Mahabharata 2.11: ekādaśo'dhyāyaḥ

2.11.1

nārada uvāca |
purā devayuge rājannādityo bhagavāndivaḥ |
āgacchanmānuṣaṃ lokaṃ didṛkṣurvigataklamaḥ || 1 ||

"Narada said,--Listen to me, O child, as I tell thee of the assembly house of the Grandsire, that house which none can describe, saying it is such. In the Krita (golden) age of old, O king, the exalted deity Aditya (once) came down from heaven into the world of men. Having seen before the assembly-house of Brahma the Self-created, Aditya was cheerfully wandering over the Earth in human form, desirous of beholding what could be seen here. It was on that occasion, O son of Pandu, that the god of day spoke unto me, O bull of the Bharata race, of that celestial Sabha (assembly) of the Grandsire, immeasurable and immaterial and indescribable, as regards form and shape, and capable of delighting the heart of every creature by its splendour. Hearing, O bull of the Bharata race, of the merits of that Sabha, I became, O king, desirous of beholding it. I then asked Aditya, saying,--O exalted one, I desire to behold the sacred Sabha of the Grandsire. O lord of light, tell me, O exalted one, by what ascetic penances, or by what acts, or by what charms or by what rites, I may be enabled to behold that excellent sin-cleaning Sabha."--Hearing these words of mine, Aditya the god of day, the deity of a thousand rays, answered me, O chief of the Bharata race, thus: Observe thou, with mind rapt in meditation, the Brahma vow extending for a thousand years.

Repairing then to the breast of the Himavat, I commenced that great vow, and after I had completed it the exalted and sinless deity Surya endued with great energy, and knowing no fatigue, took me with him to the Sabha of the Grandsire. O king, it is impossible to describe that Sabha, saying--it is such, for within a moment it assumes a different form that language fails to paint. O Bharata, it is impossible to indicate its dimensions or shape. I never saw anything like it before. Ever contributing to the happiness of those within it, its atmosphere is neither cold nor warm. Hunger and thirst or any kind of uneasiness disappear as soon as one goeth thither. It seems to be made up of brilliant gems of many kinds. It doth not seem to be supported on columns, it knoweth no deterioration, being eternal. That self effulgent mansion, by its numerous blazing, celestial indications of unrivalled splendour, seems to surpass the moon, the sun and the fire in splendour. Stationed in heaven, it blazes forth, censuring as it were the maker of the day. In that mansion O king, the Supreme Deity, the Grand-sire of all created things, having himself created everything by virtue of his creative illusion, stayeth ever. And Daksha, Prachetas, Pulaha, Marichi, the master Kasyapa, Bhrigu, Atri, and Vasistha and Gautama, and also Angiras, and Pulastya, Kraut, Prahlada, and Kardama, these Prajapatis, and Angirasa of the Atharvan Veda, the Valikhilyas, the Marichipas;

Intelligence, Space, Knowledge, Air, Heat, Water, Earth, Sound, Touch, Form, Taste, Scent; Nature, and the Modes (of Nature), and the elemental and prime causes of the world,--all stay in that mansion beside the lord Brahma. And Agastya of great energy, and Markandeya, of great ascetic power, and Jamadagni and Bharadwaja, and Samvarta, and Chyavana, and exalted Durvasa, and the virtuous Rishyasringa, the illustrious Sanatkumara of great ascetic merit and the preceptor in all matters affecting Yoga; Asita and Devala, and Jaigishavya acquainted with truth; Rishava, Ajitasatru, and Mani of great energy; and the Science of healing with its eight branches--all in their personified forms, O Bharata; the moon with all the stars and the stellar conjunctions; Aditya with all his rays; the winds; the Sacrifices, the Declarations of purpose (in sacrifices), the Vital principles,--these illustrious and vow-observing beings in their personified forms, and many others too numerous to mention, attend all upon Brahma in that mansion. Wealth and Religion and Desire, and Joy, and Aversion, and Asceticism and Tranquillity--all wait together upon the Supreme Deity in that palace. The twenty tribes of the Gandharvas and Apsaras, as also their seven other tribes, and all the Lokapalas (chief protectors of several regions), and Sukra, and Vrihaspati, and Vudha, and Angaraka (Mangala), Sani, Rahu, and the other planets; the Mantras (of the Sama Veda), the special Mantras (of the same Veda);

