Chapter 237
Om. Let us honor Narayana. Let us honor Him, the most honorable Nara. Let us honor Her, the goddess called Saraswati. Jayatu Bhava!
“Vaisampayana said:
‘Then, in Vasudeva’s presence, the Danavan named Maya, upon worshipping Arjuna, said pleasant things over and over again to him with joined palms. He said: O son of Kunti, you have saved me in a profound way from Krishna and from Pavaka (Fire), something that wanted to swallow me. What can I do for you?
"So Arjuna said: O great Asura, you have done it all for my sake— this offer of yours is yet another thing done by you for my sake. Blessings to you! Go where you please. Be kind; come to my defense when needed zealously – we have been kind and utterly protective of you all this time! Maya said: O taurine man – O honorable one – you were worthy enough to say those things. O Bharata tribesman, humor me by letting me do something for you with cheer. I am a great artist – to the Danavas, I am a second Viswakarma. O adopted of Pandu, I, knowing what kind of creature I am, want to do something for you.
"But Arjuna said: O innocent one, you believe I have saved you from death’s door. But, even if that were true, I cannot allow you to do me a favor. On the other hand, O Danava, I don’t want to ruin your plans. If you want to favor someone, favor Krishna. That is how you may thank me for the services I provided you.
"O taurine Bharatan tribesman, when Maya encouraged him to think of how he wanted to be thanked, Vasudeva mused for a moment. Then Krishna, the Lord of the Universe and the holy creator of everything in existence, said to Maya: O son of Diti – O supreme artist – if you want to do righteous Yudhishthira some good, I ask that you build a palace meant for hosting meetings to your liking. Yes, build a palace that no human being can, whether he enters therein and initially examines it to the letter or not, duplicate. Make this mansion an exemplar or what gods, Asuras, and humans can do.
"When he heard those words, Maya felt exceedingly glad. He immediately thereafter built a magnificent palace for the adopted son of Pandu that resembled the divinities’ palace. Krishna and Partha (Arjuna), upon telling King Yudhishthira what had happened thus far, introduced Maya to him. Yudhishthira respectfully welcomed Maya and honored him the way he deserved. O Bharata tribesman, Maya accepted his honor and thought highly of it. O King of the Bharatas, that great son of Diti then told the adopted sons of Pandu the story of the Danava named Vrishaparva. Afterwards, the supreme artist rested for a time and set his heart on, after lots of careful planning, building a palace for the noteworthy adopted sons of Pandu. Taking Krishna and the other sons and stepsons of Pritha into consideration, the noteworthy Danava that had a great amount of power, upon performing the initial favoring rituals that have to do with foundation on an auspicious day and upon gratifying thousands of scholarly Brahmins with sweetened milk, rice, and expensive and varying gifts, squared off a plot of land measuring about two-thousand-seven-hundred eight yards on all sides. This was delightful and an exceedingly beautiful sight. He only did the things that propelled the construction of a building. As the seasons changed, he only did the things having to do with construction work that were compatible with the current season’s requirements.’"
Chapter 238
“Vaisampayana said,
‘Janardana, one who deserved to be worshipped by anyone and everyone, had been living happily in Khandavaprastha for some time. During his time there, the sons and stepsons of Pritha always showe him respectful love and affection.
"One day, Janardana decided to leave Khandavaprastha and look for his father.The large-eyed one who the creatures of the universe had an obligation to serve greeted Yudhishthira and Pritha. Then, he serviced the feet of Kunti, his paternal aunt, with his head. Once Kesava had shown her respect, Pritha smelt his head and hugged him. Then, noteworthy Hrishikesa went before his sister, Subhadra, lovingly. His eyes filled with tears, he told her things that were excellently weighty, excellently truthful, brief, righteous, possessive of no need for a reply, and filled with goodliness. Sweet-speaking Subhadra greeted him in return, worshipped him over and over with a bent head, and told him what she wanted her relatives on her father’s