(Rajasuyika Parva)
Vaisampayana said,--"in consequence of the protection afforded by
Yudhisthira the just, and of the truth which he ever cherished in his
behaviour, as also of the check under which he kept all foes, the
subjects of that virtuous monarch were all engaged in their respective
avocations. And by reason of the equitable taxation and the virtuous
rule of the monarch, clouds in his kingdom poured as much rain as the
people desired, and the cities and the town became highly prosperous.
Indeed as a consequence of the monarch's acts every affair of the
kingdom, especially cattle breeding, agriculture and trade prospered
highly. O king, during those days even robbers and cheats never spoke
lies amongst themselves, nor they that were the favourites of the
monarch. There were no droughts and floods and plagues and fires and
premature deaths in those days of Yudhishthira devoted to virtue. And
it was only for doing agreeable services, or for worshipping, or for
offering tributes that would not impoverish, that other kings used to
approach Yudhisthira (and not for hostility or battle.) The large
treasure room of the king became so much filled with hoards of wealth
virtuously obtained that it could not be emptied even in a hundred
years. And the son of Kunti, ascertaining the state of his treasury and
the extent of his possessions, fixed his heart upon the celebration of
a sacrifice. His friends and officers, each separately and all
together, approaching him said,--'The time hath come, O exalted one,
for thy sacrifice. Let arrangements, therefore, be made without loss of
time.' While they were thus talking, Hari (Krishna), that omniscient
and ancient one, that soul of the Vedas, that invincible one as
described by those that have knowledge, that foremost of all lasting
existences in the universe, that origin of all things, as also that in
which all things come to be dissolved, that lord of the past, the
future, and the present Kesava--the slayer of Kesi, and the bulwark of
all Vrishnis and the dispeller of all fear in times of distress and the
smiter of all foes, having appointed Vasudeva to the command of the
(Yadava) army, and bringing with him for the king Yudhishthira just a
large mass of treasure; entered that excellent city of cities.
Khandava, himself surrounded by a mighty host and filling the
atmosphere with the rattle of his chariot-wheels. And Madhava, that
tiger among men enhancing that limitless mass of wealth the Pandavas
had by that inexhaustible ocean of gems he had brought, enhanced the
sorrows of the enemies of the Pandavas. The capital of the Bharata was
gladdened by Krishna's presence just as a dark region is rendered
joyful by the sun or a region of still air by a gentle breeze.
Approaching him joyfully and receiving him with due respect,
Yudhishthira enquired of his welfare. And after Krishna had been seated
at ease, that bull among men, the son of Pandu, with Dhaumya and
Dwaipayana and the other sacrificial priests and with Bhima and Arjuna
and the twins, addressed Krishna thus,--
"'O Krishna it is for thee that the whole earth is under my sway. And,
O thou of the Vrishni race, it is through thy grace that vast wealth
had been got by me. And, O son of Devaki, O Madhava, I desire to devote
that wealth according to the ordinance, unto superior Brahmanas and the
carrier of sacrificial libations. And, O thou of the Dasarha race, it
behoveth thee, O thou of mighty arms, to grant me permission to
celebrate a sacrifice along with thee and my younger brothers.
Therefore, O Govinda, O thou of long arms, install thyself at that
sacrifice; for, O thou of the Dasarha race, if thou performed the
sacrifice, I shall be cleansed of sin. Or, O exalted one, grant
permission for myself being installed at the sacrifice along with these
my younger brothers, for permitted by thee, O Krishna, I shall be able
to enjoy the fruit of an excellent sacrifice.'"
Vaisampayana continued,--"Unto Yudhisthira after he had said this,
Krishna, extolling his virtues, said.--'Thou, O tiger among kings,
deservest imperial dignity. Let, therefore, the great sacrifice be
performed by thee. And if thou performest that sacrifice and obtainest
its fruit we all shall regard ourselves as crowned with success. I am
always engaged in seeking good. Perform thou then the sacrifice thou
desirest. Employ me also in some office for that purpose, for I should
obey all thy commands. Yudhisthira replied--O Krishna, my resolve is
already crowned with fruit, and success also is surely mine, when thou,
O Harishikesa, hast arrived here agreeably to my wish!'"