(the rites of) Harimat and Vasumat, the Adityas with Indra, the two Agnis mentioned by name (viz. Agnisoma and Indragni), the Marutas, Viswakarman, and the Vasus, O Bharata; the Pitris, and all kinds of sacrificial libations, the four Vedas. viz., Rig, Sama, Yajuh, and Atharva; all Sciences and branches of learning; Histories and all minor branches of learning; the several branches of the Vedas; the planets, the Sacrifices, the Soma, all the deities; Savitri (Gayatri), the seven kinds of rhyme; Understanding, Patience, Memory, Wisdom, Intelligence, Fame, Forgiveness; the Hymns of the Sama Veda; the Science of hymns in general, and various kinds of Verses and Songs; various Commentaries with arguments;--all in their personified forms, O king, and various Dramas and Poems and Stories and abridged Glosses--these also, and many others wait upon the Supreme Deity in that Sabha, Kshanas, Lavas, Muhurtas, Day, Night, Fortnights, Months, the six Seasons, O Bharata, Years, Yugas, the four kinds of Days and Nights (viz., appearing to man, to the Pitris, to the gods, and to Brahma) and that eternal, indestructible, undeteriorating, excellent Wheel of Time and also the Wheel of Virtue,--these always wait there. O Yudhishthira;

and Aditi, Diti, Danu, Surasa, Vinata, Ira, Kalika, Suravi, Devi, Sarama, Gautami and the goddesses Pradha, and Kadru;--these mothers of the celestials, and [paragraph continues] Rudrani, Sree, Lakshmi, Bhadra, Shashthi, the Earth, Ganga, Hri, Swaha, Kriti, the goddess Sura, Sachi Pushti, Arundhati, Samvritti, Asa, Niyati, Srishti, Rati,--these and many other goddesses wait upon the Creator of all. The Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, Marutas, Aswinas, the Viswadevas Sadhyas, and the Pitris gifted with the speed of the mind; these all wait there upon the Grandsire. And, O bull amongst men, know thou that there are seven classes of Pitris, of which four classes have embodied forms and the remaining three without embodied forms. It is well known that the illustrious Vairajas and Agniswattas and Garhapattyas (three classes of Pitris) range in heaven. And those amongst the Pitris that are called the Somapas, the Ekasringras, the Chaturvedas, and the Kalas, are ever worshipped amongst the four orders of men. Gratified with the Soma (juice), first, these gratify Soma afterwards. All these tribes of Pitris wait upon the Lord of the creation and cheerfully worship the Supreme Deity of immeasurable energy. And Rakshasas, Pisachas, the Danavas and Guhyakas; Nagas, Birds, and various animals; and all mobile and immobile great beings;--all worship the Grandsire. And Purandara the chief of the celestials, and Varuna and Kuvera and Yama, and Mahadeva accompanied by Uma, always repair thither.

And, O king of kings, Mahasena (Kartikeya) also adoreth there the Grandsire. Narayana himself, and the celestial Rishis, and those Rishis called Valakhillyas, and all beings born of females and all those not born of females, and whatever else is seen in the three worlds--both mobile and immobile, were all seen by me there, know O king. And eighty thousand Rishis with vital seed drawn up, and O Pandu, fifty thousand Rishis having sons, were all seen by me there. And all the dwellers in heaven repairing thither behold the Supreme Deity when they please, and worshipping him with a bow of their head return whence they came. And, O king of men, the Grandsire of all created beings, the Soul of the universe, the Self create Brahma of immeasurable intelligence and glory, equally kind unto all creatures, honoureth as they deserve, and gratifieth with sweet speech and gift of wealth and other enjoyable articles, the gods, the Daityas, the Nagas, the Brahmanas, the Yakshas, the Birds, the Kaleyas, the Gandharvas, the Apsaras, and all other exalted beings that came to him as his guests. And that delicious Sabha, O child, is always crowded with persons coming and going. Filled with every kind of energy, and worshipped by Brahmarshis, that celestial Sabha blazes forth with the graceful possessions of Brahma and looks extremely handsome, O tiger among kings as this Sabha of yours is unrivalled in the world of men, so is that Sabha of Brahma, seen by me unrivalled in all the worlds.

I have seen these Sabhas, O Bharata, in regions of the celestials. This thy Sabha is unquestionably the foremost in the world of men!"

"Narada said,--Listen to me, O child, as I tell thee of the assembly house of the Grandsire, that house which none can describe, saying it is such. In the Krita (golden) age of old, O king, the exalted deity Aditya (once) came down from heaven into the world of men. Having seen before the assembly-house of Brahma the Self-created, Aditya was cheerfully wandering over the Earth in human form, desirous of beholding what could be seen here. It was on that occasion, O son of Pandu, that the god of day spoke unto me, O bull of the Bharata race, of that celestial Sabha (assembly) of the Grandsire, immeasurable and immaterial and indescribable, as regards form and shape, and capable of delighting the heart of every creature by its splendour. Hearing, O bull of the Bharata race, of the merits of that Sabha, I became, O king, desirous of beholding it. I then asked Aditya, saying,--O exalted one, I desire to behold the sacred Sabha of the Grandsire. O lord of light, tell me, O exalted one, by what ascetic penances, or by what acts, or by what charms or by what rites, I may be enabled to behold that excellent sin-cleaning Sabha."--Hearing these words of mine, Aditya the god of day, the deity of a thousand rays, answered me, O chief of the Bharata race, thus: Observe thou, with mind rapt in meditation, the Brahma vow extending for a thousand years.