side to know. Upon bidding farewell to and blessing his beautiful sister, the Vrishnian then went to Draupadi and Dhaumya. The supreme man serviced Dhaumya and, upon soothing Draupadi, got her permission to leave. Then, educated and mighty Krishna and Partha went to see his cousins. When the five half-brothers surrounded him, Krishna shone like Shakra does when amongst celestials. The one whose flag had a picture of Garuda upon it, wanting to perform the rituals that prepare oneself for an impending journey, purified himself by bathing and decorating his body with ornaments. The taurine Yadu then worshipped the gods and the Brahmins by offering them leis, chanting mantras, bowing his head more than once, and offering them excellent perfumes. Having done those things, the supremely steadfast and virtuous individual thought about departing. The Yadus’ chief moved from the inner quarters to the outer ones, rewarding the Brahmins who deserved to be worshipped with curd-filled containers, fruits, and dried grain. This made the rewarded Brahmins bless him. Upon rewarding them further with riches, Krishna circled them. Then, Krishna mounted his excellent, golden chariot that was made to move at a great clip and was decorated with a flag that had a picture of Tarkhya (Garuda) on it. The chariot was furnished with a mace, a discus, a sword, Krishna’s personal bow named Sharnga, and other weapons. Krishna hitched his horses named Saivya and Sugriva to them, and then, the one whose eyes were like lotuses set out when the day was a lunar one, excellent, and a day when there was an auspicious lunar conjunction. Yudhishthira, the King of the Kurus, mounted Krishna’s chariot out of love and asked to hold the reins in place of Daruka (Krishna’s supreme charioteer). Before being the third individual to mount Krishna’s chariot, long-armed Arjuna circled Krishna and fanned him with a white yak-tail that had a golden handle. Mighty Bhimasena, accompanied by the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva), the priests, and the citizens, followed Krishna. The unfriendly-hero-slayer, Kesava, when followed by the three half-brothers, shone like a teacher does when followed by his favorite students. Govinda spoke to Arjuna, hugged him tightly, worshipped Yudhishthira and Bhima, and hugged the twins. After the first three Pandavas to be born hugged him back, the twins saluted him with respect. After he had ridden about two miles, Krishna, the unfriendly-townsman-tamer, asked Yudhishthira, O Bharatan, to get out of his chariot. Govinda, one who knew each and every duty, saluted Yudhishthira respectfully and grasped his feet thereafter. At this, Yudhishthira put Krishna on his feet and smelled his head. After doing this to Krishna (the supreme Yadavan; the one whose eyes were like lotus-petals), the righteous adopted son of Pandu, King Yudhishthira, let him leave, bidding him farewell. Madhu’s slayer told them he would return using proper words; it was difficult, but he was able to keep the Pandavas from pursuing him on foot. Krishna gladly rode towards his city, as if he were Indra moving towards Amravati. Because they had love and affection for him, the Pandavas watched Krishna intently until he was out of sight. When he was out of sight, their minds’ eyes followed him. They were, however, still dissatisfied. The taurine men who were the sons and stepsons of Pritha, their minds set on Govinda, stopped pursuing hum. They were reluctant to turn back toward their own city quickly. Krishna, riding in his chariot, soon arrived at Dwaraka with heroic Satyaki in tow. Sauri, the son of Devaki, along with his charioteer named Daruka, reached Dwaraka, traveling at a speed Garuda could match.
"Meanwhile, King Yudhishthira, one whose glory was immortal, entered his excellent capital city with his half-brothers and friends around him. The tigrine man, after sending his relatives, half-brothers, and sons away, looked to amuse himself by being with Draupadi. Kesava, having been worshipped by the main Yadavas (one of which was Ugrasena), entered his excellent city with a happy heart. He worshipped his aged father, worshipped his noteworthy mother, greeted Valadeva (his brother), and then, the one with lotus-petal-like eyes sat down. After he hugged Pradyumna, Shamva, Nishatha, Charudeshna, Gada, Anirudha and Bhanu, the elderly men let him enter Rukmini’s quarters.’”
