The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section 210

Section CCX. ( *Rajyalava Parva continued.* ) Janamejaya said, "O thou of the wealth of asceticism, what did those great souls, my grand-sires, the illustrious Pandavas, do, after having obtained the kingdom of Indra-prastha? How did their wedded wife Draupadi obey them all? How is it also that no dissensions arose amongst those illustrious rulers of men, all attached to *one* wife; Krishnā? O thou of the wealth of asceticism, I wish to hear everything in detail regarding the behaviour towards one another of those rulers of men after their union with Krishnā!" Vaysampayana said, "Those oppressors of all foes, the Pandavas, having obtained their kindom, at the command of Dhrita-rashtra passed their days in joy and happiness at Khandava-prastha with Krishnā. And Yudhish-thira, endued with great energy and ever adhering to truth, having obtained the sovereignty, assisted by his brothers virtuously ruled the land. And the sons of Pandu, endued with great wisdom and devoted to truth and virtue, having vanquished all their foes, continued to live there is great happiness. And those bulls among men, seated on royal seats of great value, used to discharge all the duties of government. And one day while all those illustrious heroes were seated, there came unto them the celestial Rishi Narada in course of his wanderings. And beholding the Rishi, Yudhish-thira gave him his own handsome seat. And after the celestial Rishi had been seated, the wise Yudhish-thira duly offered him the *Arghya* with his own hands. And the king also informed the Rishi of the state of his kingdom. And the Rishi accepting the worship became well pleased. And eulogising him with benedictions, the Rishi commanded the king to take his seat. And commanded by the Rishi the king took his seat. And the king sent word unto Krishnā (in the inner apartments) of the arrival of the illustrious one. And hearing of the Rishi's arrival, Draupadi, purifying herself properly, came with a respectful attitude to where Nārada was with the Pandavas. And the virtuous princess of Panchāla, worshipping the celestial Rishi's feet, stood with joined hands before him, properly veiled. And the illustrious Narada, pronouncing various benedictions on her, commanded the princess to retire. And after Krishnā had retired, the illustrious Rishi, addressing in private all the Pandavas with Yudhish-thira at their head, said, 'The renowned princess of Panchāla is the wedded wife of ye all. Establish ye a rule amongst yourselves so that disunion may not arise amongst ye. There were, in former days, celebrated throughout the three worlds, two brothers named Sunda and Upasunda living together and incapable of being slain by anybody except themselves. They ruled the same kingdom, lived in the same house, slept on the same bed, sat on the same seat, and ate of the same dish. And yet they killed each other for the sake of Tilottamā. Therefore, O Yudhish-thira, preserve your friendship for one another and do that which may not produce disunion amongst ye!' "Hearing this, Yudhish-thira asked, 'O great Muni, whose sons were those Asuras called Sunda and Upasunda? Whence arose that dissension amongst them, and why did they slay each other? Whose daughter also was this Tilottama, for whose love the maddened brothers killed each other? Was she an Apsarā or the daughter of any celestial? O thou whose wealth is asceticism, we desire, O Brahmana, to hear in detail everything as it had happened! Indeed, our curiosity hath become great!'" Thus ends the two hundred and tenth Section in the Rajya-lava of the Adi Parva.