2.11.2

caranmānuṣarūpeṇa sabhāṃ dṛṣṭvā svayaṃbhuvaḥ |
sabhāmakathayanmahyaṃ brāhmīṃ tattvena pāṇḍava || 2 ||

2.11.3

aprameyaprabhāṃ divyāṃ mānasīṃ bharatarṣabha |
anirdeśyāṃ prabhāvena sarvabhūtamanoramām || 3 ||

2.11.4

śrutvā guṇānahaṃ tasyāḥ sabhāyāḥ pāṇḍunandana |
darśanepsustathā rājannādityamahamabruvam || 4 ||

2.11.5

bhagavandraṣṭumicchāmi pitāmahasabhāmaham |
yena sā tapasā śakyā karmaṇā vāpi gopate || 5 ||

2.11.6

auṣadhairvā tathā yuktairuta vā māyayā yayā |
tanmamācakṣva bhagavanpaśyeyaṃ tāṃ sabhāṃ katham || 6 ||

2.11.7

tataḥ sa bhagavānsūryo māmupādāya vīryavān |
agacchattāṃ sabhāṃ brāhmīṃ vipāpāṃ vigataklamām || 7 ||

Repairing then to the breast of the Himavat, I commenced that great vow, and after I had completed it the exalted and sinless deity Surya endued with great energy, and knowing no fatigue, took me with him to the Sabha of the Grandsire. O king, it is impossible to describe that Sabha, saying--it is such, for within a moment it assumes a different form that language fails to paint. O Bharata, it is impossible to indicate its dimensions or shape. I never saw anything like it before. Ever contributing to the happiness of those within it, its atmosphere is neither cold nor warm. Hunger and thirst or any kind of uneasiness disappear as soon as one goeth thither. It seems to be made up of brilliant gems of many kinds. It doth not seem to be supported on columns, it knoweth no deterioration, being eternal. That self effulgent mansion, by its numerous blazing, celestial indications of unrivalled splendour, seems to surpass the moon, the sun and the fire in splendour. Stationed in heaven, it blazes forth, censuring as it were the maker of the day. In that mansion O king, the Supreme Deity, the Grand-sire of all created things, having himself created everything by virtue of his creative illusion, stayeth ever. And Daksha, Prachetas, Pulaha, Marichi, the master Kasyapa, Bhrigu, Atri, and Vasistha and Gautama, and also Angiras, and Pulastya, Kraut, Prahlada, and Kardama, these Prajapatis, and Angirasa of the Atharvan Veda, the Valikhilyas, the Marichipas;

2.11.8

evaṃrūpeti sā śakyā na nirdeṣṭuṃ janādhipa |
kṣaṇena hi bibhartyanyadanirdeśyaṃ vapustathā || 8 ||

2.11.9

na veda parimāṇaṃ vā saṃsthānaṃ vāpi bhārata |
na ca rūpaṃ mayā tādṛgdṛṣṭapūrvaṃ kadācana || 9 ||

2.11.10

susukhā sā sabhā rājanna śītā na ca gharmadā |
na kṣutpipāse na glāniṃ prāpya tāṃ prāpnuvantyuta || 10 ||

2.11.11

nānārūpairiva kṛtā suvicitraiḥ subhāsvaraiḥ |
stambhairna ca dhṛtā sā tu śāśvatī na ca sā kṣarā || 11 ||

2.11.12

ati candraṃ ca sūryaṃ ca śikhinaṃ ca svayaṃprabhā |
dīpyate nākapṛṣṭhasthā bhāsayantīva bhāskaram || 12 ||

2.11.13

tasyāṃ sa bhagavānāste vidadhaddevamāyayā |
svayameko'niśaṃ rājam̐llokām̐llokapitāmahaḥ || 13 ||

2.11.14

upatiṣṭhanti cāpyenaṃ prajānāṃ patayaḥ prabhum |
dakṣaḥ pracetāḥ pulaho marīciḥ kaśyapastathā || 14 ||

2.11.15

bhṛguratrirvasiṣṭhaśca gautamaśca tathāṅgirāḥ |
mano'ntarikṣaṃ vidyāśca vāyustejo jalaṃ mahī || 15 ||

Intelligence, Space, Knowledge, Air, Heat, Water, Earth, Sound, Touch, Form, Taste, Scent; Nature, and the Modes (of Nature), and the elemental and prime causes of the world,--all stay in that mansion beside the lord Brahma. And Agastya of great energy, and Markandeya, of great ascetic power, and Jamadagni and Bharadwaja, and Samvarta, and Chyavana, and exalted Durvasa, and the virtuous Rishyasringa, the illustrious Sanatkumara of great ascetic merit and the preceptor in all matters affecting Yoga; Asita and Devala, and Jaigishavya acquainted with truth; Rishava, Ajitasatru, and Mani of great energy; and the Science of healing with its eight branches--all in their personified forms, O Bharata; the moon with all the stars and the stellar conjunctions; Aditya with all his rays; the winds; the Sacrifices, the Declarations of purpose (in sacrifices), the Vital principles,--these illustrious and vow-observing beings in their personified forms, and many others too numerous to mention, attend all upon Brahma in that mansion. Wealth and Religion and Desire, and Joy, and Aversion, and Asceticism and Tranquillity--all wait together upon the Supreme Deity in that palace. The twenty tribes of the Gandharvas and Apsaras, as also their seven other tribes, and all the Lokapalas (chief protectors of several regions), and Sukra, and Vrihaspati, and Vudha, and Angaraka (Mangala), Sani, Rahu, and the other planets; the Mantras (of the Sama Veda), the special Mantras (of the same Veda);

