Chapter 75 - Discomfiture of Duryodhana

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

King Parīkṣit enquired:

1-2. We have heard that all men, gods, kings and celestial beings who had assembled there for the Ṛājasūya sacrifice of king Ajātaśatru (Yudhiṣṭhira) were filled with joy to see its glorious accomplishment, O Brāhmaṇa sage. And Duryodhana was the only exception. Be pleased to explain to us. O worshipful sir, the reason of this.

The sage Śuka replied.:

3. In the Rājasūya sacrifice of your illustrious grandfather, all his relatives attached to him with bonds of affection, accepted the responsibility of various departments and rendered him service (during the sacrifice).

4. Bhīma was the head of the culinary department, Duryodhana was in charge of treasury. Sahadeva was engaged in the reception department while Nakula was entrusted with, the provision of supplies (of things required).

5. Arjuna was. appointed to serve the elders and preceptors, while Kṛṣṇa was engaged in washing the feet (of the guests). Draupadī superintended service and catering of food while the noble-minded Karṇa was entrusted with conferring gifts.

6-7. Yuyudhāna, Vikarṇa, Hārdikya, Vidura and others as well as Bhūri and other sons of Bāhlika, Santardana and others were entrusted with different departments and duties in that great sacrifice. And all of them endeavoured to carry out their duties, as liked by King Yudhiṣṭhira, O great King.

8. When the priests, member of the assembly, persons of wide and deep erudition, intimate friends and relatives were properly honoured with sweet words, costly presents and sacrificial (and other religious) fees and when (the soul of) Śiśupāla entered the feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Pāṇḍavas took the closing ablution of the Rājasūya sacrifice in the heavenly river, Gaṅgā.

9. During the celebration of the ceremony of the avabhṛtha bath, various instruments of music such as tabors, conchs, paṇavas, drums, kettle-drums and horns were sounded.

10. Dancing girls danced merrily. Bands after bands of songster engaged in vocal music. And sound of musical instruments like lutes, flutes and clapping reached the heaven.

11. With their flags and streamers of variegated colours (fluttering in the air) and accompanied with battalions of well- adorned soldiers, big elephants, chariots and horses, kings wearing wreaths of gold started (for the avabhṛtha bath).

12. With the sacrificer (Yudhiṣṭhira) in front of them followed the clans of Yādavas, Sṛñjayas, Kāmbojas, Kauravas. Kekayas and Kosalas shaking the earth with their armies.

13. The members of the sacrificial assembly, the priests and prominent Brāhmaṇas chanting the Vedas loudly followed him. And the gods, sages, manes (ancestors) and celestial singers (Gandharvas) sang the praise of Yudhiṣṭhira and showered flowers (on the procession).

14. Men and women who have adorned themselves richly with clothes, ornaments, garlands and perfumes sported smearing and sprinkling each other with oil and saffron-mixed water.

15. The courtesans sported being smeared by men and reciprocally smearing men with oil, milk, perfumed water, turmeric powder and thick saffron paste.

16. With a desire to witness this procession and festival ladies of royal families ail well-escorted by guards went out in their vehicles (palanquins, chariots etc.) just as heavenly damsels crowded the sky in their excellent heavenly cars (to have a look at it). Those ladies when besprinkled by the friends of Śrī Kṛṣṇa (their maternal cousin) appeared still more beautiful with their faces blooming with bashful smiles.

17. With their syringes, the ladies of royal families sprinkled jets of coloured water on their brothers-in-law and friends. Their garments being moist, the limbs of their persons such as breasts, thighs, and hips were exposed to the view. In the excitement of watersport, the braids of their hair got loosened and flowers dropped down from them. By their attractive sportive activities, they provoked impious thoughts in impure- minded people.

18. The emperor ascended the chariot drawn by excellent horses and decorated with wreaths of gold. Accompanied by his consorts he looked resplendent like the sovereign sacrifice Ṛājasūya with the attendant ritualistic processes incarnate.

19. After performing the special sacrifice called Patni- saṃyāja and other rituals connected with the concluding bath (avabhṛtha), king Yudhiṣṭhira performed ācamana (sipped water thrice from his right palm) and as directed by the priest, he along with Draupadī took bath in the Gaṅgā.

20. Drums from the heaven as well as those from the earth were simultaneously sounded. Gods, sages, manes and human beings showered flowers on them.

21. Thereupon, persons belonging to all classes of society (varṇas) and stages of life (āśrama) took their bath there; for even persons who perpetrated the most heinous sins are absolved of them by such a bath.

22. Then King Yudhiṣṭhira put on two new silk cloths and was well-adorned with ornaments. He then worshipped the sacrificial priests, the members of the (sacrificial) assembly, Brāhmaṇas and others by honouring them with clothes and ornaments

23. The king who was unflinchingly devoted to Nārāyaṇa duly honoured his friends, kinsmen, kings, friends, well- wishers and all others (who were present) in all respects.

