KINGS WHO CAME TO THE YAGNA

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > SABHA PARVA > RAAJASOOYA PARVA > CHAPTER 33 - KINGS WHO CAME TO THE YAGNA

“Vaishampaayana said, ‘The ever-victorious Nakula, the Paandavaa, having reached Haastinapura, formally invited Bhishma, Counsellors and Dhritarashtra. The elder of the Kuru race with the Aachaarya at their head, invited with due ceremonies, came with joyous hearts to that yagna, with Brahmanas walking before them. O bull of the Bharata race (Janamejaya), having heard of Dharmaraja’s (Yudhishthira’s) sacrifice, hundreds of other Kshatriyas acquainted with the nature of the yagna, with joyous hearts came there from various countries, desiring to see king Yudhishthira - the Paandavaa and his Sabha, and brought with them many costly jewels of various kinds. Dhritarashtra, Bhishma, Vidura of high intelligence and all Kaurava brothers with Duryodhana at their head; Subala – the king of Gaandhaara and Shakuni filled with great strength; Achalaa, Vrishaka, and Karna – that foremost of all charioteers; Shalya filled with great might and the strong Baalhika; Somadatta, Bhoori of the Kuru race, Bhoorishravaa and Shala; Ashwatthama, Kripa, Drona, and Jayadratha – the ruler of Sindhu; Yagnasena (King Drupada) with his sons, Shaalva – that lord of earth and that great chariot warrior, king Bhagadatta of Praagjyotisha accompanied by all Mlechchaas inhabiting the marshy regions on the sea-shore; many mountain kings, and king Brihadbala; Vaasudeva - the king of the Paundrakas, the kings of Vanga (present-day West Bengal state, India and Bangladesh) and Kalinga (present-day Odisha state, India); Aakarsha, Kuntala, and the kings of the Vaanavaas and the Aandhrakas; the Dravidaas, the Sinhalaas, the king of Kaashmeera, king Kuntibhoja of great energy and king Gauravahana, and all the other heroic kings of Baalhika; Viraata with his sons, and Machella filled with great might; and various kings and princes ruling in various countries; O Bharata (Janamejaya), king Shishupaalaa filled with great energy and invincible in battle accompanied by his son – all of them came to the yagna of the Paandavaa (Yudhishthira). Rama, Aniruddha, Babhru, Saarana; Gada, Pradyumna, Saambaa, and Chaarudeshna of great energy; Ulmuka, Nishatha and the brave Praadyumina; and innumerable other Vrishnis – all mighty chariot-warriors – came there.

“O monarch (Janamejaya), these and many other kings from the middle country came to that great Raajasooya yagna of the Paandavaa (Yudhishthira). O king (Janamejaya), at the command of Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira), mansions were assigned to all those monarchs, that were full of various kinds of edibles, adorned with tanks and tall trees. The son of Dharma worshipped all those illustrious monarchs as they deserved. Worshipped by the king (Yudhishthira) they retired to mansions that were assigned to them. Those mansions were (white and high) like the cliffs of Kailaasa, delightful to view, and furnished with every kind of furniture. They were enclosed on all sides with well-built and high white-washed walls; their windows were covered with networks of gold and their interiors were furnished with rows of pearls, their flights of stairs were easy of ascent and the floors were all laid over with costly carpets. They were all hung over with garlands of flowers and perfumed with excellent aloes. White as snow or the moon, they looked extremely beautiful even from the distance of a yojana. Their doors and entrances were set uniformly and were wide enough to admit a crowd of persons. Adorned with various costly articles and built with various metals, they looked like peaks of the Himavat. Having rested a while in those mansions the monarchs saw Dharmarajas Yudhishthira surrounded by numerous Sadasyaas (sacrificial priests) and ever performing yagnas distinguished by large gifts to Brahmanas. That yagna mansion wherein were present the kings, Brahmanas and Maharishis looked, O king (Janamejaya), as handsome as heaven itself crowded with Devas!’”