Bhagavad-Yana Parva — Embassy of Krishna

Vaishampayana said Having got up (from the bed) in the morning, Krishna attended to the daily rites; and with the permission of the Brahmanas went towards the city.

All those residents of Vrikasthala returned after duly informing the greatly powerful one, who was departing (for the city).

The of Dhritarashtra with the exception of Duryodhana, Bhishma, Drona, Kripa and others, beautifully attired went forth to (receive) him who was coming towards them.

Crowds of the townsmen, o king, desirous of having a look of Hrishikesha, were there in diverse sorts of conveyances, while there were others on foot. son

He (Krishna) too having met with Bhishma who does acts without any efforts and Drona and the sons of Dhritarashtra on the way, went to the town surrounded by them.

For paying honour to Krishna the city was well ornamented and the public roads were decked with diverse sorts of gems and precious stones.

There was none who stayed within the house, O king, on that occasion. O bull among the race of Bharata-no woman, no aged, no child was indoors out of a desire to have a gaze of Vasudeva.

On the public road the people with their heads bowing down on the earth were praising him in verses at that time, O great king, when Hrishikesha entered the city.

The spacious mansions, filled with the ladies of rank, seemed to tremble under their weight to fall over upon the ground.

The steeds of Vasudeva, though swift in speed lost their motion, in the public road covered over by human beings.

That lotus-eyed grinder of foes entered the gray-coloured abode of Dhritarashtra graced with many palaces.

come to After traversing through the apartments of the royal abode, Keshava, the subduer of foes, came to the royal son of Vichitravirya.

On the scion of the Dasharha race approaching towards him, the high-famed ruler of men, who had eyes of wisdom, along with Drona and Bhishma stood up;

So also Kripa, Somadatta and the great king Balhika stood up from their respective seats for worshipping Janardana.

Then having the king Dhritarashtra of renown, the scion of the Vrishni race honoured him along with Bhishma with suitable words and without delay.

Madhava, the slayer of Madhu, having done honour to them according to the usual custom, exchanged words with other kings according to their age.

Janardana then addressed Balhika and the famous Drona with his son and Kripa and Somadatta.

There in that place was a large wheat made of gold, of beautiful workmanship and ornamented with jewels, on which Achyuta took his seat at the request of Dhritarashtra.

They, headed by Dhritarashtra, duly offered to Janardana, as was the custom, a cow, honey, curds and water.

The rites of hospitality being finished, Govinda stayed there (for a short time) surrounded by the Kurus, jesting with them and exchanging words of courtesy according to his relationship.

He, the subduer of his enemies, being worshipped and honoured by Dhritarashtra of great fame, issued out with the permission of the king.

Madhava, having exchanged greetings with the Kurus suitably in their assembly, went to the enchanting abode of Vidura.

Vidura approached and worshipped Janardana of the Dasharha race and presented him every auspicious and desirable offering.

He said-'The joy I feel at the sight of yourself, who have come here, O you with lotus eyes, what is the use of describing? For, you are the inner soul of all corporeal beings.'

Vidura, conversant with all the virtues, having finished the rites of hospitality to Govinda, asked the slayer of Madhu about the welfare of the sons of Pandu.

That scion of the Dasharha race who sees everything as plainly as what he sees before his eyes, told everything in detail about the doings of the Pandavas to Khattva. Vidura was the best among the honest and learned men and he also was the dear friend and well-wisher (of the Pandavas), he was wise, honest and a man of principle, virtuous and learned in worldly profit and he felt no malice (for the Pandavas), Anrn