Part 3: Ara’s parents (king Sudarśana and queen Devī)

Now, there is a very magnificent city, Hāstinapura, in Bhāratakṣetra in this Jambūdvīpa. Kings who have come there for the sake of service act like subjects; but subjects, having divine vehicles and finery, act like kings. The circular moat around it looks like a line given at his order by the Creator, in order to make beauty permanent. Numerous gold, crystal, and sapphire shrines there resemble peaks of Mts. Meru, Kailāsa, and Añjana. There Sudarśana, whose appearance was fair like the moon, was chief of kings, like Vṛtrahan of the gods. Dharma, attendance on whom was never abandoned—neither on the throne nor on the couch, neither in the city nor outside, was like a friend of his. Since his prestige, resembling an efficacious charm, spread, his fourfold collection of soldiers was merely for effect. Daily, elephants that were presents from kings laid the dust in his courtyard with heavy streams of ichor.

His wife was named Devī, the chief-queen, like some goddess who had come, the crest-jewel of the harem. Of course, she did not show anger, even affectionately, toward her husband and, noble by nature, she did not feel jealous of her co-wives. Her husband’s favour, her beauty, et cetera did not cause her to be proud; nevertheless she was the crest-jewel among women.^[1]A likeness of her, whose body was irreproachable, a stream of loveliness, was seen in mirrors, nowhere else. Enjoying pleasures with her, the chief of kings, handsome-armed Sudarśana passed some time like a god.