Chapter 239
“Vaisampayana said,
‘Then, the Danava named Maya said to Arjuna, the supremely successful warrior: If you allow it, I will leave this place but return shortly. On the north side of Mount Kailasa’s peak that is near Mount Mainaka’s range, I, whilst the Danavas were devoting themselves to performing a sacrifice on Lake Vindu’s banks, made a great pile of rough-cut things -- jewels and gems. I put my pile in Vrihaparva’s mansion (he is one who always devotes himself to Truth). If my pile is still there, O Bharatan, I will return here with it. Then, I’ll start building a delightful palace for the Pandavas’ sake; every variety of gem will decorate it; it will be world-famous. Methinks, O Kuru, that one of the Danavas’ kings put the fierce club he used to kill his enemies on the battlefield in Lake Vindu. The club is heavy, strong, possessive of a variety of golden knobs, possessive of the capability of supporting much weight, possessive of the capability of slaying any enemy, and possessive of one-hundred-thousand clubs’ strength. It suits you just as much as Gandiva does. In that same lake is a great conch-shell of Varuna’s named Devadata that can makes a loud blast. Have no doubts that I will give those things to you. Having said these things to Partha, the Asura headed northeast. On the north side of Mount Kailasa, within Mainaka’s range, is a great peak filled with gems and jewels called Hiranyasringa. Near that peak is a delightful lake named Vindu. For some time, King Bhagiratha lived on its banks because he wanted to see the goddess named Ganga. That is why that body of water is also called Bhagirathi. On the banks of the Bhagirathi, O supreme Bharatan, Indra, the noteworthy ruler of all created things, performed one hundred great sacrifices long ago. Though it broke the law and though it was for the sake of beauty alone, sacrificial posts made of gems and altars made of gold were built upon the banks. Once he had performed those one hundred sacrifices, the husband of Sachi with the one-thousand eyes was crowned by success. Fierce Mahadeva, the immortal ruler of all creatures, started living on those banks after creating each and every world. Thousands of spirits worship him with respect. Nara, Narayana, Brahma, Yama, and Sthanu perform sacrifices on those banks after one-thousand ages have passed by. Vasudeva, for the establishment of Virtue and Faith, devoted himself piously and performed sacrifices over many, many years’ time. Kesava put thousands (perhaps nearly one-hundred-thousand) of sacrificial stakes in the banks, decorating them with golden garlands and golden altars that were greatly splendid. When he arrived there, O Bharata tribesman, Maya collected the club, the conch-shell, and the various crystalline things that had once belonged to King Vrishaparva. Maya, the great Asura, after visiting that place, now had the treasures the Yakshas and Rakshasas had guarded all this time on his person. Upon bringing them back with him, the Asura built a palace that had no equal. It possessed great beauty and had been made by a divinity. Made of only gems and precious stones, it was famous the three worlds over. Maya gave Bhimasena the supreme club and he gave Arjuna the supremely excellent conch whose sound made all creatures tremble out of awe. The palace Maya built them had golden columns and took up two-thousand-seven-hundred-eight yards. Exceedingly beautifully shaped, the palace looked like Agni, Surya, or Soma. Shining due to its great splendor, its brilliance even seemed to darken the bright sunbeams. Its pure, flowing shine (a mixture of divine and earthly light) made the palace look like it was aflame. Like a bank of new clouds that was plain to see in the sky, the palace seemed to soar to the heavens when it was coming into the view of any creature. Truly the palace that quick-witted Maya had built was so wide, so delightful, and so refreshing that it, built with such excellent materials, furnished with high-quality golden walls and archways, decorated with such a variety of pictures, internally and excellently luxurious and internally and excellently well-built, was far more beautiful than the Dasarhan named Sudharma’s or Brahma’s mansion. There were eight-thousand Kinkaras (Rakshasas that were fierce, large-bodied, and possessive of a great amount of strength with red, coppery eyes, arrow-shaped ears, that were excellently prepared when it came to weapons, and that were possessive of the capability of wandering through the sky) for palace-guards. Maya put a pool that had no rival inside the palace – lotuses with dark-colored gems for leaves and stalks made of bright-colored jewels and other flowers with golden leaves were placed in it. Various species of water-birds played on its surface. There were fully-opened lotuses in the pool as well as a variety of fish, a variety of gold-colored tortoises, a mud-less bottom, and clear water. One could climb the flight of crystal stairs that led from the land to the poolside. Gentle breezes blew across its surface so delicately that the flowers topping it fluttered. The land around the pool was made up of cascading slabs of expensive marble that were inset with pearls. Though the pool was decorated with a ring of jewels and precious stones, it was so similar to land that many a king fell into it with their eyes open. Many tall trees whose species varied were planted all around the palace. Lush, provident of cooling shade and always flowering, each tree was quite charming to look upon. Artificial forests were situated here and there; each one smelt wonderful. There were many other pools that swans, greater white-fronted geese, and Brahminy ducks that frequented the palace grounds visited. The lotuses that floated on water and the lotuses that grew on land had their scents carried by the breeze -- the scent gave pleasure and contentment to the Pandavas. Maya finished the meeting-hall that was a palace in fourteen months and then told Yudhishthira that he had finished.’”
