An Index to the Names in the Mahabharata, with Short Explanations and a Concordance to the Bombay and Calcutta Editions and P. C. Roy's Translation c5.s3.508

c5.s3.508

[Duryodhana-yajña(h)] ("the sacrifice of Duryodhana"): § 516 (Ghoṣhay., cf. Karṇadigv.): *Karṇa* proposed to Duryodhana that he should celebrate a *rājasūya* sacrifice like Yudhiṣṭhira. But as the *purohita* told him that so long as Yudhiṣṭhira and Dhṛtarāṣṭra were living he could not undertake the *rājasūya* sacrifice, and advised him to canse the tributary kings to pay him tribute in gold, and with that gold to make a plough, and to plough the sacrificial compound with it, and then to perform a *Vaiṣṇava* sacrifice that nobody had performed before save the ancient *Viṣṇu* (v. 15292, cf. v. 15329 foll.) which was equal to the *rājasūya*, this plan was agreed upon. Duryodhana appointed persons to their respective tasks, and desired all the artisans to construct the plough, etc. (III, 255). When Vidura had annonced to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the preparations had been made, messengers were dispatched to invite the princes and the brahmans. Duḥśāsana ordered one messenger to invite the Pāṇḍavas, but Yudhiṣṭhira replied that they could not come before the completion of the thirteenth year. Bhīma threatened; the other Pāṇḍavas said nothing unpleasant. Vidura was charged with the distribution of food to the guests. After the completion of the sacrifice, all the kings having been dismissed, Duryodhana, with his brothers and Karṇa and Cakuni, entered Hāstinapura (III, 256). Duryodhana was praised by most of the citizeus, and his friends compared him to Yayāti, Nahuṣa, Māndhātṛ, and Bharata, who had gone to heaven after celebrating this sacrifice (v. 15329 foll., cf. v. 15292). Karṇa said that when Duryodhana had slain the Pāṇḍavas in battle and completed the *rājasūya* sacrifice he would once more honour him thus, and promised that until he had slain *Arjuna* he would not allow his feet to be washed, nor taste meat, and he would nbserve the Asura vow (i.e. not to drink intoxicating liquors, Nil.), and never refuse to give to whoever might solicit him. 15988 (*°ñ ca Kharañ ca*, slain by Rāma Dāśarathi), 15996.