The Mahabharata

Book 2 Sabha Parva

Kisari Mohan Ganguli

[1883-1896]

SECTION IV

“Vaisampayana said,–“Then that chief of men, king Yudhishthira, entered that
palatial sabha having first fed ten thousand Brahmanas with preparations of milk
and rice mixed with clarified butter and honey with fruits and roots, and with
pork and venison. The king gratified those superior Brahmanas, who had come from
various countries with food seasoned with seasamum and prepared with vegetables
called jibanti, with rice mixed with clarified butter, with different preparations
of meat–with indeed various kinds of other food, as also numberless viands that
are fit to be sucked and innumerable kinds of drinks, with new and unused robes
and clothes, and with excellent floral wreaths. The king also gave unto each of
those Brahmanas a thousand kine. And, O Bharata, the voice of the gratified Brahmanas
uttering,–‘What an auspicious day is this! became so loud that it seemed to reach
heaven itself. And when the Kuru king entered the palatial sabha having also worshipped
the gods with various kinds of music and numerous species of excellent and costly
perfumes, the athletes and mimes and prize-fighters and bards and encomiasts began
to gratify that illustrious son of Dharma by exhibiting their skill. And thus
celebrating his entry into the palace, Yudhishthira with his brothers sported
within that palace like Sakra himself in heaven. Upon the seats in that palace
sat, along with the Pandavas, Rishis and kings that came from various countries,
viz., Asita and Devala, Satya, Sarpamali and Mahasira; Arvavasu, Sumitra, Maitreya,
Sunaka and Vali; Vaka, Dalvya, Sthulasira, Krishna-Dwaipayana, and Suka Sumanta,
Jaimini, Paila, and the disciples of Vyasa, viz., ourselves; Tittiri, Yajanavalkya,
and Lomaharshana with his son; Apsuhomya, Dhaumya, Animandavya; and Kausika; Damoshnisha
and Traivali, Parnada, and Varayanuka, Maunjayana, Vayubhaksha, Parasarya, and
Sarika; Valivaka, Silivaka, Satyapala, and Krita-srama; Jatukarna, and Sikhavat.
Alamva and Parijataka; the exalted Parvata, and the great Muni Markandeya; Pavitrapani,
Savarna, Bhaluki, and Galava. Janghabandhu, Raibhya, Kopavega, and Bhrigu: Harivabhru,
Kaundinya, Vabhrumali, and Sanatana, Kakshivat, and Ashija, Nachiketa, and Aushija,
Nachiketa, and Gautama; Painga, Varaha, Sunaka, and Sandilya of great ascetic
merit: Kukkura, Venujangha, Kalapa and Katha;–these virtuous and learned Munis
with senses and souls under complete control, and many others as numerous, all
well-skilled in the Vedas and Vedangas and conversant with (rules of) morality
and pure and spotless in behaviour, waited on the illustrious Yudhishthira, and
gladdened him by their sacred discourses. And so also numerous principal Kshatriyas,
such as the illustrious and virtuous Mujaketu, Vivarddhana, Sangramjit, Durmukha,
the powerful Ugrasena; Kakshasena, the lord of the Earth, Kshemaka the invincible;
Kamatha, the king of Kamvoja, and the mighty Kampana who alone made the Yavanas
to ever tremble at his name just as the god that wieldeth the thunder-bolt maketh
those Asuras, the Kalakeyas, tremble before him; Jatasura, and the king of the
Madrakas, Kunti, Pulinda the king of the Kiratas, and the kings of Anga and Vanga,
and Pandrya, and the king of Udhara, and Andhaka; Sumitra, and Saivya that slayer
of foes; Sumanas, the king of the Kiratas, and Chanur the King of the Yavanas,
Devarata, Bhoja, and the so called Bhimaratha, Srutayudha–the king of Kalinga,
Jayasena the king of Magadha; and Sukarman, and Chekitana, and Puru that slayer
of foes; Ketumata, Vasudana, and Vaideha and Kritakshana: Sudharman, Aniruddha,
Srutayu endued with great strength; the invincible Anuparaja, the handsome Karmajit;
Sisupala with his son, the king of Karusha; and the invincible youths of the Vrishni
race, all equal in beauty unto the celestials, viz., Ahuka, Viprithu, Sada, Sarana,
Akrura, Kritavarman, and Satyaka, the son of Sini; and Bhismaka, Ankriti, and
the powerful Dyumatsena, those chief of bowmen viz., the Kaikeyas and Yajnasena
of the Somaka race; these Kshatriyas endured with great might, all well-armed
and wealthy, and many others also regarded as the foremost, all waited upon Yudhishthira,
the son of Kunti, in that Sabha, desirous of ministering to his happiness. And
those princes also, endued with great strength, who dressing themselves in deer-skins
learnt the science of weapons under Arjuna, waited upon Yudhishthira. And O king,
the princes also of the Vrishni race, viz., Pradyumna (the son of Rukmini) and
Samva, and Yuyudhana the son of Satyaki and Sudharman and Aniruddha and Saivya
that foremost of men who had learnt the science of arms under Arjuna these and
many other kings, O lord of the Earth, used to wait on Yudhishthira on that occasion.
And that friend of Dhananjaya, Tumvuru, and the Gandharva Chittasena with his
ministers, any many other Gandharvas and Apsaras, well-skilled in vocal and instrumental
music and in cadence and Kinnaras also well-versed in (musical) measures and motions
singing celestial tunes in proper and charming voices, waited upon and gladdened
the sons of Pandu and the Rishis who sat in that Sabha. And seated in that Sabha,
those bull among men, of rigid vows and devoted to truth, all waited upon Yudhishthira
like the celestials in heaven waiting upon Brahma.”