The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section 126

Section CXXVI. ( *Sambhava Parva continued.* ) Vaisampayana said, "The god-like Rishis wise in counsels, beholding the death of Pandu, consulted with each other. And they said, 'The virtuous and renowned king Pandu, abandoning both sovereignty and kingdom, had come 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, his body, and his wife!" Vaisampayana continued, "Then those god-like Rishis of magnanimous hearts and crowned with ascetic success, summoning one another, resolved to go to Hastinapore with Pandu's children in the van, desiring to place them in the hands of Bhisma and Dhrita-rashtra. 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. Arrived at Kuru-jangala 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 within a trice to the court. And the citizens of Hastinapore, 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 on all kinds of cars and conveyances by thousands, vast numbers of Kshatriyas with their wives and Brahmanas accompanied by Brahmanis came out. And the concourse of Vaisyas and Sudras too was as large on the occasion. The vast assemblage was as peaceful as ever, for every heart then was inclined to piety. And there also came out Bhisma the son of Shantanu, and Somadatta of Valhika, and the royal sage (Dhrita-rashtra) endued with the vision of knowledge, and Vidura himself, and the venerable Satyavati, and the illustrious princess of Koshala, and Gandhari accompanied by the other ladies of the royal household. And the hundred sons of Dhrita-rashtra, decked in various ornaments, also came out. "The Kauravas then, accompanied by their Purohitas, saluting the Rishis by lowering their heads, took their seats before them. The citizens also, saluting the ascetics and bowing down to them with heads touching the ground, took their seats there. Then Bhisma, seeing that vast concourse perfectly still all arround, duly worshipped, O king, those ascetics by offering them water to wash their feet and the customary *Arghya*. And having done this, he spoke to them about the sovereignty and the kingdom. Then the oldest of the ascetics, with matted locks on head and loins encased in animal skin, stood up, and with the concurrence of the other Rishis spoke as follows:—'Know ye all 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 hundred peaks. He had adopted the Brahmacharya mode of life, but for some inscrutable purpose the gods have in view, this his eldest son—Yudhish-thira 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 ariong men, mighty in the use of the bow,—the twin children begotten upon Madri by the twin Aswinas! Leading in righteousness the life of a Vanaprastha in the woods, the illustrious Pandu hath thus revived the almost extinct line of his grand-father. The birth, growth, and Vedic studies of these children of Pandu, will, no doubt, give ye great pleasure! Steadily adhering to the path of the virtuous and the wise, and leaving behind him these children, Pandu hath departed hence, seventeen days ago. His wife Madri, beholding him placed on 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 all foes—with their mother! Let these be now received with due honors. And, after completion of the first rites in honor of the dead, let the virtuous Pandu, who had all along been the supporter of the dignity of the Kurus, have the first annual *sradhā (sapindikarana)* performed with a view to install him formally among the *pitris*.'" Vaisampayana continued, "The ascetics with the *Guhyakas*, having said this unto the Kurus, instantly disappeared in the very sight of the people. And beholding the Rishis and the *Sidhyas* thus vanish in their sight, like vapoury forms appearing and disappearing in the skies, the citizens, filled with wonder, returned to their homes." Thus ends the hundred and twenty sixth Section in the Sambhava of the Adi Parva.