2.11.16

śabdaḥ sparśastathā rūpaṃ raso gandhaśca bhārata |
prakṛtiśca vikāraśca yaccānyatkāraṇaṃ bhuvaḥ || 16 ||

2.11.17

candramāḥ saha nakṣatrairādityaśca gabhastimān |
vāyavaḥ kratavaścaiva saṃkalpaḥ prāṇa eva ca || 17 ||

2.11.18

ete cānye ca bahavaḥ svayaṃbhuvamupasthitāḥ |
artho dharmaśca kāmaśca harṣo dveṣastapo damaḥ || 18 ||

2.11.19

āyānti tasyāṃ sahitā gandharvāpsarasastathā |
viṃśatiḥ sapta caivānye lokapālāśca sarvaśaḥ || 19 ||

2.11.20

śukro bṛhaspatiścaiva budho'ṅgāraka eva ca |
śanaiścaraśca rāhuśca grahāḥ sarve tathaiva ca || 20 ||

2.11.21

mantro rathaṃtaraścaiva harimānvasumānapi |
ādityāḥ sādhirājāno nānādvaṃdvairudāhṛtāḥ || 21 ||

(the rites of) Harimat and Vasumat, the Adityas with Indra, the two Agnis mentioned by name (viz. Agnisoma and Indragni), the Marutas, Viswakarman, and the Vasus, O Bharata; the Pitris, and all kinds of sacrificial libations, the four Vedas. viz., Rig, Sama, Yajuh, and Atharva; all Sciences and branches of learning; Histories and all minor branches of learning; the several branches of the Vedas; the planets, the Sacrifices, the Soma, all the deities; Savitri (Gayatri), the seven kinds of rhyme; Understanding, Patience, Memory, Wisdom, Intelligence, Fame, Forgiveness; the Hymns of the Sama Veda; the Science of hymns in general, and various kinds of Verses and Songs; various Commentaries with arguments;--all in their personified forms, O king, and various Dramas and Poems and Stories and abridged Glosses--these also, and many others wait upon the Supreme Deity in that Sabha, Kshanas, Lavas, Muhurtas, Day, Night, Fortnights, Months, the six Seasons, O Bharata, Years, Yugas, the four kinds of Days and Nights (viz., appearing to man, to the Pitris, to the gods, and to Brahma) and that eternal, indestructible, undeteriorating, excellent Wheel of Time and also the Wheel of Virtue,--these always wait there. O Yudhishthira;

2.11.22

maruto viśvakarmā ca vasavaścaiva bhārata |
tathā pitṛgaṇāḥ sarve sarvāṇi ca havīṃṣyatha || 22 ||

2.11.23

ṛgvedaḥ sāmavedaśca yajurvedaśca pāṇḍava |
atharvavedaśca tathā parvāṇi ca viśāṃ pate || 23 ||

2.11.24

itihāsopavedāśca vedāṅgāni ca sarvaśaḥ |
grahā yajñāśca somaśca daivatāni ca sarvaśaḥ || 24 ||

2.11.25

sāvitrī durgataraṇī vāṇī saptavidhā tathā |
medhā dhṛtiḥ śrutiścaiva prajñā buddhiryaśaḥ kṣamā || 25 ||

2.11.26

sāmāni stutiśastrāṇi gāthāśca vividhāstathā |
bhāṣyāṇi tarkayuktāni dehavanti viśāṃ pate || 26 ||

2.11.27

kṣaṇā lavā muhūrtāśca divā rātristathaiva ca |
ardhamāsāśca māsāśca ṛtavaḥ ṣaṭca bhārata || 27 ||

2.11.28

saṃvatsarāḥ pañcayugamahorātrāścaturvidhāḥ |
kālacakraṃ ca yaddivyaṃ nityamakṣayamavyayam || 28 ||

2.11.29

aditirditirdanuścaiva surasā vinatā irā |
kālakā surabhirdevī saramā cātha gautamī || 29 ||

and Aditi, Diti, Danu, Surasa, Vinata, Ira, Kalika, Suravi, Devi, Sarama, Gautami and the goddesses Pradha, and Kadru;--these mothers of the celestials, and [paragraph continues] Rudrani, Sree, Lakshmi, Bhadra, Shashthi, the Earth, Ganga, Hri, Swaha, Kriti, the goddess Sura, Sachi Pushti, Arundhati, Samvritti, Asa, Niyati, Srishti, Rati,--these and many other goddesses wait upon the Creator of all. The Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, Marutas, Aswinas, the Viswadevas Sadhyas, and the Pitris gifted with the speed of the mind; these all wait there upon the Grandsire. And, O bull amongst men, know thou that there are seven classes of Pitris, of which four classes have embodied forms and the remaining three without embodied forms. It is well known that the illustrious Vairajas and Agniswattas and Garhapattyas (three classes of Pitris) range in heaven. And those amongst the Pitris that are called the Somapas, the Ekasringras, the Chaturvedas, and the Kalas, are ever worshipped amongst the four orders of men. Gratified with the Soma (juice), first, these gratify Soma afterwards. All these tribes of Pitris wait upon the Lord of the creation and cheerfully worship the Supreme Deity of immeasurable energy. And Rakshasas, Pisachas, the Danavas and Guhyakas; Nagas, Birds, and various animals; and all mobile and immobile great beings;--all worship the Grandsire. And Purandara the chief of the celestials, and Varuna and Kuvera and Yama, and Mahadeva accompanied by Uma, always repair thither.

