YUDHISHTHIRA RAJYA

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA - SABHA PARVA - LOKAPALA SABHAKHAYANA (UPA) PARVA - CHAPTER 13 - YUDHISHTHIRA RAJYA

“Vaishampaayana said, ‘Yudhishthira, having heard these words of Naarada, began to sigh heavily. O Bharata (Janamejaya), engaged in his thoughts about the Raajasooya (yagna), the king had no peace of mind. Having heard of this glory of the Mahatma monarchs and being certain about the acquisition of regions of happiness by performers of yagnas in consequence of their sacred karma, and thinking especially of that Rajarishi Harischandra who had performed the great yagna, king Yudhishthira desired to make preparations for the Raajasooya yagna. Then worshipping his ministers and others present at his Sabha, and worshipped by them in return, he began to discuss with them about that yagna. Having thought much, that king of kings (Rajaendra in Sanskrit), that bull among the Kurus (Yudhishthira), inclined his mind towards making preparations for the Raajasooya. That prince of wonderful energy and prowess (Yudhishthira), however, thinking upon Dharma, again set his heart to find out what would be for the good of all his people.

“For Yudhishthira, that foremost of all men of Dharma, always kind to his subjects, worked for the good of all without making any distinctions. Indeed, shaking off both anger and arrogance, Yudhishthira always said, ‘Give to each what is due to each,’ and the only sounds that he could hear were – ‘Blessed be Dharma! Blessed be Dharma! Yudhishthira!’ Conducting himself thus and giving paternal assurance to everybody, there was none in the kingdom who entertained any hostile feelings towards him. He therefore came to be called Ajaatashatru (one with no enemy at all). The king (Yudhishthira) cherished everyone as belonging to his family, and Bhima ruled over all as Dharma. Arjuna, used to employing both his hands with equal skill, protected the people from (external) enemies. The wise Sahadeva administered justice impartially. And Nakula behaved towards all with humility that was natural to him. Owing to all this, the kingdom became free from disputes and fear of every kind. All the people became attentive to their respective occupations. The rain became so abundant as to leave no room for desiring more; and the kingdom grew in prosperity. In consequence of the Dharma of the king, money-lenders, the articles required for yagna, cattle-rearing, tillage, and traders, all and everything grew in prosperity. Indeed, during the reign of Yudhishthira who was ever devoted to Satya, there was no extortion, no stringent realisation of arrears of rent, no fear of disease, of fire, or of death by poisoning and incantations, in the kingdom. It was never heard at that time that thieves or cheats or royal favourites ever behaved wrongfully towards the king or towards one another among themselves. Kings conquered on the six occasions (of war, treaty, etc) were won’t to wait upon him in order to do good to the monarch and worship him ever, while the traders of different classes came to pay him the taxes leviable on their respective occupations.

“Accordingly, during the reign of Yudhishthira who was ever devoted to Dharma, his territory grew in prosperity. Indeed, the prosperity of the kingdom was increased not by these alone but even by persons wedded to well-built and indulging in all luxuries to their fill. The king of kings, Yudhishthira, whose rule extended over all, was possessed of every accomplishment and bore everything with patience. O king (Janamejaya), whatever countries the celebrated and illustrious monarch conquered, the people everywhere, from Brahmanas to peasant, were all more attached to him than to their own fathers and mothers.’

“Vaishampaayana said, ‘King Yudhishthira, then, that foremost of speakers, summoning together his ministers and brothers, asked them repeatedly about the Raajasooya yagna. Those ministers in a body, thus asked by the wise Yudhishthira desirous of performing the yagna, then told him these words of grave meaning, ‘One already in possession of a kingdom desires all the attributes of an emperor by means of that yagna which aids a king in acquiring the attributes of Varuna. O descendant of Kuru race (Yudhishthira), your friends think that as you are worthy of the attributes of an emperor, the time has come for you for the performance of the Raajasooya yagna. The time for the performance of that yagna in which Rishis of severe vows (Vrata in Sanskrit) kindle six fires (Shadagni in Sanskrit) with mantras of the Sama Veda, is come for you in consequence of your Kshatriya possessions. At the conclusion of the Raajasooya yagna, when the performer is installed in the sovereignty of the empire, he is rewarded with the fruits of all yagnas including the Agnihotra. It is for this that he is called the conqueror of all (Sarvajit in Sanskrit). O strong-armed one (Yudhishthira), you are quite able to perform this yagna. All of us are obedient to you. O great king (Yudhishthira), soon will you be able to perform the Raajasooya yagna. Therefore, O great king, let your resolution be taken to perform this yagna without further discussion.’

