॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
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I find the description of the Rajasuya most interesting. I am reproducing every shloka. We shall take up this chapter in two parts.
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श्रीशुक उवाच
एवं युधिष्ठिरो राजा जरासन्धवधं विभो: । कृष्णस्य चानुभावं तं श्रुत्वा प्रीतस्तमब्रवीत् ॥
T: Sage Shuka narrated: Having thus heard of the killing of Jarasandha, and also of the almighty Bhagavan Sri Krishna’s wonderful power, King Yudhishthira addressed the Lord as follows with great joy.
श्रीयुधिष्ठिर उवाच
ये स्युस्त्रैलोक्यगुरव: सर्वे लोकामहेश्वरा: । वहन्ति दुर्लभं लब्ध्वा शिरसैवानुशासनम् ॥
स भवानरविन्दाक्षो दीनानामीशमानिनाम् । धत्तेऽनुशासनं भूमंस्तदत्यन्तविडम्बनम् ॥
T: Yudhishthira said: “All the exalted spiritual masters of the three worlds, together with the inhabitants everywhere, comply with bowed head your command, Oh Lord, considering it as a rare opportunity. That you, the lotus-eyed Supreme Lord, incarnated as Sri Krishna, now accept the orders of wretched fools who presume themselves to be earthly rulers, is indeed a paradox explainable only as your play, Oh Immanent one!”
न ह्येकस्याद्वितीयस्य ब्रह्मण: परमात्मन: । कर्मभिर्वर्धते तेजो ह्रसते च यथा रवे: ॥
T: “But, of course, the power of the Absolute Truth, the Supreme Soul, the primaeval one without a second, as you are, is neither increased nor diminished by any of his activities, any more than the sun’s power remains unaltered by its movements!”
न वै तेऽजित भक्तानां ममाहमिति माधव । त्वं तवेति च नानाधी: पशूनामिव वैकृती ॥
T: “Oh unconquerable Madhava, even your devotees make no distinctions of “I” and “mine,” “you” and “yours,” for they are enlightened whereas such differentiation is the perverted mentality of animals.”
श्रीशुक उवाच
इत्युक्त्वा यज्ञिये काले वव्रे युक्तान् स ऋत्विज: । कृष्णानुमोदित: पार्थो ब्राह्मणान् ब्रह्मवादिन: ॥
द्वैपायनो भरद्वाज: सुमन्तुर्गोतमोऽसित: । वसिष्ठश्च्यवन: कण्वो मैत्रेय: कवषस्त्रित: ॥
विश्वामित्रो वामदेव: सुमतिर्जैमिनि: क्रतु: । पैल: पराशरो गर्गो वैशम्पायन एव च ॥
अथर्वा कश्यपो धौम्यो रामो भार्गव आसुरि: । वीतिहोत्रो मधुच्छन्दा वीरसेनोऽकृतव्रण: ॥
T: Sage Shuka continued: Having said this, King Yudhishthira waited until the proper time was at hand for the Rajasuya Yajna to be performed. Then, with Sri Krishna’s permission he selected suitable priests, all experts in the Vedas, to conduct the Yajna.
There was a veritable galaxy of great sages: Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa, Bharadvaja, Sumantu, Gotama, and Asita, along with Vasishtha, Chyavana, Kanva, Maitreya, Kavasha and Trita. He also invited Vishwamitra, Vamadeva, Sumati, Jaimini, Kratu, Paila and Parashara, as well as Garga, Vaishampāyana, Atharva, Kashyapa, Dhaumya, Bhargava Rama, Asuri, Vitihotra, Madhucchanda, Virasena and Akritavarna.
उपहूतास्तथा चान्ये द्रोणभीष्मकृपादय: ।
धृतराष्ट्र: सहसुतो विदुरश्च महामति: ॥
ब्राह्मणा: क्षत्रिया वैश्या: शूद्रा यज्ञदिदृक्षव: ।
तत्रेयु: सर्वराजानो राज्ञां प्रकृतयो नृप ॥
T: Other notable ones who were invited included Drona, Bhishma, Kripa, Dhritarashtra with his sons, the wise Vidura, and many other Brahmins, Kshatriya, Vaishyas and Shudras, all eager to witness the Yajna. Indeed, all the attendee kings came there with their entourages.
