Bhagavad Vahini - Chapter 5

[Guest guest]

Bhagavad Vahini by Sathya Sai Baba

 

Chapter 5

Yajñas and the Penance of Elders

 

 

Dharmaraja (Yudhisthhira) accepted the advice of Vâsudeva, as well as

the benedictions of Vyâsa. He sent his brothers, with the army, to

bring the gold that had been thrown aside by the brahmins. They left

after purifying themselves by partaking consecrated offerings. They

discovered the quantities of gold that had been given as presents to

the priests at the conclusion of the sacrifice by Emperor Maruth in

the past. They had dropped the gold on the sides of the roads along

which they returned home. The army collected these and conveyed them

to the capital on camels, elephants, chariots and carts. It took them

some days to reach Hastinapura with all that load. They unloaded the

gold, amidst the acclamations of the people.

 

The citizens were amazed at the success of the expedition; they

extolled the good fortune of the Pândavas. They welcomed into the

city the princes and the gold shouting " Jay, Jay " until their throats

were hoarse, jumping and dancing in joy. They pictured among

themselves the grandeur and magnificence of the sacrifice, for which

this gold was brought.

 

Preparations were started that very day for the construction of the

ritual altar and the necessary adjuncts on the bank of the Ganga; the

sacred area was many square miles in extent. The ground was levelled

and cleaned. The dais was built; beautiful buildings arose on the

vast area. Porches and verandas were added. Decorations like flags

and festoons embellished the structures.

 

When the holy day neared, chieftains, brahmins, scholars and sages

moved from all directions towards the sacred place, hastening each

other in their enthusiasm to reach early. They took residence in the

quarters allotted to them, according to their status and needs. They

spent the night counting minutes, in joyful expectation of the

extravagant but efficacious yajña that they could witness when the

dawn brings in another day.

 

The morning came. The auspicious moment approached. The priests took

up their positions and got ready to take the vows of initiation. They

stood up facing Lord Krishna and the King and said, " 0 King! we

understand that you have resolved to perform not one but three

As'vamedhas. Is that correct? If so, do you desire us to perform

them, one after the other? Or, shall we repeat every formula and

rite, thrice and have them all concurrently? If you make it known, we

shall arrange the participants and performing priests accordingly. "

 

At this, Dharmaraja replied, " what can I say when you know best; I

shall agree to whatever advice you offer; I seek only the consent of

Vâsudeva for whatever course we adopt " and he turned towards Krishna

with pleading eyes. Krishna left the decision to the brahmins. They

discussed among themselves for a while and announced at last that the

effect of " three As'vamedhas " can be secured by repeating each mantra

thrice and presenting the brahmins presiding over the rituals thrice

the usual fees. Vâsudeva indicated His approval of this suggestion,

and taking his cue from this, Dharmaraja declared that he was

agreeable. He desired that the yajña might be inaugurated.

 

 

The recitation of the mantras by the brahmins shook both earth and

sky. The preliminary rites were gone through and the sacrificial

horses proceeded on their planned round. They were caparisoned in

great style and they carried on their foreheads the declaration

challenging any one to take them into custody if he dared. When He,

who is the recipient of all yajñas, (yajñaswarûpa) has taken the role

of the presiding authority, no words can describe the fortune of the

participants and the witnesses. It drew to a successful close with

the Valedictory Oblation (purna-âhuthi).

 

The experts in sacrificial mantras, the sages and the brahmins were

loaded with presents and fees. Enormous numbers of cows, large areas

of land, and vast quantities of gold were gifted away by the King.

The whole nation was filled with happiness. Every one was praising

the yajña as indescribably superb. All who came were fed sumptuously

at all hours. Sages and ascetics who saw all this lavishness extolled

the yajña of Dharmaraja as grander even than the yajña performed by

emperor Maruth in the past! They were delighted they got the chance

to partake in this yajña. People once claimed that the yajña of

Maruth was presided over by Indra, the Ruler of the Gods and they

felt that it made it incomparably superior to any other sacrifice.

But now, they congratulated Dharmaraja on securing the yajñaswarûpa

(Vâsudeva) Himself to preside over the yajña, a piece of good fortune

far superior to Maruth's and far more difficult to secure.

