Sambhava Parva — Cremation of Pandu

Dhritarashtra said: O Vidura, perform the funeral ceremonies of that lion of kings, Pandu and also of Madri in all proper form.

For the good of their souls, distribute cattle, cloths, gems and all kinds of wealth and give every one as much as he asks. Make arrangements also for Kunti's performance of the last rites of Madri in such a way as will please her. Let Madri's body be so carefully covered that neither the sun nor the wind may see it.

Do not lament for the sinless Pandu; he was a worthy king and has left behind him five sons like the celestial children.

Vaishampayana said : O descendant of the Bharata race, Vidura said, “Be it so" and he with Bhishma performed the funeral ceremony of Pandu on a sacred spot.

O king, without loss of time the priests went out of the city carrying with them, the last fire for Pandu the fragrant and blazing sacred fire, fed with ghee.

Friends, relatives and adherents, wrapping it up with cloth, decked the body of the king with the flowers of the season and sprinkled over it various perfumes. They decked the hearse also with garlands and rich hangings. Then placing the bodies of the king and the queen on the excellent heir, decked out so brightly, they caused it to be carried on the shoulders of men.

With the white umbrella held, over the hearse, with waving yak tails, with sounds of various musical instruments, the whole scene looked bright and grand.

Many hundreds of men began to distribute gems among the crowd at the time of the funeral ceremony of Pandu.

While umbrellas, large yak tails and beautiful robes were then brought for the dead Kaurava.

The priests clad in white, walked in the van of the procession, pouring libations of ghee on the sacred fire, blazing in an ornamental vessel. Thousands of Brahmanas, Kshatriyas Vaishyas and followed the king, weeping in grief.

The Citizen said : O king, where do you go, leaving us behind and making us miserable and wretched forever?

Bhishma, Vidura and the sons of Pandu all wept aloud. They at last came to a charming and holy wood on the banks of the Gangas. There they laid down the hearse on which the truthful, the lion hearted and the pious king and his wife lay.

They then besmeared the bodies with all kinds of perfumes; they brought water in may golden vessels and washed his body. They then again smeared at with white sandal. They then dressed it in a white dress made of national fabrics and smeared it with Kalaguru mixed with Tungarasa (sort of perfume).

With the new dress on, the king appeared like a living man, as if he was only sleeping on a costly bed.

When the other funeral ceremonies were over, the Kauravas, with the direction of their priests, set fire to the bodies on the king and that of Madri which had been besmeared with ghee and decked with ornaments; and they burnt them with the fragrant Sandal woods which was besmeared with Tungapadma and other perfumes.

Seeing the bodies in flame, Kausalya cried out, “O my son, O my son” and she fell senseless on the ground.

Seeing her prostrate on the ground the citizens and the people wept in grief or the affection they for the king.

The beast and birds bewailed with men at the lamentations of Kunti.

Then the son of Shantanu, Bhishma, the high-souled Vidura and all the other Kurus became disconsolate in grief and sorrow.

Then Bhishma, Vidura, the king (Dhritarashtra), with the Pandavas and all the Kuru ladies, performed his (Pandu's) water ceremony. All Pandavas grieved for his father. Bhishma, Vidura and other relatives all are grieved. All of them performed the water ceremony.

When the water ceremony was over, the people, themselves filled with grief, began to console the bereaved sons of Pandu.

The Pandavas slept on the ground with their friends and relatives. O king, seeing this the Brahmanas and other citizens also gave their bed. Young and old, all men grieved with the sons of Pandu and passed twelve days in mourning.