2.11.30

ādityā vasavo rudrā marutaścāśvināvapi |
viśvedevāśca sādhyāśca pitaraśca manojavāḥ || 30 ||

2.11.31

rākṣasāśca piśācāśca dānavā guhyakāstathā |
suparṇanāgapaśavaḥ pitāmahamupāsate || 31 ||

2.11.32

devo nārāyaṇastasyāṃ tathā devarṣayaśca ye |
ṛṣayo vālakhilyāśca yonijāyonijāstathā || 32 ||

And, O king of kings, Mahasena (Kartikeya) also adoreth there the Grandsire. Narayana himself, and the celestial Rishis, and those Rishis called Valakhillyas, and all beings born of females and all those not born of females, and whatever else is seen in the three worlds--both mobile and immobile, were all seen by me there, know O king. And eighty thousand Rishis with vital seed drawn up, and O Pandu, fifty thousand Rishis having sons, were all seen by me there. And all the dwellers in heaven repairing thither behold the Supreme Deity when they please, and worshipping him with a bow of their head return whence they came. And, O king of men, the Grandsire of all created beings, the Soul of the universe, the Self create Brahma of immeasurable intelligence and glory, equally kind unto all creatures, honoureth as they deserve, and gratifieth with sweet speech and gift of wealth and other enjoyable articles, the gods, the Daityas, the Nagas, the Brahmanas, the Yakshas, the Birds, the Kaleyas, the Gandharvas, the Apsaras, and all other exalted beings that came to him as his guests. And that delicious Sabha, O child, is always crowded with persons coming and going. Filled with every kind of energy, and worshipped by Brahmarshis, that celestial Sabha blazes forth with the graceful possessions of Brahma and looks extremely handsome, O tiger among kings as this Sabha of yours is unrivalled in the world of men, so is that Sabha of Brahma, seen by me unrivalled in all the worlds.

2.11.33

yacca kiṃcittriloke'smindṛśyate sthāṇujaṅgamam |
sarvaṃ tasyāṃ mayā dṛṣṭaṃ tadviddhi manujādhipa || 33 ||

2.11.34

aṣṭāśītisahasrāṇi yatīnāmūrdhvaretasām |
prajāvatāṃ ca pañcāśadṛṣīṇāmapi pāṇḍava || 34 ||

2.11.35

te sma tatra yathākāmaṃ dṛṣṭvā sarve divaukasaḥ |
praṇamya śirasā tasmai pratiyānti yathāgatam || 35 ||

2.11.36

atithīnāgatāndevāndaityānnāgānmunīṃstathā |
yakṣānsuparṇānkāleyāngandharvāpsarasastathā || 36 ||

2.11.37

mahābhāgānamitadhīrbrahmā lokapitāmahaḥ |
dayāvānsarvabhūteṣu yathārhaṃ pratipadyate || 37 ||

2.11.38

pratigṛhya ca viśvātmā svayaṃbhūramitaprabhaḥ |
sāntvamānārthasaṃbhogairyunakti manujādhipa || 38 ||

2.11.39

tathā tairupayātaiśca pratiyātaiśca bhārata |
ākulā sā sabhā tāta bhavati sma sukhapradā || 39 ||

2.11.40

sarvatejomayī divyā brahmarṣigaṇasevitā |
brāhmyā śriyā dīpyamānā śuśubhe vigataklamā || 40 ||

2.11.41

sā sabhā tādṛśī dṛṣṭā sarvalokeṣu durlabhā |
sabheyaṃ rājaśārdūla manuṣyeṣu yathā tava || 41 ||

2.11.42

etā mayā dṛṣṭapūrvāḥ sabhā deveṣu pāṇḍava |
taveyaṃ mānuṣe loke sarvaśreṣṭhatamā sabhā || 42 ||

I have seen these Sabhas, O Bharata, in regions of the celestials. This thy Sabha is unquestionably the foremost in the world of men!"