Everyone was very well accommodated in Indraprastha by the redoubtable King Yudhishthira.
ततस्ते देवयजनं ब्राह्मणा: स्वर्णलाङ्गलै: । कृष्ट्वा तत्र यथाम्नायं दीक्षयां चक्रिरे नृपम् ॥
हैमा: किलोपकरणा वरुणस्य यथा पुरा । इन्द्रादयो लोकपाला विरिञ्चिभवसंयुता: ॥
सगणा: सिद्धगन्धर्वा विद्याधरमहोरगा: । मुनयो यक्षरक्षांसि खगकिन्नरचारणा: ॥
राजानश्च समाहूता राजपत्न्यश्च सर्वश: । राजसूयं समीयु: स्म राज्ञ: पाण्डुसुतस्य वै ।
मेनिरे कृष्णभक्तस्य सूपपन्नमविस्मिता: ॥
T: The Brahmin priests then ploughed the Yajna ground with golden ploughs and initiated King Yudhishthira for the Yajna in accordance with Vedic injunctions and precedents. The utensils used in the Yajna were made of gold, just as during the ancient Rajasuya performed by Lord Varuna. Indra, Brahma, Shiva and many other gods and guardians, the Siddhas and Gandharvas with their entourage as well as the Vidyadharas, great serpents, celestial and terrestrial ascetics, even Yakshas and Rakshasas, celestial birds, Kinnaras, Charanas; and of course earthly kings — all were invited, and indeed they all came from every direction to the Rajasuya Yajna of King Yudhishthira, the son of the well-respected King Pandu. They were not in the least astonished to see the scale or the grandeur of the Yajna, since it was quite appropriate for a devotee of Bhagavan Sri Krishna!
अयाजयन् महाराजं याजका देववर्चस: । राजसूयेन विधिवत् प्रचेतसमिवामरा: ॥
सूत्येऽहन्यवनीपालो याजकान् सदसस्पतीन् । अपूजयन् महाभागान् यथावत् सुसमाहित: ॥
T: The priests, as powerful as gods, performed the Rajasuya sacrifice for King Yudhishthira in accordance with the Vedic injunctions, just as the gods had previously performed it for Varuna.
On the day of extracting the sacred soma juice, King Yudhishthira properly and very attentively worshipped the priests and honoured the most exalted personalities of the assembly.
सदस्याग्र्यार्हणार्हं वै विमृशन्त: सभासद: । नाध्यगच्छन्ननैकान्त्यात् सहदेवस्तदाब्रवीत् ॥
T: The members of the assembly then pondered over who among them should be worshipped first. This is called Agrapuja and the honour is conferred on the chosen one is very significant as it makes or breaks the success of the Rajasuya, a most exalted Yajna reserved for the most successful kings alone. However, since there were many personalities in that august assembly who were qualified for this honour, the consensus was not an easy one. Finally, Sahadeva spoke up.
Note: Our scriptures extol the wisdom and spiritual stature of Sahadeva, the youngest of the Pandavas.
अर्हति ह्यच्युत: श्रैष्ठ्यं भगवान् सात्वतां पति: । एष वै देवता: सर्वा देशकालधनादय: ॥
T: Sahadeva said: “Certainly it is Achyuta, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and chief of the Yadavas, i.e. Bhagavan Sri Krishna, who deserves this highest honour and worship as Agrapuja. In truth, he within himself comprises all the gods worshipped in any Yajna! He even constitutes all aspects of the worship as the sacred place, the time and the paraphernalia used in any Yajna!”
Note: This is explained at length in the Srimad Bhagavad-Gita.
