness the life of a
Vanaprastha in the woods, illustrious Pandu hath thus revived the almost
extinct line of his grandfather. The birth, growth, and Vedic studies of these
children of Pandu, will, no doubt, give you great pleasure. Steadily adhering
to the path of the virtuous and the wise, and leaving behind him these
children, Pandu departed hence seventeen days ago. His wife Madri, beholding
him placed in the funeral pyre and about to be consumed, herself ascended the
same pyre, and sacrificing her life thus, hath gone with her lord to the region
reserved for chaste wives. Accomplish now whatever rites should be performed
for their benefit. These are (the unburnt portions of) their bodies. Here also
are their children--these oppressors of foes--with their mother. Let these be
now received with due honours. After the completion of the first rites in
honour of the dead, let the virtuous Pandu, who had all along been the
supporter of the dignity of the Kurus, have the first annual Sraddha
(sapindakarana) performed with a view to installing him formally among the
Pitris.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'The ascetics with
Guhyakas, having said this unto the Kurus, instantly disappeared in the very
sight of the people. And beholding the Rishis and the Siddhas thus vanish in
their sight like vapoury forms appearing and disappearing in the skies, the
citizens filled with wonder returned to their homes.'"
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