2.11.43

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca |
prāyaśo rājalokaste kathito vadatāṃ vara |
vaivasvatasabhāyāṃ tu yathā vadasi vai prabho || 43 ||

"Yudhishthira said,--'O thou foremost of eloquent men, as thou hast described the different Sabhas unto me, it appeareth that almost all the monarchs of the earth are to be found in the Sabha of Yama. And, O master, almost all the Nagas, and principal Daityas, and rivers, and oceans, are to be found in the Sabha of Varuna. And so the Yakshas, the Guhyakas, the Rakshasas, the Gandharvas and Apsaras and the Deity (Yama) having the bull for his vehicle, are to be found in the Sabha of the lord of treasures. Thou hast said that in the Sabha of the Grandsire are to be seen all the great Rishis, all the gods, all the branches of learning. As regards the Sabha of Sakra, however, thou hast named, O Muni, all the gods, the Gandharvas, and various Rishis. But, O great Muni, thou hast mentioned one and only one king, viz., the royal Rishi Harishchandra as living in the Sabha of the illustrious chief of the gods. What act was performed by that celebrated king, or what ascetic penances with steady vows, in consequence of which he hath been equal to Indra himself? O Brahmana, how didst thou also meet with my father, the exalted Pandu, now a guest in the region of the Pitris? O exalted one of excellent vows hath he told thee anything? O tell me all as I am exceedingly curious to hear all this from thee."

"Yudhishthira said,--'O thou foremost of eloquent men, as thou hast described the different Sabhas unto me, it appeareth that almost all the monarchs of the earth are to be found in the Sabha of Yama. And, O master, almost all the Nagas, and principal Daityas, and rivers, and oceans, are to be found in the Sabha of Varuna. And so the Yakshas, the Guhyakas, the Rakshasas, the Gandharvas and Apsaras and the Deity (Yama) having the bull for his vehicle, are to be found in the Sabha of the lord of treasures. Thou hast said that in the Sabha of the Grandsire are to be seen all the great Rishis, all the gods, all the branches of learning. As regards the Sabha of Sakra, however, thou hast named, O Muni, all the gods, the Gandharvas, and various Rishis. But, O great Muni, thou hast mentioned one and only one king, viz., the royal Rishi Harishchandra as living in the Sabha of the illustrious chief of the gods. What act was performed by that celebrated king, or what ascetic penances with steady vows, in consequence of which he hath been equal to Indra himself? O Brahmana, how didst thou also meet with my father, the exalted Pandu, now a guest in the region of the Pitris? O exalted one of excellent vows hath he told thee anything? O tell me all as I am exceedingly curious to hear all this from thee."

"Narada said,--'O king of kings, I shall tell thee all that thou askest me about Harischandra, I shall presently tell thee of his high excellence. He was a powerful king, in fact, an emperor over all the kings of the earth. Indeed, all the kings of the earth obeyed his sway. O monarch, mounted alone upon a victorious car adorned with gold, that king by the prowess of his weapons brought the whole earth with her seven islands under his sway. And, O monarch, having subjugated the whole earth with her mountains, forests, and woods, he made preparations for the great sacrifice called the Rajasuya. And all the kings of the earth brought at his command wealth unto that sacrifice. All of them consented to become distributors of food and gifts unto the Brahmanas that were fed on the occasion. At that sacrifice king Harishchandra gave away unto all who asked, wealth that was five times what each had solicited. At the conclusion of the sacrifice, the king gratified the Brahmanas that came from various countries with large presents of various kinds of wealth. The Brahmanas gratified with various kinds of food and enjoyable articles, given away unto them to the extent of their desires, and with the heaps of jewels distributed amongst them, began to say,--King Harischandra is superior to all kings in energy and renown.--And know, O monarch, O bull of the Bharata race, it was for this reason that Harischandra shone more brightly than thousands of other kings. The powerful Harischandra having concluded his great sacrifice, became installed, O king, in the sovereignty of the earth and looked resplendent on his throne. O bull of the Bharata race, all those monarchs that perform the sacrifice of Rajasuya, (attaining to the region of Indra) pass their time in felicity in Indra's company. And, O bull of the Bharata race, those kings also that yield up their lives without turning their backs on the field of battle attain to the mansion of Indra and live in joy with him. Those again that yield up their bodies after severe ascetic penances also attain to the same region and shine brightly there for ages. O king of the Kuru race, O son of Kunti, thy father Pandu, beholding the good fortune of Harischandra and wondering much thereat, hath told thee something. Knowing that I was coming to the world of men, he bowed unto me and said,--Thou shouldst tell Yudhishthira, O Rishi, that he can subjugate the whole Earth inasmuch as his brothers are all obedient to him. And having done this let him commence the grand sacrifice called Rajasuya. He is my son; if he performeth that sacrifice, I may, like Harischandra, soon attain to the region of Indra, and there in his Sabha pass countless years in continuous joy. I told him in reply,--O King, I shall tell thy son all this, if I go to the world of man. I have now told thee what he said, O tiger among men. Accomplish then, O son of Pandu, the desires of thy father. If thou performest that sacrifice, thou shall then be able to go, along with thy deceased ancestors, into the same region that is inhabited by the chief of the immortals. It hath been said,--O king, that the performance of this great sacrifice is attended with many obstacles. A class of Rakshasas called Brahma Rakshasas, employed in obstructing all sacrifices, always search for loop-holes when this great sacrifice is commenced. On the commencement of such a sacrifice a war may take place destroying the Kshatriyas and even furnishing occasion for the destruction of the whole Earth. A slight obstacle may involve the whole Earth in ruin. Reflecting upon all this, O king of kings do what is for thy good. Be thou watchful and ready in protecting the four orders of thy subjects. Grow, thou in prosperity, and enjoy thou felicity. Gratify thou the Brahmanas with gifts of wealth. I have now answered in detail all that thou hast asked me. With thy leave I will now go to the city (Dwaravati) of that Dasarhas."