24. Being adorned with jewelled ear-rings, wreaths of flowers, turbans, long coats, silk cloth and extremely costly necklaces, all men looked splendid like gods, while women, the beauty of whose countenance was enhanced by a pair of earrings and (overhanging) locks of hair, appeared charming with girdles of gold (round their waist).

25-26. Thereupon highly virtuous priests (ṛtvijs), members of that assembly, the reciters of the Vedas, Brāhmaṇas, Kṣattriyās, Vaiśyas and Śūdras as well as the princes who assembled to attend the sacrifice; as also gods, sages, manes and other beings, the guardians of the world along with their followers were duly honoured. They sought the permission to go and returned to their respective regions.

27. Even as a mortal being is not sated by drinking the nectar, people did not feel satiated by glorifying the splendid success of the Rājasūya sacrifice performed by that royal sage Yudhiṣṭhira who was but a humble servant of Lord Hari.

28. King Yudhiṣṭhira could not bear the idea of separation and affectionately importuned his friends, relatives, kith and kin and Lord Kṛṣṇa to stay longer.

29. Dear Parīkṣit! The Lord despatched Sāmba and other Yādava warriors to Dvārakā. Being desirous of pleasing king Yudhiṣṭhira, the Lord continued to stay on with him.

30. In this way, with the help of Lord Kṛṣṇa, king Yudhiṣṭhira, the son of Dharma, crossed over the ocean of his cherished ambition (of performing the Rājasūya sacrifice) which was very difficult to be accomplished. And he was thus thoroughly cured of his fever of anxiety for proper performance of the Rājasūya.

31. On a certain occasion, Duryodhana was sorely troubled at heart to notice the glorious splendour of king Yudhiṣṭhira’s harem and the grandeur of the Rājasūya (and the eminent position attained thereby) by Yudhiṣṭhira whose heart was devoted to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

32. In that harem, all the affluence and royal splendour of kings of men, demon kings and Lord of gods accumulated and utilised by Maya, the architect of that palace, were shining resplendently. With all these, Draupadī, the princess of king Drupada, waited upon her spouses. The heart of Duryodhana, king of Kauravas, was attached to her and hence he was tormented (with jealousy).

33. At that time, thousands of consorts of Lord Kṛṣṇa were staying in that palace. Owing to the heaviness of their buttocks, they had to walk slowly and the anklets on their feet jingled sweetly. They were slender-waisted, and their (white) pearl necklaces became reddish with saffron applied to their breasts. And their beautiful countenances appeared still more attractive with their rocking ear-rings and curly locks of hair.

34-35. Once, in a part of that assembly constructed by Maya, emperor Yudhiṣṭhira, surrounded by his younger brothers and relatives and by Kṛṣṇa who was his eye (indicating what is in his interest or otherwise), was seated on a throne of gold like Indra, the Lord of gods himself. He was endowed with imperial glory and was glorified by bards.

[Padaratnāvalī’s Text adds:[

35(A). He was waited upon by prominent Brāhmaṇas coming from different parts of the country. Fanned with many white coloured chowries, the tiger among the kings (emperor Yudhiṣṭhira) shone like the Lord of gods in the heaven.

36. There entered the swaggering proud Duryodhana adorned with a crown and garlands with a sword in his hand. He was surrounded, by his brothers and he was angrily railing at the guards at the door and others.

37. He was so much deluded by the skill of Maya that when there was a part of the floor, he mistook it for a sheet of water and drew up his clothes and fell on the floor and at places tumbled into water mistaking it (the sheet of water) as floor.

[Padaratnāvalī’s Text adds:]

37(A). He regarded the floor paved with sapphires as a pond of water and took up his clothes and all people laughed at him.

37(B). When king Duryodhana was proceeding to a pond of water, he thought it to be crystal pavement and fell into that pond.

38. O dear Parīkṣit. Seeing that Bhīma laughed at him; so too laughed the ladies and other kings even though king Yudhiṣṭhira tried to check them. Kṛṣṇa approved of them.

39. Duryodhana felt abashed and he hung down his head. As if burning with rage, he silently left for Hastināpura. There was a great uproar (of dismay and regrets) among the pious members of the assembly. The foe-less king Yudhiṣṭhira was dejected in mind. The Lord who was bent on reducing the burden of the earth, remained silent. It was through his deluding potency that Duryodhana was led into these mistakes.^[1]

40. O king, I have narrated to you what you asked me how Duryodhana’s wickedness developed during the great sacrifice of Rājasūya.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

According to Bhāvāratha Dīpikā, this delusion of Duryodhana was the ‘seed’ of re­moving the burden of the earth and Bhīma’s laughter indicated Duryodhana’s discomfiture. Hence, Kṛṣṇa kept quiet.