यदात्मकमिदं विश्वं क्रतवश्च यदात्मका: । अग्निराहुतयो मन्त्रा साङ्ख्यं योगश्च यत्पर: ॥
एक एवाद्वितीयोऽसावैतदात्म्यमिदं जगत् । आत्मनात्माश्रय: सभ्या: सृजत्यवति हन्त्यज: ॥
विविधानीह कर्माणि जनयन् यदवेक्षया ।
ईहते यदयं सर्व: श्रेयो धर्मादिलक्षणम् ॥
तस्मात् कृष्णाय महते दीयतां परमार्हणम् ।
एवं चेत् सर्वभूतानामात्मनश्चार्हणं भवेत् ॥
सर्वभूतात्मभूताय कृष्णायानन्यदर्शिने ।
देयं शान्ताय पूर्णाय दत्तस्यानन्त्यमिच्छता ॥
T: “This entire universe is founded within this divinity, as are the great Yajna rituals, with their sacred fires, oblations and mantras. The spiritual paths of Sankhya and Yoga have as the goal of their pursuits only him, as he is the one without a second! Oh august members of this great assembly, that eternal and birthless Lord, Ishwara, relying solely on himself, creates, maintains and destroys this cosmos by his Shakti, and thus the existence of this universe depends on him alone.”
“He is the cause and creator of even all the activities of this world. It is by his grace that the whole world functions, pursuing the Purusharthas of Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha!"
“This Bhagavan, Sri Krishna, is here. Therefore, I emphatically propose that we should give the highest honour of Agrapuja to Sri Krishna, Ishwara (the Supreme Lord). If we do so, we will be honouring all living beings and also our own selves!”
“And, by the way, there is this most interesting aspect. Anyone who offers any honour or gift to the Lord will reap his reward multiplied immeasurably, as it is the very nature of Lord who considers none to be outside or separate from himself!”
इत्युक्त्वा सहदेवोऽभूत् तूष्णीं कृष्णानुभाववित् । तच्छ्रुत्वा तुष्टुवु: सर्वे साधु साध्विति सत्तमा: ॥
T: Sage Shuka continued: “Having said this, Sahadeva, who understood Bhagavan Sri Krishna’s powers, fell silent. And having heard his words, all the most noble-souled members of that assembly, sacred priests, all seconded this proposal, congratulating Sahadeva by exclaiming “Excellent! Excellent!”
श्रुत्वा द्विजेरितं राजा ज्ञात्वा हार्दं सभासदाम् । समर्हयद्धृषीकेशं प्रीत: प्रणयविह्वल: ॥
T: The King was delighted to hear this pronouncement of benediction by the best members of the assembly and Brahmins, from which he understood the mood of the entire assembly. Overwhelmed with love, he fully worshipped Bhagavan Sri Krishna, one of his names being Hrishikesha or the master of the senses.
Note: This name Hrishikesha is important as we shall see how Bhagavan deals with misconduct and provocation very shortly.
Sage Shuka now describes the Agrapuja itself.
तत्पादाववनिज्याप: शिरसा लोकपावनी: । सभार्य: सानुजामात्य: सकुटुम्बो वहन्मुदा ॥
वासोभि: पीतकौषेयैर्भूषणैश्च महाधनै: । अर्हयित्वाश्रुपूर्णाक्षो नाशकत् समवेक्षितुम् ॥
T: After bathing Sri Krishna’s feet in a golden plate, King Yudhishthira joyfully sprinkled that sanctified water upon his own head, and then upon the heads of his wife, brothers, other family members and ministers. That water purifies the whole world. As he honoured the Lord with bountiful gifts of yellow silken garments and precious jewelled ornaments, the King’s tear-filled eyes prevented him from casting his eyes directly at the Lord. Such was his sincere devotion.
इत्थं सभाजितं वीक्ष्य सर्वे प्राञ्जलयो जना: । नमो जयेति नेमुस्तं निपेतु: पुष्पवृष्टय: ॥
T: When they saw Sri Krishna thus honoured, nearly all who were present joined their palms reverentially, exclaiming “Obeisance to you! All victory to you!”, hailing Sri Krishna, and then bowed down to him. Flowers rained down from above.
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
