PREPARATION OF RAAJASOOYA YAGNA

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > SABHA PARVA > RAAJASOOYA PARVA > CHAPTER 32(B) - PREPARATION OF RAAJASOOYA YAGNA

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Commanded by (Sri) Krishna, the Paandavaa (Yudhishthira) along with his brothers set himself upon collecting the materials for the performance of the Raajasooya yagna. That punisher of all enemies, the Paandavaa (Yudhishthira), then commanded Sahadeva that foremost of all warriors and all ministers also, saying ‘Let persons be appointed to collect without loss of time, all those articles which the Dwijas have directed as necessary for the performance of this yagna, and all materials and auspicious necessaries that Dhaumya (Paandavaas’ Chief Purohita) may order as required for it, each of the kind needed and one after another in due order. Let Indrasena, Vishoka and Pooru with Arjuna for his charioteer be engaged to collect food if they are to please me. Let these foremost of the Kurus also gather every article of agreeable taste and smell that may delight and attract the hearts of Dwijas.’

“Simultaneously with these words of Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira), Sahadeva that foremost of warriors, having accomplished everything, represented the matter to the king. O king, Dwaipaayana (Maharishi Vyasa) then appointed as Ritwijas the noble Dwijas that were like the Vedas themselves in embodied forms. The son of Satyavati (Maharishi Vyasa) became himself the Brahma of that yagna. That bull of the Dhananjaya race, Susaamaa, became the chanter of the Saama (Vedic) hymns. Yagnavalkya devoted to (Lord) Brahma became the Adhvaryu, and Pailaa – the son of Vasu and Dhaumya became the Hotaa. O bull of the Bharata race (Janamejaya), the disciples and the sons of these men, all well-familiar with the Vedas and the branches of the Vedas (Vedaanga in Sanskrit) became Hotragaas. All of them, having uttered blessings and recited the object of the yagna, worshipped, according to the ordinance (Vidhi in Sanskrit) the large yagna compound. Commanded by the Dwijas, builders and craftsmen erected numerous buildings there that were spacious and well-perfumed like to the Temples of Devas.

“After these were finished, that best of kings and that bull among men Yudhishthira, commanded his chief adviser Sahadeva, saying ‘You despatch, without loss of time, messengers endued with speed to invite all to the yagna.’

“Sahadeva, hearing these words of the king (Yudhishthira), despatched messengers telling them, ‘You invite all the Brahmanas in the kingdom, all the owners of land (Kshatriyas), all the Vaishyaas and also all the respectable Shoodraas, and bring them here!’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Filled with speed, these messengers then, thus commanded, invited everybody according to the orders of the Paandavaa, without losing any time, and brought with them many persons, both friends and strangers. Then, O Bharata (Janamejaya), the Brahmanas at the proper time installed (Deekshata in Sanskrit) Yudhishthira the son of Kunti at the Raajasooya yagna. After the ceremony of installation (Deekshata in Sanskrit) was over, that Dharmaatma, the Dharmaraja Yudhishthira like the God Dharma himself in human frame, entered the yagna compound (yagna yatanam in Sanskrit), surrounded by thousands of Brahmanas, his brothers, the relatives, friends, counsellors, and by a large number of Kshatriya kings who had come from various countries, and by the officers of State.

“Numerous Brahmanas, well-skilled in all branches of knowledge, versed in the Vedas and their branches (Vedaangaas in Sanskrit), began to pour in from various countries. Thousands of craftsmen, at the command of Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira), erected for those Brahmanas with their attendants, separate habitations well-provided with food, clothes, fruits and flowers of every season. O king (Janamejaya), duly worshipped by the monarch the Brahmanas continued to reside there passing their time in conversation on diverse topics and seeing the performances of actors and dancers (Nata Nartakaan in Sanskrit). The sound of Mahatma Brahmanas, cheerfully eating and talking, was heard there without intermission. ‘Give, Give’ and ‘Eat, Eat’ were the words that were heard there constantly and every day. O Bharata (Janamejaya), Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira) gave to each of those Brahmanas one hundred thousands (1,00,000) of cows, beds, gold coins and damsels.

“Thus commenced on earth the yagna of that unrivalled hero (Veera in Sanskrit), the illustrious Paandavaa (Yudhishthira), like the yagna in heaven of Shakra (Lord Indra) Himself. Then that bull among men, king Yudhishthira despatched Nakula – the Paandavaa to Haastinapura to bring Bhishma, Drona, Dhritarashtra, Vidura, Kripa and those among his cousins that were well-disposed towards him.’”