सम्भव पर्व — ऋषियों के वचन

Vaishampayana said: The Rishis, who were all celestial like and wise in council, seeing the death of Pandu, consulted with one another.

The Rishis said: The high souled and the illustrious (Pandu), abandoning his sovereignty and kingdom, came here to practice asceticism and received the protection of the ascetics.

The king Pandu has gone to heaven, leaving his wife and infant sons as a trust in our hands.

It is now our duty to go to his kingdom with these his sons, his body (unburnt portion) and his wife.

Vaishampayana said : Thus consulting with one another those god like Rishis of magnanimous hearts and of ascetic success resolved to go to the city of Hastinapur with the sons of Pandu in their front and to place them in the hands of Dhritarashtra and Bhishma.

The ascetics started at that very moment, taking with them the boys, the two bodies and Kunti.

The affectionate mother, Kunti, though she had all along led a most comfortable life, now regarded the long journey as being very short.

Arriving at Kurujangala within a very short time, the illustrious Kunti presented herself at the principal gate.

The ascetics told the gate keepers "Go, inform the king.” They went in a moment to the royal court and informed the king.

The citizens of Hastinapur were filed with wonder on hearing that thousands of Charanas and Rishis had arrived at their city.

It was soon after sunrise that the citizens all came with their wives and children, placing them in front, to see these ascetics.

Seated on thousands of cars and conveyances, thousands of Kshatriyas and Brahmanas came out with their wives.

The crowd of Vaishyas and Shudras was also very large. The vast crowd was very peaceful, because every one of them one of them was then inclined to piety.

The son of Shantanu, Bhishma, Somadatta or Balhika, the royal sage (Dhritarashtra) with the prophetic eyes and Vidura himself.

The venerable Satyavati, the illustrious princess of Kausalya and Gandhari surrounded by their maids, all came out to the royal gate.

The hundred sons of Dhritarashtra, with Duryodhana at their head, all decked with various ornaments, also came out.

Seeing the great Rishis, the Kauravas with their priests bowed down their heads in salutations and they all took their seats before them (Rishis).

All the citizens also, bowing down their heads touching the ground in solutions, took their seats.

O lord, Bhishma, seeing that vast crowd perfectly still, duly worshipped those ascetics by offering them water to wash their feet and the customary Arghya. He then spoke to them about the sovereignty and kingdom. Thereupon, the eldest of the ascetics with matted locks and skin cloth stood up. And with the concurrence of other great Rishis, he spoke thus-

"The descendant of Kuru, the king, named Pandu, after abandoning pleasure and luxury, went to the mountain with the thousand peaks.

He observed there the of Brahmacharya, but for some incrutable purpose of the celestials, this his eldest son, Yudhisthira, was born, begotten by Dharma himself.

Then that high souled monarch was given another greatly powerful son by Vayu. This is that foremost of mighty men, who is called Bhishma.

This other son, begotten on Kunti by Indra, is Dhananjaya (Arjuna), whose achievements will humble all bow men in the world.

Look at these (two) best of men, the great bowmen, the twin boys, who were begotten by Ashvinis on Madri. VOW

The almost extinct race of his forefathers was thus revived by the illustrious Pandu, leading in piety the life of a recluse.

The birth, growth and the Vedic studies of these sons of Pandu will no doubt give you much pleasure.

Steadily adhering to the path of the virtuous and the wise and leaving behind him these children, Pandu has gone to the land of the Pitris.

Seeing him placed on the funeral pyre and about to be burnt down, his wife Madri entered the fire, thus sacrificing her life.

She has thus gone with him to the land of Pati (reserved for chaste wives). Perform now those rites that should be performed for them.

These are their bodies (unburnt portions); here also are their sons, the chastisers of foes, with their mother; let them be received in due honour.

After the completion of the first funeral rites, let the virtuous Pandu, the supporter of the dignity of the Kuru race, gain the Pitrimedha (the blissful region of the Pitris).

Vaishampayana said : Having said this to the Kurus, the ascetics with the Rishi Guhyakas instantly disappeared in the very sight of the Kurus.

Seeing the Rishis disappear in their sight like the cities of the Gandharva (vapoury figures appearing and disappearing in the sky) the citizens was filled with wonder and astonishment and returned of their homes.