Mahabharata episode 44

 

The Suta said: “Hearing that Janamejaya had been the one who initiated the sarpasatra, the sage Krishnadvaipayana came there. The father of the Pandavas was born secretly on an island in the Yamuna River to the virgin Kaali (Satyavati) and Parashara, the son of Shakti.

That great man, who had grown his body at will immediately after his birth, was well versed in the Vedas, Vedangas, and histories. There was no one who surpassed him in penance, study of the Vedas, fasting, procreation, or anger. Being a pure person, a devotee of truth, a poet, a sage, a knower of the universe, and the greatest of the Vedas, he divided the Vedas into four parts. He was the father of Pandu, Dhritarashtra, and Vidura, and he continued the lineage of the great and successful Shantanu, who was known for his virtue and fame.

Along with his disciples versed in the Vedas, he entered the sacrificial hall of the royal Janamejaya. There he saw King Janamejaya sitting like a giant surrounded by gods, surrounded by many members, who were possessed by the power of the gods, and by the sages who were skilled in performing sacrifices.

The king Janamejaya, was overjoyed to see the sage arriving, and he, along with his companions, came forward to welcome him. Lord Janamejaya gave him a golden seat, as Sakra gave to Brihaspati, as permitted by the members. The king worshipped him who was sitting there and worshipped the gods, with the prescribed rituals. He duly offered Padya, Achamaniya, Arghya and cows to his grandfather Krishna.

The beloved Vyasa seized the worship and cows of the Pandava Janamejaya. Having thus worshipped his grandfather, he sat down in his place and inquired about his skill. The Blessed One also saw him, inquired about his skill, and thanked all the members who worshipped him. After all the members had entertained the great man, Janamejaya, respectfully, asked: "You have seen the Kurus and the Pandavas with your own eyes. Bramhin! I would like to hear their history from you."

“How did the division arise among those innocent workers? How did that divinely inspired, all-destroying great war take place among my ancestral spirits? Lord! Tell me all of this, for you alone know all of this well.” Hearing his words, Krishnadvaipayana gave an order to his disciple Vaishampayana, who was sitting there: "Tell me everything you heard from me about how the Kuru-Pandavas split in the past."

Having accepted the Guru's vow, the bramhin began to recount the entire ancient history, including the conflict between the Kurus and the Pandavas and the subsequent destruction of the kingdom, to all the members and Kshatriya kings gathered there.

This is the fifty-fourth chapter of the Mahabharata, which is called Kathanubhandha, in the Adi Parva, the Anshavatarana Parva.

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