(Sambhava Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana said, 'The godlike Rishis, wise in counsels, beholding the
death of Pandu, consulted with one another, and said, "The virtuous and
renowned king Pandu, abandoning both sovereignty and kingdom came hither
for practising ascetic austerities and resigned himself to the ascetics
dwelling on this mountain. He hath hence ascended to heaven, leaving his
wife and infant sons as a trust in our hands. Our duty now is to repair to
his kingdom with these his offspring, and his wife."'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Then those godlike Rishis of magnanimous hearts,
and crowned with ascetic success, summoning one another, resolved to go to
Hastinapura with Pandu's children ahead, desiring to place them in the
hands of Bhishma and Dhritarashtra. The ascetics set out that very moment,
taking with them those children and Kunti and the two dead bodies. And
though unused to toil all her life, the affectionate Kunti now regarded as
very short the really long journey she had to perform. Having arrived at
Kurujangala within a short time, the illustrious Kunti presented herself
at the principal gate. The ascetics then charged the porters to inform the
king of their arrival. The men carried the message in a trice to the court.
And the citizens of Hastinapura, hearing of the arrival of thousands of
Charanas and Munis, were filled with wonder. And it was soon after sunrise
that they began to come out in numbers with their wives and children to
behold those ascetics. Seated in all kinds of cars and conveyances by
thousands, vast numbers of Kshatriyas with their wives, and Brahmanas with
theirs came out. And the concourse of Vaisyas and Sudras too was as large
on the occasion. The vast assemblage was very peaceful, for every heart
then was inclined to piety. And there also came out Bhishma, the son of
Santanu, and Somadatta or Valhika and the royal sage (Dhritarashtra)
endued with the vision of knowledge and Vidura himself and the venerable
Satyavati and the illustrious princess of Kosala and Gandhari accompanied
by the other ladies of the royal household. And the hundred sons of
Dhritarashtra, decked with various ornaments, also came out.
"'The Kauravas, then, accompanied by their priest, saluted the Rishis by
lowering their heads, and took their seats before them. The citizens also
saluting the ascetics and bowing down unto them with touching the ground,
took their seats there. Then Bhishma, seeing that vast concourse
perfectly still, duly worshipped, O king, those ascetics by offering them
water to wash their feet with and the customary Arghya. And having done
this, he spoke unto them about the sovereignty and the kingdom. Then the
oldest of the ascetics with matted locks on head and loins covered with
animal skin, stood up, and with the concurrence of the other Rishis, spoke
as follows, "You all know that that possessor of the sovereignty of the
Kurus who was called king Pandu, had, after abandoning the pleasures of
the world, repaired hence to dwell on the mountain of a hundred peaks. He
adopted the Brahmacharya mode of life, but for some inscrutable purpose
the gods have in view, this his eldest son, Yudhishthira, was born there,
begotten by Dharma himself. Then that illustrious king obtained from Vayu
this other son--the foremost of all mighty men--called Bhima. This other
son, begotten upon Kunti by Indra, is Dhananjaya whose achievements will
humble all bowmen in the world. Look here again at these tigers among men,
mighty in the use of the bow, the twin children begotten upon Madri by the
twin Aswins. Leading in righteousness the life of a Vanaprastha in the
woods, illustrious Pandu hath thus revived the almost extinct line of his
grandfather. The birth, growth, and Vedic studies of these children of
Pandu, will, no doubt, give you great pleasure. Steadily adhering to the
path of the virtuous and the wise, and leaving behind him these children,
Pandu departed hence seventeen days ago. His wife Madri, beholding him
placed in the funeral pyre and about to be consumed, herself ascended the
same pyre, and sacrificing her life thus, hath gone with her lord to the
region reserved for chaste wives. Accomplish now whatever rites should be
performed for their benefit. These are (the unburnt portions of) their
bodies. Here also are their children--these oppressors of foes--with their
mother. Let these be now received with due honours. After the completion
of the first rites in honour of the dead, let the virtuous Pandu, who had
all along been the supporter of the dignity of the Kurus, have the first
annual Sraddha (sapindakarana) performed with a view to installing him
formally among the Pitris."'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'The ascetics with Guhyakas, having said this
unto the Kurus, instantly disappeared in the very sight of the people. And
beholding the Rishis and the Siddhas thus vanish in their sight like
vapoury forms appearing and disappearing in the skies, the citizens filled
with wonder returned to their homes.'"