Vaisampayana said,--'O Janamejaya, having said this unto the son of Pritha, Narada went away, accompanied by those Rishis with whom he had come. And after Narada had gone away, king Yudhishthira, O thou of the Kuru race, began to think, along with his brothers, of that foremost of sacrifices called Rajasuya.'

2.11.44

varuṇasya sabhāyāṃ tu nāgāste kathitā vibho |
daityendrāścaiva bhūyiṣṭhāḥ saritaḥ sāgarāstathā || 44 ||

2.11.45

tathā dhanapateryakṣā guhyakā rākṣasāstathā |
gandharvāpsarasaścaiva bhagavāṃśca vṛṣadhvajaḥ || 45 ||

2.11.46

pitāmahasabhāyāṃ tu kathitāste maharṣayaḥ |
sarvadevanikāyāśca sarvaśāstrāṇi caiva hi || 46 ||

2.11.47

śatakratusabhāyāṃ tu devāḥ saṃkīrtitā mune |
uddeśataśca gandharvā vividhāśca maharṣayaḥ || 47 ||

2.11.48

eka eva tu rājarṣirhariścandro mahāmune |
kathitaste sabhānityo devendrasya mahātmanaḥ || 48 ||

2.11.49

kiṃ karma tenācaritaṃ tapo vā niyatavratam |
yenāsau saha śakreṇa spardhate sma mahāyaśāḥ || 49 ||

2.11.50

pitṛlokagataścāpi tvayā vipra pitā mama |
dṛṣṭaḥ pāṇḍurmahābhāgaḥ kathaṃ cāsi samāgataḥ || 50 ||

2.11.51

kimuktavāṃśca bhagavannetadicchāmi veditum |
tvattaḥ śrotumahaṃ sarvaṃ paraṃ kautūhalaṃ hi me || 51 ||

2.11.52

nārada uvāca |
yanmāṃ pṛcchasi rājendra hariścandraṃ prati prabho |
tatte'haṃ saṃpravakṣyāmi māhātmyaṃ tasya dhīmataḥ || 52 ||

"Narada said,--'O king of kings, I shall tell thee all that thou askest me about Harischandra, I shall presently tell thee of his high excellence. He was a powerful king, in fact, an emperor over all the kings of the earth. Indeed, all the kings of the earth obeyed his sway. O monarch, mounted alone upon a victorious car adorned with gold, that king by the prowess of his weapons brought the whole earth with her seven islands under his sway. And, O monarch, having subjugated the whole earth with her mountains, forests, and woods, he made preparations for the great sacrifice called the Rajasuya. And all the kings of the earth brought at his command wealth unto that sacrifice. All of them consented to become distributors of food and gifts unto the Brahmanas that were fed on the occasion. At that sacrifice king Harishchandra gave away unto all who asked, wealth that was five times what each had solicited. At the conclusion of the sacrifice, the king gratified the Brahmanas that came from various countries with large presents of various kinds of wealth. The Brahmanas gratified with various kinds of food and enjoyable articles, given away unto them to the extent of their desires, and with the heaps of jewels distributed amongst them, began to say,--King Harischandra is superior to all kings in energy and renown.--And know, O monarch, O bull of the Bharata race, it was for this reason that Harischandra shone more brightly than thousands of other kings. The powerful Harischandra having concluded his great sacrifice, became installed, O king, in the sovereignty of the earth and looked resplendent on his throne. O bull of the Bharata race, all those monarchs that perform the sacrifice of Rajasuya, (attaining to the region of Indra) pass their time in felicity in Indra's company. And, O bull of the Bharata race, those kings also that yield up their lives without turning their backs on the field of battle attain to the mansion of Indra and live in joy with him. Those again that yield up their bodies after severe ascetic penances also attain to the same region and shine brightly there for ages. O king of the Kuru race, O son of Kunti, thy father Pandu, beholding the good fortune of Harischandra and wondering much thereat, hath told thee something. Knowing that I was coming to the world of men, he bowed unto me and said,--Thou shouldst tell Yudhishthira, O Rishi, that he can subjugate the whole Earth inasmuch as his brothers are all obedient to him. And having done this let him commence the grand sacrifice called Rajasuya. He is my son; if he performeth that sacrifice, I may, like Harischandra, soon attain to the region of Indra, and there in his Sabha pass countless years in continuous joy. I told him in reply,--O King, I shall tell thy son all this, if I go to the world of man. I have now told thee what he said, O tiger among men. Accomplish then, O son of Pandu, the desires of thy father. If thou performest that sacrifice, thou shall then be able to go, along with thy deceased ancestors, into the same region that is inhabited by the chief of the immortals. It hath been said,--O king, that the performance of this great sacrifice is attended with many obstacles. A class of Rakshasas called Brahma Rakshasas, employed in obstructing all sacrifices, always search for loop-holes when this great sacrifice is commenced. On the commencement of such a sacrifice a war may take place destroying the Kshatriyas and even furnishing occasion for the destruction of the whole Earth. A slight obstacle may involve the whole Earth in ruin. Reflecting upon all this, O king of kings do what is for thy good. Be thou watchful and ready in protecting the four orders of thy subjects. Grow, thou in prosperity, and enjoy thou felicity. Gratify thou the Brahmanas with gifts of wealth. I have now answered in detail all that thou hast asked me. With thy leave I will now go to the city (Dwaravati) of that Dasarhas."