Chapter 240
“Vaisampayana said,
‘Then, the Chief of Men – King Yudhishthira— entered the meeting-hall that was a palace after feeding ten-thousand Brahmins milk and rice mixed with ghee, honey, fruits, roots, pork, and venison. The king gratified the superior Brahmins who had come from a variety of other countries and brought sesame-seed-seasoned food that had been prepared with jibanti with them. The had also brought rice mixed with ghee, meat prepared many different ways, other kinds of food, countless types of meat fit to be sucked, countless types of beverages, new and untouched robes, new and untouched other types of clothing, and excellent floral wreaths. The king gave each of his Brahmin guests one-thousand cows. O Bharata tribesman, the gratified Brahmins could be heard saying so loudly that the noise seemed to reach Heaven: What an auspicious day this is! Once the Kurus’ king entered the meeting-hall that was a palace after worshipping the gods by way of a variety of music and offerings of various excellent and expensive perfumes, the athletes, mimes, professional boxers, bards, and panegyrists started gratifying the noteworthy son of Dharma by parading their skills. To celebrate Yudhishthira’s entry into the palace, the five half-brothers played as if they were Shakra in Heaven. Within the palace sat the Pandavas, the rishis, and the kings from a variety of countries – Asita, Devala, Satya, Sarpamali, Mahasira, Arvavasu, Sumitra, Maitreya, Sunaka, Vali, Vaka, Dalvya, Sthulasira, Krishna (the island-born one), Suka, Sumanta, Jaimini, Paila, Vyasa’s disciples (we being among them), Titiri, Yajanavalkya, Lomaharshana, Lomaharshana’s son, Apsuhomya, Dhaumya, Animandavya, Kausika, Damoshnisha, Traivali, Parnada, Varayanuka, Maunjayana, Vayubhaksha, Parasarya, Sarika, Valivaka, Silivaka, Satyapala, Kritasrama, Jatukarna, Sikhavat, Alamva, Parijataka, honorable Parvata, the great muni named Markandeya, Pavitrapani, Savarna, Bhaluki, Galava, Janghabandhu, Raibhya, Kopavega, Bhrigu, Harivabhru, Kaundinya, Vabhrumali, Sanatana, Kakshivat, Ashija, Nachiketa, Aushija, Nachiketa, Gautama, Painga, Varaha, Sunaka, the one with great abstentious merit named Sandilya, Kukura, Venujangha, Kalapa, and Katha. These were the virtuous and educated munis whose senses and souls were controlled to a t. Hundreds of others, each one being a knower of The Vedas and The Vedangas, one familiar with the ethics-based rules, one who was pure, and one whose conscience was clear, served Yudhishthira and gladdened him with sacred lectures. There were numerous, important Kshatriyas such as noteworthy and virtuous Mujaketu, Vivardhana, Sangramjit, Durmukha, powerful Ugrasena, the Lord of the World named Kakshasena, Kshemaka, invincible Kamatha, the King of Kamvoja, and mighty Kampana (one who made the Yavanas tremble at his name like the thunderbolt-wielding god makes the Asuran Kalakeyas tremble in his presence), Jatasura, King of the Madrakas, Kunti, King Pulinda of the Kiratas, the King of Anga, the King of Vanga, Pandrya, the King of Udhara, Andhaka, Sumitra, the enemy-slayer named Saivya, Sumanas, King of the Kiratas, King Chanur of the Yavanas, Devarata, Bhoja, the so-called Bhimaratha, King Srutayudha of Kalinga, King Jayasena of Magadha, Sukarman, Chekitana, the enemy-slayer named Puru, Ketumata, Vasudana, Vaideha, Kritakshana, Sudharman, Anirudha, naturally and greatly strong Srutayu, invincible Anuparaja, handsome Karmajit, Sisupala, Sisupala’s son, King of Karusha, the invincible Vrishnian youths with one’s divinity-like handsomeness not above or below another’s (Ahuka, Viprithu, Sada, Sarana, Akrura, Kritavarman, and Satyaka, the son of Sini), Bhismaka, Ankriti, powerful Dyumatsena, and the best archers (the Kaikeyas and Somakan Yajnasena). Rich Kshatriyans born with great might who had equipped themselves with weapons and many others who others called supreme served Yudhishthira, son of Kunti, at that meeting-hall, wishing to make him happy. The princes who had been born with a great amount of strength and wore deer-skins learned the science of weaponry from Arjuna and served Yudhishthira. O king, the Vrishnian princes (Pradyumna, son of Rukmini, Samva, Yuyudhana, son of Satyaki, Sudharman, Anirudha, and Saivya) who were both supreme men and ones who learned the science of weaponry from Arjuna were not the only ones – other kings, O Lord of the World, did so and served Yudhishthira. Dhananjaya’s friend, Tumvuru, the Gandharva named Chitasena, Chitasena’s ministers, many other Gandharvas and Apsaras who were well-skilled when it came to singing, playing instruments, and keeping time, and Kinnaras that knew musical measures to a t and how to move while singing divine songs with proper, charming voices also served and gladdened the adopted sons of Pandu. The rishis who sat in the assembly-hall did the same. Seated within that assembly-hall, the taurine men men who kept to their harsh vows and were devoted to truth served Yudhishthira as if they were divinities in Heaven serving Brahma.’”