Vaisampayana continued,--"Commanded by Krishna, the son of Pandu along
with his brothers set himself upon collecting the materials for the
performance of the Rajasuya sacrifice. And that chastiser of all foes,
the son of Pandu, 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 Brahmanas have
directed as necessary for the performance of this sacrifice, and all
materials and auspicious necessaries that Dhaumya may order as required
for it, each of the kind needed and one after another in due order. Let
Indrasena and Visoka and Puru 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 the Brahmanas.'
"Simultaneously with these words of king Yudhisthira the just, Sahadeva
that foremost of warriors, having accomplished everything, represented
the matter to the king. And Dwaipayana, O king, then appointed as
sacrificial priests exalted Brahmanas that were like the Vedas
themselves in embodied forms. The son of Satyavati became himself the
Brahma of that sacrifice. And that bull of the Dhananjaya race,
Susaman, became the chanter of the Vedic (Sama) hymns. Yajnavalkya
devoted to Brahma became the Adhyaryu, and Paila--the son of Vasu and
Dhaumya became the Hotris. And O bull of the Bharata race, the
disciples and the sons of these men, all well-acquainted with the Vedas
and the branches of the Vedas, became Hotragis. And all of them, having
uttered benedictions and recited the object of the sacrifice,
worshipped, according to the ordinance the large sacrificial compound.
Commanded by the Brahmanas, builders and artificers erected numerous
edifices there that were spacious and well-perfumed like unto the
temples of the gods. After these were finished, that best of kings and
that bull among men Yudhishthira commanded his chief adviser Sahadeva,
saying,--'Despatch thou, without loss of time, messengers endued with
speed to invite all to the sacrifice. And Sahadeva, hearing these words
of the king, despatched messengers telling them,--"Invite ye all the
Brahmanas in the kingdom and all the owners of land (Kshatriyas) and
all the Vaisyas and also all the respectable Sudras, and bring them
hither!"'"
Vaisampayana continued,--"Endued with speed, these messengers then,
thus commanded, invited everybody according to the orders of the
Pandava, without losing any time, and brought with them many persons,
both friends and strangers. Then, O Bharata, the Brahmanas at the
proper time installed Yudhishthira the son of Kunti at the Rajasuya
sacrifice. And after the ceremony of installation was over, that
foremost of men, the virtuous king Yudhishthira the just like the god
Dharma himself in human frame, entered the sacrificial compound,
surrounded by thousands of Brahmanas and his brothers and the relatives
and friends and 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 and
versed in the Vedas and their several branches, began to pour in from
various countries. Thousands of craftsmen, at the command of king
Yudhishthira the just, erected for those Brahmanas with their
attendants separate habitations well-provided with food and clothes and
the fruits and flowers of every season. And, O king, duly worshipped by
the monarch the Brahmanas continued to reside there passing their time
in conversation on diverse topics and beholding the performances of
actors and dancers. And the clamour of high-souled Brahmanas,
cheerfully eating and talking, was heard there without intermission.
'Give,' and 'Eat' were the words that were heard there incessantly and
every day. And, O Bharata, king Yudhishthira the just gave unto each of
those Brahmanas thousands of kine and beds and gold coins and damsels.
"Thus commenced on earth the sacrifice of that unrivalled hero, the
illustrious son of Pandu, like the sacrifice in heaven of Sakra
himself. Then that bull among men, king Yudhishthira despatched Nakula
the son of Pandu unto Hastinapura to bring Bhishma and Drona,
Dhritarashtra and Vidura and Kripa and those amongst his cousins that
were well-disposed towards him."