“Janamejaya said, ‘O you possessed of Tapas wealth (Rishi Vaishampaayana), what did those high-souled ones, my Pitamahas,
the illustrious Pandavas, do, after obtaining the kingdom of Indraprastha? How
did their wife Draupadi obey them all? How is it also that no differences arose
among those illustrious rulers of men (Pandavas), all attached to one wife, viz., Krishna (Draupadi)? O you of the wealth of Tapas (Vaishampaayana), I wish to hear everything in detail
regarding the behaviour towards one another of those rulers of men (Pandavas) after their union with Krishna (Draupadi).’
“Vaishampaayana said, ‘Those scorchers of enemies, the Pandavas, having
obtained their kingdom, at the command of (King) Dhritarashtra, passed their days in joy and happiness at
Khandavaprastha with Krishna (Draupadi).
Yudhishthira. filled with great energy and ever adhering to truth (Satya in
Sanskrit), having obtained the
sovereignty, ruled the land as per Dharma, assisted by his brothers. The
Pandavas, filled with great wisdom and devoted to Satya and Dharma, having destroyed
all their enemies, continued to live there in great happiness. Those bulls
among men (Pandavas), seated on
royal seats of great value, used to discharge all the duties of government.
“One day, while all those illustrious heroes (Veera in Sanskrit) were so seated, there came to them the Devarishi
Narada, in course of his wanderings. Seeing the Rishi, Yudhishthira offered him
his own beautiful seat. After the Devarishi (Narada) had been seated, the wise Yudhishthira duly offered him the Arghya
with his own hands. The king also informed the Rishi (Narada) of the state of his kingdom. The Rishi
accepting the worship, became well-pleased, and praising him with blessings,
commanded the king to take his seat. Commanded by the Rishi (Narada), the king (Yudhishthira) took his seat.
“Then the king (Yudhishthira)
sent word to Krishna (Draupadi) (who
was in the inner apartments) of the
arrival of the respected one. Hearing of the Rishi’s arrival Draupadi,
purifying herself properly, came with a respectful attitude to where Narada was
with the Pandavas. The virtuous princess (Dharmachaarini in Sanskrit) of Paanchaala, worshipping the Devarishi’s
feet, stood with joined hands before him, properly covered. The illustrious
Narada, pronouncing various blessing on her, commanded the princess to retire.
“After Krishna (Draupadi)
had retired, the illustrious Rishi (Narada), addressing in private all the Pandavas with Yudhishthira at their
head, said, ‘The famous princess of Paanchaala is the wedded wife of you all.
Establish a rule (Neeti in Sanskrit)
among yourselves so that disunion may not arise among you.
“There were, in ancient days, celebrated throughout the three worlds,
two brothers named Sunda and Upasunda living together and incapable of being
slain by anybody unless each slew the other. They ruled the same kingdom, lived
in the same house, slept on the same bed, sat on the same seat, and ate from
the same dish. Yet they killed each for the sake of Tilottamaa. Therefore, O
Yudhishthira, preserve your friendship for one another and do that which may
not produce disunion among you.’
“On hearing this, Yudhishthira asked, ‘O Mahaa Muni (Narada), whose sons were Asuras called Sunda and
Upasunda? From where arose that difference among them, and why did they slay
each other? Also, whose daughter was this Tilottamaa for whose love the
maddened brothers killed each other? Was she an Apsara or the daughter of any Devas?
O you whose wealth is Tapas (Narada),
we desire, O Brahmana, to hear in detail everything as it happened. Indeed, our
curiosity has become great.’”
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