Chapter 241
“Vaisampayana said,
‘Whilst the noteworthy Pandavas were sitting with the main Gandharvas, O Bharata tribesman, the divine rishi named Narada approached the assembly. Narada, one who knew The Vedas and The Upanishads, was worshipped by the divinities that knew history, knew The Puranas, knew everything that happened during the time-cycles of long ago, knew logic, knew the truth of ethics-based science, and knew the six Angas to a t – Pronunciation, Grammar, Prosody, An Explanation of Basic Terms, The Description of Religious Rituals, and Astronomy – Narada had perfectly mastered the art of remembering contradicting verses. He had also perfectly mastered the art of applying general principles to particular cases and the art of interpreting contradictions in reference to different situations. He was eloquent, determined, wise, and possessive of a powerful memory bank. He knew the science of morality and politics; he was educated, proficient when it came to distinguishing minorities from majorities, skilled when it came to making conclusions based on evidence, and good enough to judge how righteous or wicked syllogistic statements made up of five ideas each are. He could respond to Vrihaspati over and over again during a debate, forming definitive conclusions about Faith, Prosperity, Pleasure, and Liberation that were righteously framed. He was a mahatma; he saw the parts of the cosmos that were above, below, and around him as if they were before his very eyes. He had mastered both Sankhyan and yogic systems when it came to Philosophy. He always liked to tame the divinities and the Asuras by starting arguments amongst them. He knew about the art of war and the art of making treaties. He knew how to make conclusions by judging something that wasn’t easily accessed in his mind by heart. He knew the six parts of each of the following subject matters: Treaty, Warfare, Military-Campaign, Keeping One’s Ground When Facing The Enemy, How to Ambush, and How to Work With One’s Reserves. He had supremely mastered of every branch of knowledge; he liked warfare and music. No branch of science, plan, or deed could disgust him. Yes, these were the things he could do. There were countless numbers of others things he could do. The rishi, having passed through the different worlds, entered the meeting-hall. O king, the divine rishi who had an immeasurable amount of splendor (the one who had been born with a great amount of energy) was joined by Parijata, wise Raivata, Saumya, and Sumukha. Moving at the speed the mind possesses, the rishi arrived. When he saw the Pandavas, he was filled with gladness. The Brahmin, upon his arrival, paid his respects to Yudhishthira by blessing him and wishing him victory. When the firstborn Pandava saw that the educated rishi was making ready for an arrival, he, knowing each and every duty-based law, quickly leapt to his feet, his younger half-brothers doing the same. Nearly prostrate on the ground and humble, the king cheerfully greeted the rishi and offered him a sufficient seat as proper ceremonies were performed. The king offered the rishi cows and, as per usual, the Arghya (which contained honey and other things).
The king who knew each and every duty worshipped the rishi with gems, jewels, and the whole of his heart. Upon accepting Yudhishthira’s righteously-formatted worship, the rishi felt gratified. Having thusly been worshipped by both the Pandavas and the great rishis, Narada, one who has supremely mastered The Vedas, spoke to Yudhishthira about Faith, Prosperity, and Liberation: Are you spending your money on righteous things? Does your mind take pleasure in virtue? Are you enjoying the pleasures of life? Is your mind staying afloat despite the weight of those pleasures? O Chief of Men, have you continued conducting yourself in a way that parallels the faith and prosperity your forefathers had that was sometimes good, sometimes so-so, and sometimes bad? Have you ever abandoned your faith for the sake of prosperity? Have you abandoned faith and prosperity for the sake of easily-seducing pleasure? O supremely victorious man always devoted to everyone and everything’s good, you know about choosing to seize the day at all times. Do you take the same about of time to be faithful as you do to be prosperous, pleasured, and liberated? O innocent one, there are six things that characterize a king: eloquence, an eagerness to be provident, wisdom when it comes to dealing with enemies, a good memory, and a familiarity with morals and politics. Do you use one of the seven main ways one uses to get what he wants— sowing dissension, judgment, appeasement, gifts, summoning, medicine and magic? Do you, upon finding out exactly how strong and exactly how weak you are, find out about the enemy’s fifteen things – his country, his citadels, his chariots, his elephants, his cavalry, his foot-soldiers, his main officials-of-state, his food supply, his number of soldiers, his income, his religious and currently-enforced laws, his revenue, his wine-shops and his secret enemies? Do you work on the eight main occupational departments after finding out about, O supremely virtuous king, you and your enemy’s resources as well as after making peace with him? O taurine Bharata tribesman, I hope your seven main officers-of-state (the citadel’s governor, the commander of armies, the top judge, the general of interior command, the chief priest, the top physician, and the top astrologer) have not let your enemies take over them. I hope they also haven’t become lazy due to their accumulated wealth. I hope each one serves you well. I hope your secret advice is not revealed by your seemingly trustworthy but disguised spies, by your ministers, or by you. I hope you now understand what your friends, enemies, and welcomed strangers are all