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| Sage Narada, Krishna and King Yudhistra |
Krishna
and Bhishma visited Indraprastha for the coronation and they stayed there for
few days. One day, Sage Naradha and Saint Veda Vyasa visited Indraprastha.
“Yudhistra!
Now that you are a King, you should send your generalissimo for Digvijaya
Yatra. The benefit will go to your father, who is in Indra’s abode. The one who
does Rajasuya Yaga will honor his ancestors. That way, your father will be
honored with white umbrella and can leave for heaven.”-said Sage Naradha.
“Yes
Lord Dharma, now that you are a King, performing Rajasuya Yaga will also make
you an empire and you can establish dharma on this world.”- Krishna spoke in
favor of Sage Naradha.
“Send your brother Bhīma. Let him take on the
Digvijaya Yatra on your behalf. As he will be the one who leads, he will get
the benefit of the Yaga.” – said Sage Veda Vyasa.
“Oh
honorable Sage, I will execute the Digvijaya Yatra. As my talent in archery is
known to everyone, other Kings will fear to oppose me. That way, the Yatra will
be finished soon. – Arjuna appealed to Sage Veda Vyasa.
“Arjuna!
I have no doubts in your archery skill and talents. It’s just that, if you go,
Kings like Karna, Kichaka, Sisubala and Jarasandha might resist as they hold
grudge on you. With Bhīma, they might not resist, possibly. So it’s better if
Bhīma takes the Digvijaya Yatra.” – Pithamaha Bhishma spoke backing Sage Veda
Vyasa.
“For
the Yaga, we will need more wealth. I have sustained Indraprastha only now. The
treasury doesn’t hold much gold that can support the Yaga and the Yatra.”- said
King Yudhistra.
Krishna
thought for a moment and said – “O King Yudhistra! Send your brothers to all
the Kingdoms of the world. That way, we can collect tributes.”
Grandsire
Bhishma assisted King Yudhistra with the strategies and diplomacies. “O Son of
Dharma! Send Bhīma to the Kingdoms in east as they are skilled in fighting from
the elephants and also in one to one combat. And, Arjuna to north. Sahadeva to
south to conquer the Kingdoms there for the southerners are experts in sword
fighting. And Nakula to west.”
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| Bhima defeat King Jarasandha |
Along
with Krishna and Arjuna, Bhīma left for Magadha and defeated Jarasandha, in a duel,
as hinted by Krishna. They then released the 86 Kings who were detained by
Jarasandha and Jarasandha’s son was crowned as the King of Magadha.
The
message was passed on to every Kingdom and on an auspicious day, the four
brothers of King Yudhistra started their journey to invite the friendly Kings
and to subjugate those who oppose. Krishna left for Dwaraka and Pithamaha to
Hastinapur.
The
four brothers of the King led their armies and obtained tributes from Kings all
over the world. Kings who opposed were defeated. Nakula returned with gold,
gems and precious stones mounted on 10,000 plus camels. Sahadeva was welcomed
in Lanka, which was being ruled by Vibhishana whereas he battled for seven days
in Kishkintha, against the monkey kings Maindha and Dwividha. Arjuna, the supreme warrior won the demons
and devas and returned with gold, precious stones, celestial ornaments and
pearls. Bhīma won the Lord of wealth, Kubera.
The
brothers returned with the wealth, conquering Kingdoms in all corners of the
world and the Rajasuya Yaga was conducted on an auspicious day with Lord
Krishna as the guest of honor. Kings from all over the world were invited for
the Yaga. Sage Veda Vyasa himself conducted the Yaga with King Yudhistra as Yagamana and Queen Draupathi was the Yagamana Patni.
Balram attended with his wife Revathi. Krishna came with his eight queens.
Pithamaha, Duryodhana, Uncle Saguni and Duchadhana participated on behalf of
Hastinapur. The kings and queens were astounded at the beauty of the palace
built by Maya.
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| RajaSuya Yaga |
At
the time of the Yaga, King Yudhistra said, “The Agrapuja should be
performed to the one who is illustrious and mighty. I would like to do the puja
to Pithamaha Bhishma and invite him to be my guest of honor.”
Pithamaha
rose from his throne and said –“O Son of Dharma! It’s so kind of you to
consider me for the guest of honor. But, as I have visited Indraprastha as the
generalissimo of Hastinapur and not as your grandfather, I am not eligible for
it and I can’t take the honor. It would be best if you choose Krishna. Offer
the puja to him for he is the savior of this world. Other than him, none on
this earth is eligible for the honors.”
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| Krishna accepting the honors |
King
Yudhistra accepted Pithamaha’s words and offered the Agrapuja to
Krishna. After the Yaga and the puja, the Kings gave their gift to King
Yudhistra and Queen Draupathi. The kings presented King Yudhistra with
varieties of gold ornaments and apparels. Even Duryodhana presented villages
and gold to King Yudhistra to show his copious wealth in front of everyone. Karna
gave villages, cows and gold. Eklavya, the most talented archer who hated the
Pandavas right from his childhood because of Arjuna and Dronacharya, honored
King Yudhistra with his shoes. Though it triggered rage in the hearts of the
brothers, King Yudhistra accepted it with serene heart.
“Eklavya!
O prince of Nishadha! I performed the Rajasuya Yaga to establish dharma all
over the world. Not to gain power and prove that I am mightier than everyone
else. So, I accept everything that you honor me with. I am happy that you
accepted for walking in the path of dharma and did not oppose.” – King
Yudhistra said with a smile.
With
the end of Yaga and the ceremonies, everyone visited the palace gardens and
halls and fountains built by Maya. While Duryodhana was seeing the walls and
floors, admired and at the same time jealous, he hit himself on the wall which
appeared as if it wasn’t there before. He then turned back and kept his feet on
the floor that was studded with blue gems and stones. He failed to notice there
was water and fell on it. Draupathi who was showing the queens about the
chambers in the top floor saw it and laughed at him saying – “Look! A blind
man’s son is also blind!”
Humiliated
in front of everyone and especially Draupathi, Duryodhana returned to
Hastinapur with Saguni and Karna with a raging heart.
PS:
Jarasandha
planned to perform a human sacrifice which included sacrificing 100 Kings. He
had captured and prisoned 86 kings before Bhīma slain him.
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