“Thus, spoke to the king all his friends and ministers separately and jointly. O king (Janamejaya), Yudhishthira that slayer of all enemies, having heard these virtuous, bold, agreeable and weighty words of theirs, accepted them mentally. O Bharata (Janamejaya), having heard those words of his friends and ministers, and knowing his own strength, the king (Yudhishthira) repeatedly thought over the matter. After this the Mahatma (Yudhishthira), wise in counsel, again consulted with his brothers, with the illustrious Ritwijas about him, with his ministers and with Dhaumya, Dwaipaayana (Vyaasa) and others.

“Yudhishthira said, ‘How may this wish that I entertain of performing the excellent yagna of Raajasooya that is worthy of an emperor (Samraada in Sanskrit), bear fruit, in consequence of my faith and speech alone.’

“Vaishampaayana said, ‘O you of eyes like lotus-petals (Janamejaya), thus asked by the king (Yudhishthira), they replied at that time to Dharmatma Yudhishthira in these words, ‘Being knowledgeable with the dictates of Dharma, you are, O king, worthy to perform the grand yagna of Raajasooya.’ After the Ritwijas and the Rishis had told these words to the king (Yudhishthira), his ministers and brothers highly approved of the speech. The king (Yudhishthira), however, possessed of great wisdom, and with mind under complete control, driven by the desire of doing good to the world, again resolved the matter in his mind, thinking of his own strength and means, the circumstances of time and place and his income and expenditure. For he knew that the wise never come to grief as they always act after giving a complete thought.

“Thinking that the (Raajasooya) yagna should not be commenced, in accordance to his own resolution alone, Yudhishthira, carefully bearing upon his shoulder the weight of affairs thought of (Sri) Krishna, Janaardana (other name for Sri Krishna) as the fittest person to decide the matter, in as much as he knew Him to be the foremost of all persons, possessed of immeasurable energy, strong-armed, without birth but born among men from Will alone. Thinking upon His (Sri Krishna’s) Deva-like achievements, the Paandavaa (Yudhishthira), concluded that there was nothing that was unknown to Him (Sri Krishna), nothing that He could not achieve, and nothing that He could not bear, and Yudhishthira, the Paarthaa, having come to this settled resolution soon sent a messenger (Dhoota in Sanskrit) to that Guru of all living beings (Sri Krishna), conveying through him (Dhoota) blessings and speeches such as one senior in age might send to one that is younger. That messenger riding in a swift chariot arrived among Yaadavaas and approached (Sri) Krishna who was then residing in Dwaaravati (present-day Dwaraka, Gujarat, India).

“Achyuta (Sri Krishna) hearing that Paarthaa (Yudhishthira) had become desirous of seeing Him, desired to see His cousin. Quickly passing over many regions, being drawn by His own swift horses, (Sri) Krishna arrived at Indraprasthaa, accompanied by Indrasena. Having arrived at Indraprastha, Janaardana (Sri Krishna) approached Yudhisthira without loss of time. Yudhisthira received (Sri) Krishna with paternal-affection, and Bhima also received Him likewise. Janaardana then went with a cheerful heart to His father’s sister (Kunti). Then, worshipped with respect by the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva), He (Sri Krishna) began to converse cheerfully with His friend Arjuna who was overjoyed at seeing Him. After He had rested awhile in a pleasant apartment and had been fully refreshed, Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira) approached Him at His leisure and informed Him all about the Raajasooya yagna.

“Yudhishthira said, ‘I have wished to perform the Raajasooya yagna. That yagna, however, cannot be performed by one’s wishing alone to perform it. You know, O (Sri) Krishna, about the means by which it may be accomplished. He alone can achieve this yagna in whom everything is possible, who is worshipped everywhere and who is the king of kings. My friends and ministers approaching me have said that I should perform that yagna. But, O (Sri) Krishna, in respect of that matter, Your words shall be my guide. Of ministers, some from friendship do not notice the difficulties; others from motives of self-interest say only what is agreeable. Some again regard that which is beneficial to themselves as worthy of adoption. Men are seen to counsel thus on matters awaiting decision. But You, O (Sri) Krishna, are above such motives. You have conquered both desire and anger (Kaamaa and Krodhaa in Sanskrit). It is Your responsibility to tell me what is most beneficial to the world.’”