about. Do you call for peace and call for war at the right time? Are you indifferent towards the strangers and familiars who are indifferent towards yourself? O hero, are there any elderly ministers like you who are self-restraining, capable of understanding goodly versus wicked deeds, pure when it comes to parentage and blood-line, and obedient? O Bharata tribesman, the king who wins was advised well. O child, do ministers who know the books of the law and keep their mouths shut when it comes to advice protect your kingdom? Are your enemies unable to damage your kingdom? Have you refrained from being enslaved by Sleep? Do you rise at the right time? As one who knows what things one may do for the sake of prosperity, do you, in the wee hours of the morning, think about what you ought and ought not to do that day? Do you ever make a decision alone, refusing to meet with many? I hope not. Does what you have decided reach the ears of everyone in the kingdom? I hope not. Have you started doing the great and difficult things that seem easy to you? Do you make sure that nothing comes between you and the completion of those things? Do you keep an eye on the farmers? I hope the farmers do not fear approaching you. Do you get what you need to get done done due to trustworthy, incorruptible, and experienced-in-practicalities individuals? O brave king, I hope the only things outsiders know about are the things you have done, are in the middle of doing, or close to finishing. I hope they know nothing of the things you are only thinking of and know nothing of the things you haven’t started. Have experienced teachers who know how to explain why things happen, who know the science of morality, and who know each and every branch of education been chosen to teach the princes and army-chiefs? Have you traded one educated man for one-thousand uneducated men? An educated man is the best thing to have in a time of trouble. Are your citadels always filled with treasure, food, weapons, water, engines, instruments, engineers, and archers? One wise and brave minister who controls his passions to a t and has the ability to judge may reward a king or a prince with riches. Do you have even one of these kinds of ministers? Are you looking out for the eighteen pilgrimage sites of your enemy and the fifteen pilgrimage sites that you have? Six spies, each a stranger to the others, should find the pilgrimage sites of your enemies. O enemy-slayer, are you looking out for your enemies in a careful, painstaking way without their knowledge? Is the priest you honor humble, pure-blooded, famous, free from envy and generous? Has a well-behaved, wise, and honest Brahmin, excellently aware of the law, been elected by you to perform the daily rituals before a sacred fire? Does such a one remind you, when the time is right to do so, to perform the Homa? Is the astrologer you hired skilled when it comes to interpreting physical features, capable of interpreting omens, and good enough when it comes to neutralizing the effect of a disturbance of Nature? Have you hired respectable servants to do respectable things? Have you hired indifferent servants to do things that are neither of the utmost nor of the least importance? Have you hired lowly servants to do lowly things? Have you hired ministers who are honest and come from a line whose members have conducted themselves well to do high-level things? Are such ministers doing things that are above average? I hope you aren’t troubling your people by punishing them in cruel and harsh ways. O taurine Bharata tribesman, do your ministers rule your kingdom and follow your orders? Do your ministers insult you? Sacrificial priests who insult fallen men are told that they will never perform a sacrifice again. Wives insult arrogant and free-wheeling husbands. Is the commander of your armies confident enough? Is he brave, wise, patient, well-conducted, possessive of good parentage, obedient, and competent? Do you care about the main officers of your armies who are skilled when it comes to every kind of warfare, who are bold, who are well-behaved, and who were born with power? Do you give your troops their sanctioned rations? Do you pay them at the right time? I hope you don’t trouble them by way of withholding those things from them. Misery that is caused by payments due and inequality when it comes to the distribution of rations will lead to mutiny among the soldiers. The educated ones say that the misery that comes by doing those things makes them the worst kind of mischief one can make. Are the main high-born men devoted to you, cheerful and ready to lay down their lives for your sake in battle? I hope the man who cannot control his passions isn’t the one you have let freely control a number of wartime matters. Has any one of your servants, one who can do something special well, been denied a little more respect, a little more food, or a little more money? I hope that you reward the educated, the humble, and the skilled with as many riches and as much honor as their qualifications allow. Are you supporting, O taurine Bharata tribesman, the troubled mothers whose husbands gave their life for your sake? Do you cherish and have fatherly love for, O son of Pritha, the weakened enemy, the one who has come to you for shelter, and the one who has been defeated on the battlefield? O Lord of the World, are you just the same as any other man? Can anyone approach you without fear, as if you represented both his father and mother? O taurine Bharata tribesman, do you sally forth toward your enemy upon hearing that he is in trouble with no loss of time, you having initially thought about the three kinds of armies? O tamer of all enemies, do you start marching at the right time after considering the possible and visible signs, after considering the decisions