2.11.53

sa rājā balavānāsītsamrāṭsarvamahīkṣitām |
tasya sarve mahīpālāḥ śāsanāvanatāḥ sthitāḥ || 53 ||

2.11.54

tenaikaṃ rathamāsthāya jaitraṃ hemavibhūṣitam |
śastrapratāpena jitā dvīpāḥ sapta nareśvara || 54 ||

2.11.55

sa vijitya mahīṃ sarvāṃ saśailavanakānanām |
ājahāra mahārāja rājasūyaṃ mahākratum || 55 ||

2.11.56

tasya sarve mahīpālā dhanānyājahrurājñayā |
dvijānāṃ pariveṣṭārastasminyajñe ca te'bhavan || 56 ||

2.11.57

prādācca draviṇaṃ prītyā yājakānāṃ nareśvaraḥ |
yathoktaṃ tatra taistasmiṃstataḥ pañcaguṇādhikam || 57 ||

2.11.58

atarpayacca vividhairvasubhirbrāhmaṇāṃstathā |
prāsarpakāle saṃprāpte nānādigbhyaḥ samāgatān || 58 ||

2.11.59

bhakṣyairbhojyaiśca vividhairyathākāmapuraskṛtaiḥ |
ratnaughatarpitaistuṣṭairdvijaiśca samudāhṛtam |
tejasvī ca yaśasvī ca nṛpebhyo'bhyadhiko'bhavat || 59 ||

2.11.60

etasmātkāraṇātpārtha hariścandro virājate |
tebhyo rājasahasrebhyastadviddhi bharatarṣabha || 60 ||

2.11.61

samāpya ca hariścandro mahāyajñaṃ pratāpavān |
abhiṣiktaḥ sa śuśubhe sāmrājyena narādhipa || 61 ||

2.11.62

ye cānye'pi mahīpālā rājasūyaṃ mahākratum |
yajante te mahendreṇa modante saha bhārata || 62 ||

2.11.63

ye cāpi nidhanaṃ prāptāḥ saṃgrāmeṣvapalāyinaḥ |
te tatsadaḥ samāsādya modante bharatarṣabha || 63 ||

2.11.64

tapasā ye ca tīvreṇa tyajantīha kalevaram |
te'pi tatsthānamāsādya śrīmanto bhānti nityaśaḥ || 64 ||

2.11.65

pitā ca tvāha kaunteya pāṇḍuḥ kauravanandanaḥ |
hariścandre śriyaṃ dṛṣṭvā nṛpatau jātavismayaḥ || 65 ||

2.11.66

samartho'si mahīṃ jetuṃ bhrātaraste vaśe sthitāḥ |
rājasūyaṃ kratuśreṣṭhamāharasveti bhārata || 66 ||

2.11.67

tasya tvaṃ puruṣavyāghra saṃkalpaṃ kuru pāṇḍava |
gantāraste mahendrasya pūrvaiḥ saha salokatām || 67 ||

2.11.68

bahuvighnaśca nṛpate kratureṣa smṛto mahān |
chidrāṇyatra hi vāñchanti yajñaghnā brahmarākṣasāḥ || 68 ||

2.11.69

yuddhaṃ ca pṛṣṭhagamanaṃ pṛthivīkṣayakārakam |
kiṃcideva nimittaṃ ca bhavatyatra kṣayāvaham || 69 ||

2.11.70

etatsaṃcintya rājendra yatkṣamaṃ tatsamācara |
apramattotthito nityaṃ cāturvarṇyasya rakṣaṇe |
bhava edhasva modasva dānaistarpaya ca dvijān || 70 ||

2.11.71

etatte vistareṇoktaṃ yanmāṃ tvaṃ paripṛcchasi |
āpṛcche tvāṃ gamiṣyāmi dāśārhanagarīṃ prati || 71 ||

2.11.72

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
evamākhyāya pārthebhyo nārado janamejaya |
jagāma tairvṛto rājannṛṣibhiryaiḥ samāgataḥ || 72 ||

Vaisampayana said,--'O Janamejaya, having said this unto the son of Pritha, Narada went away, accompanied by those Rishis with whom he had come. And after Narada had gone away, king Yudhishthira, O thou of the Kuru race, began to think, along with his brothers, of that foremost of sacrifices called Rajasuya.'

2.11.73

gate tu nārade pārtho bhrātṛbhiḥ saha kaurava |
rājasūyaṃ kratuśreṣṭhaṃ cintayāmāsa bhārata || 73 ||