THE GRANDEUR OF YUDHISHTHIRA'S WEALTH

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > SABHA PARVA > DYOOTA PARVA > CHAPTER 52 - THE GRANDEUR OF YUDHISHTHIRA'S WEALTH

“Duryodhana said, ‘Those kings that are respected over all the world, who are devoted to truth (Satya Sandhaa in Sanskrit) and who are pledged to the observance of rigid vows (Maha Vrata in Sanskrit), who are possessed of great learning and eloquence, who are fully knowledgeable with the Vedas and their branches (Vedaangas in Sanskrit) and also with yagnas, who have piety and modesty, whose souls are devoted to Dharma, who possess fame, and who have enjoyed the grand rites of coronation (Moordhaabhishiktaa in Sanskrit), all wait upon and worship Yudhishthira. O king (Dhritarashtra), I saw there many thousands of wild cows with as many vessels of white copper for milking them, brought there by the kings of the earth as sacrificial presents (Dakshinaartham in Sanskrit) to be given away by Yudhishthira to the Brahmana. O Bharata (Dhritarashtra), for bathing (Abhishekam in Sanskrit) Yudhishthira at the conclusion of the yagna, many kings with the greatest readiness, themselves brought there in a state of purity many excellent jars (containing water).

“King Baahlika brought there a chariot decorated with pure gold. King Sudakshina himself attached to that four white horses of Kamboja breed, Suneetha of great might fitted the lower pole, the ruler of Chedi with his own hands took up and fitted the flag-staff. The king of the Southern country stood ready with the coat of armour; the ruler of Magadha, with garlands of flowers and the head-gear; the great warrior Vasudaana with a sixty year old elephant, the king of Matsya, with the side-fittings of the chariot, all encased in gold; king Ekalavya, with the shoes; the king of Avanti, with various kinds of water for the final bath (Abhishekam in Sanskrit); king Chekitana, with the arrow basket; the king of Kaashi, with the bow; and Shalya with a sword whose handle and straps were adorned with gold.

“Then Dhaumya (Paandavaas’ Purohita) and Vyaasa, of great Tapas merit (Mahaa Tapa in Sanskrit), with Narada and Asita’s son Devala, standing before performed the ceremony of sprinkling the sacred water over the king (Yudhishthira). The Maharishis with cheerful hearts sat where the sprinkling ceremony was performed. Other illustrious Rishis knowledgeable with the Vedas, with Jamadagni’s son (Parashuraama) among them, approached Yudhishthira, the giver of large gifts to yagna (Bhoori Dakshina in Sanskrit), uttering mantras all the while, like the seven Rishis (Sapta Rishi in Sanskrit), approaching Mahendra (the great Indra) in heaven.

“Saatyaki of unbaffled prowess held the umbrella (over the king’s head). Dhananjaya and Bhima were engaged in tanning the king; while the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva) held a couple of chamaras in their hands. The Ocean himself brought in a sling (kalasha in Sanskrit) that big conch (Shankha in Sanskrit) of Varuna which the divine artificer Vishwakarma had constructed with a thousand Nishkas of gold, and which Prajaapati had in a former Kalpa, presented to (Lord) Indra. It was with that conch (Shankha in Sanskrit) that (Sri) Krishna bathed (Abhishekam in Sanskrit) Yudhishthira after the conclusion of the yagna, and seeing it, I fainted.

“People go to the Eastern or the Western seas and also to the Southern one. But, O father (Dhritarashtra), none except birds can ever go to the Northern sea (possibly the Arctic sea). But the Paandavaas have spread their territory even there, for I heard hundreds of conches (Shankha in Sanskrit) that had been brought there blown (in the sacrificial mansion) indicative of auspicious rejoicing (Mangalya Kaaranaat in Sanskrit). While those conches blew simultaneously, my hair stood upright. Those among the kings, who were weak in strength fell down.

“Dhrishtadyumna, Saatyaki, Paandavaas and Keshava (Sri Krishna) – those eight, filled with strength, prowess and handsome in person, seeing the kings deprived of consciousness and myself in that plight, laughed outright. Then Bibhatsu (Arjuna) with a cheerful heart gave, O Bharata (Dhritarashtra), to the important Dwijas five hundred bullocks with horns plated with gold. King Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, having completed the Raajasooya yagna, obtained like the noble Harishchandra such prosperity that neither Rantideva, nor Nabhaga, nor Jauvanashwa, nor Manu, nor king Prithu – the son of Vena, nor Bhagiratha, nor Yayaati, nor Nahusha, had obtained its equivalent. Looking, O noble one (Dhritarashtra), such prosperity, in the Paarthaa (Yudhishthira) which is like that which (King) Harishchandra had, I do not see the least good in continuing to live, O Bharata (Dhritarashtra)! O ruler of men (Dhritarashtra), a yoke that is tied (to the bullock’s shoulders) by a blind man becomes loosened. Such is the case with us. The younger ones are growing while the elder ones are decaying. Looking all this, O chief of the Kurus (Dhritarashtra), I cannot enjoy peace with the aid of thought. It is for this, O king (Dhritarashtra), that I am plunged into grief, becoming pale and weak.’”