 

At the end of the yajña, those who had come from far off places

returned; others too turned home. The kings and chieftains took

respectful leave of Dharmaraja and went back to their own

principalities. The kinsmen of the King stayed for a few days more

and left at their convenience to their places.

 

However, Lord Krishna chose to spend some more time with the

Pândavas; so, He stayed on in Hastinapura. The Pândavas were

delighted at this signal act of grace; they made suitable

arrangements for the residence of the Lord; they served Him every

day, they filled their eyes with His beauty, they filled their hearts

with His gracious words of instruction; they spent the days in

supreme joy. After some time spent thus in the Pandava capital,

Krishna returned to Dvârakâ, taking Arjuna with Him. The inhabitants

of Dvârakâ were overjoyed when their Lord returned to His capital.

 

 

They welcomed Him in enthusiastic reverence. They feasted on the

darshan of the Lord and were immersed in ânanda.

 

The Penance of Elders

 

Meanwhile, news came to Hastinapura that Vidura his uncle was moving

about on the environs of the city in the guise of a monk; it

travelled from mouth to mouth and at last reached the ears of

Dharmaraja, the King. The news was received with surprise and joy. He

sent a few scouts to discover whether the news was authentic, and

soon, they brought the welcome information that Vidura had actually

come and was present. Dharmaraja could not contain himself with

excitement.

 

" Ah! How happy you have made me! " , he exclaimed. " This holy moment

has made the dried trunk of the tree of hope put forth leaves again.

Oh, I can now see and serve Vidura who fostered us and guarded us and

guided us, I who feared I might not get the chance at all. "

 

The heartening news was spread by courtiers among the queens and

princesses and women of the royal household. Dharmaraja did not rest;

he spoke about the great event to everyone around him; he sought out

others to share with them the joy. He issued orders to the army that

appropriate arrangements should be made to welcome into the capital

the brother of his late father, sage Vidura, foremost among the

votaries of the Lord. The citizens too were alerted and asked to

prepare a grand reception.

 

They decorated the streets and mansions on each side of them; they

erected arches and hung festoons and hoisted flags. They allotted

galleries and seats on every road for children, women, and the aged,

so that they might have a fine and clear view of the procession and

of the great Sage. It was an inspiring sight to see many old men and

women hobbling on with their sticks, eager to get a glimpse of

Vidura, whom they extolled as the very embodiment of dharma, as the

very god-father of the Pândavas. Some thought at first that the

sighting of Vidura on the outskirts of the city must have been in

someone's dream, and not in actual fact. They had lived long enough

to swallow the rumor without personal verification. For, they never

could believe that Vidura would ever come back to Hastinâpura. They

grouped themselves on vantage points and got ready for the great

moment when they could rest their eyes on the saint. All along the

route, every building was overflowing with humanity; the trees

carried strings of adventurous youth, full of excitement and

expectation, shouting in acclamation of the oncoming guest.

 

The King decked in ceremonial robes ascended the royal chariot and

started out of the palace with his brothers to bring home the famous

votary of the Lord.

 

Vidura appeared before them walking barefoot, slow and dignified,

with matted hair and wearing the robes of a monk. The King and his

brothers stepped down from their vehicles, bowed reverentially to the

feet of Vidura and walked behind him, at a respectful distance. The

citizens ran forward and fell at Vidura's feet, in spite of the

earnest entreaties of the guards that they should desist. The

Pândavas could not express welcome in words; their joy was

immeasurable.

 

So, their eyes spoke it, with tears of gratitude. They clasped Vidura

in their arms and prayed to him that he should get into the chariot

so that the thick ranks of onlookers on all the roads might get

darshan to their hearts' content. Vidura was persuaded to agree.

Seated in the royal chariot of the King, Vidura gave darshan to the

people who had amassed en route. At last, the procession reached the

palace. It was a sweet flood of song and joy that flowed along the

roads of the city that day.

 

Some of the citizens were so overcome with joy that they were rooted

to the spot. The arduous life of tapas that Vidura had undertaken had

so transmuted his personality that he appeared a different person, a

person glowing with divine aura, like Indra, the king of Gods. The

people were describing their exultation in their own words to one

another. Many shed tears remembering the trials and tribulations

which Vidura had undergone and the peace that he had acquired. The

queens and princesses too had darshan from inside the purdah and they

were supremely happy