you have made, and after considering that ultimate success depends on the twelve circles (the reserves, the ambushes, and paying the troops in advance are four such circles)? O enemy-troubler, do you reward the main officers of your enemy’s army with the gems and jewels they deserve secretly? O son of Pritha, do you look to conquer angered enemies who are enslaved by their passions after toppling your own soul and mastered your own senses? Before sallying forth toward your enemies, do you try appeasement, offerings of wealth, dissension, and fighting beforehand? O king, do you sally forth against your enemies after empowering your own kingdom first? Once you have sallied forth toward them, do you make the most use of yourself in order to defeat them? Once you have defeated them, do you try to truly take care of them? Does your army, one that consists of common troops, allies, mercenaries, special forces, chariots, elephants, horses, personnel, infantrymen, camp-followers, spies who possess supreme knowledge when it comes to geography, and flags sally forth toward the enemies after the men have been well-trained by superior officers? O enemy-troubler – O great king – I hope that you kill your enemies without a second thought about whether or not they are victims or famine or harvesters. O king, I hope that the servants and spies in both your kingdom and your enemies’ kingdoms both continue doing what they are supposed to be doing and protect one another. O king, I hope you have hired trusty servants to take care of your food, your robes, and your cologne. I hope, O king, that your treasury, your barns, your stables, your citadels, and your women’s quarters are protected by servants who are both devoted to you and always looking out for you welfare. I hope, O king, that you protect yourself from your house-servants, public-servants, the servants of your relatives, and then each servant from the other ones. In the morning, O king, do your servants complain that you drink too much, play too much, or have too many concubines? Do you spend a quarter, a third, or half your income? Do you show that you cherish your relatives, superiors, merchants, elderly, other protégés, and the troubled with food and riches? Do the accountants and clerks you hired to look after your income and purchases review your income and expenditures every morning with you? Do you fire servants who, though skilled in business matters, popular, and devoted to your welfare, deserved to be fired? O Bharata tribesman, do you hire superior, middle-of-the-road, and lowly men after observing them doing what they deserve to do? O king, do you hire businessmen who like to steal, are easily tempted, are short-tempered, or are minorities? Do your critique the kingdom with those who like to steal, those who covet, those who are minors, or those who are female by your side? Are your farmers happy? Are the great, artificial pools and lakes that were planted all over thy kingdom, each one a goodly distance from the other, entirely dependent on rain? There are no farmers close enough to the kingdom. Do the farmers have enough seeds and food? Be kind and give those who till three-quarters of every hundred-count (saving one quarter for yourself). O child, are the members of the four main castes (the farmers, the traders, the cattlemen, and the men who lend with interest) honest workers? The happiness of your people, O king, depends on them. O king, do the five brave and wise men hired to protect the city, guard the citadel, protect the merchants, protect the farmers, and punish the criminals always benefit your kingdom by working together? In order to protect the city, are the villages like towns and the little villages and places outside villages like villages? Are these places ruled and swayed by you and you alone? Do policemen chase the thieves over the rough and smooth parts of the realm? Do you soothe women? Are the women of the kingdom protected? Do not trust women; don’t tell them any secrets. Do you, O king, upon hearing about and thinking about danger, continue relaxing within the inner quarters and continue enjoying pleasuring things? There are four quarters to Night -- upon sleeping through the first three, do you, while aware, think about faith and prosperity in the fourth quarter? O adopted son of Pandu, do you get out of bed at the right time and dress yourself in proper clothes? Do you then present yourself to your people along with ministers who know how auspiciousness or otherwise moments are? O enemy-tamer, do men in red with swords and decorations of ornaments go to your side in order to protect you? O king! Act like the God of Justice, punishing those who deserve to be punished, worshipping those who deserve to be worshipped, being dear to those who are dear, and disliking those who dislike you. O son of Pritha, do you try to cure physical diseases by way of medicine and fasting? Do you try to cure mental illnesses after taking the advice of the elders? I hope that the physicians who were hired to keep you healthy know the eight kinds of treatment, cling to you like children, and devote themselves to you. Has there ever been a time, O king, when, out of jealousy or foolishness, you were unable to say whether the plaintiff or the defendant who came to you was right? Have you ever, out of jealousy or foolishness, kept the pensions or monies you owed protégés who looked to you for shelter out of trust or love from them? Have the people who live in your kingdom who were bought by their enemies ever tried to start arguments with you, banding together? Are your weak enemies held down by helpful, strong armies and by helpful advisors? Are the main chieftains of your empire devoted to you? Are they, ones you command, ready to lay down their lives for your sake? Do you worship Brahmins and wise men according to the merit they have when it comes to the various branches of knowledge? I tell you that such worship would surely be quite beneficial for you. Is your faith based on the three Vedas, something that men of the past have adhered to? Do you painstakingly follow the path the men of the past took? Are accomplished Brahmins entertained both in your household and in your presence by way of nutritious and excellent food and monies (that money being given at the end of a feast)? Do you, your passions controlled to a t, your mind one-track, try to perform the Vajapeya sacrifice and the Pundarika sacrifice, the rituals performed from beginning to end? Do you bow down to your relatives, your superiors, the elderly, the gods, the ascetics, the Brahmins, and the quite beneficial banyan trees of a village? O innocent one, have you made anyone lament or anger? Do the priests who can reward you in auspicious ways take your side? O innocent one, are you partial to the things and acts I have mentioned? They make one live longer, make one’s fame greater, and better one’s faith-, pleasure-, or prosperity-based cause. He who conducts himself in these ways will never have an unbalanced or sin-tainted kingdom. The king who does so while taming the whole world will enjoy high-level blessings. O king, I hope no well-behaved, pure-souled and respected individual is ever ruined; I hope such a one never dies, is never wrongly accused, and is never falsely charged with theft. I hope you never ignore the books of law because of your ministers or because of greed. O taurine man, I hope that your ministers never, out of jealousy, set a thief free (they knowing him to be a true thief because they not only caught him but found the stolen goods on his person). O Bharata tribesman, I hope that your ministers are never won over by bribes; I hope they never take the wrong side when it comes to a dispute between rich men and poor men. Do not have a single one of the characteristics that make a king wicked: atheism, dishonesty, anger, recklessness, procrastination, refusal to consult wise men, laziness, an unsettled mind, taking the advice of one man, taking the advice of men who know nothing of profit, ignoring an already settled plan, leaking a plan, abandoning a beneficial project before its completion, and doing everything without thinking first. These things, O king, throw even the most firmly seated king off his throne. Has your study of The Vedas, your prosperity, your knowledge of the books of law, and your marriage been rewarding?
"Once the rishi had finished, Yudhishthira asked: How, O rishi, are The Vedas, riches, a wife, and a knowledge of the books of law rewarding?
"And The rishi answered: The Vedas reward the person who has, while studying them, performed the Agnihotra sacrifice as well as other sacrifices. Riches reward the man who both enjoys his money and gives it away to charity. A wife is rewarding both when she is useful and when she gives birth. One who knows the books of law will be rewarded when one becomes humble and turns good due to that knowledge.
"Narada, the great ascetic, having spoken thusly to Yudhishthira, spoke again to the righteous ruler: Do your government officials, O king, the ones who are paid from the taxes the locals pay, take only their rightful dues from the merchants who come to your territories from faraway lands because the desire to prosper drove them there? Are your merchants, O king, the ones whose treatment has to do with consideration for your capital city and kingdom, capable of bringing their goods to them without being tricked by the wicked buyers’ and government officials’ plans? Do you always, O king, listen to the elders’ words that are filled to the brim with religious and prosperity-based orders? Such men know the treaties on economy. Are gifts of honey and ghee offered to the Brahmins for the sake of crops, cows, fruit, flowers, and virtue? Do you always give, O king, to every artisan and artist you have hired? They must take a break from production -- four month’s time is the most you should let them work without pause. Four months is also the most time you should wait before paying them. Look at what your employees create; praise the things they have created in the presence of goodly men. Show them sufficient respect and then reward them. O taurine Bharata tribesman, do you agree with anything wise men say? What about what is said when it comes to elephants, horses, and chariots? O taurine Bharata tribesman, do you study the verses that speak of the science of weaponry and the sayings that have to do with using engines on the battlefield (things that are quite useful for towns and empowered places) in court? O innocent one, do you know about the mystical summons? Do you know the mysteries of poison whose knowledge helps one destroy any enemy? I hope those who are a part of your kingdom have no fear of fire, snakes, predators, disease or Rakshasas. You, one who knows each and every duty, should cherish the blind, mute, lame, maimed, friendless and homeless ascetics like a father. O king, have you put aside the six evils -- sleep, laziness, fear, anger, weakness of mind, and procrastination?
"Having heard the supreme Brahmin’s words, the noteworthy taurine Kuru bowed down before him and worshipped his feet. Having been gratified by everything
Impressum
Verlag: BookRix GmbH & Co. KG
Tag der Veröffentlichung: 14.07.2017
ISBN: 978-3-7438-2282-5
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Widmung:
I dedicate this volume to those who have encouraged me to never give up on my dreams.
I dedicate this and all subsequent volumes to the talented and brave individuals who uploaded the work in its entirety to sacred-texts.com: John Bruno Hare, Juliet Sutherland, and Mantra Caitanya.