॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
***
King Parikshit asked Sage Shuka, “Sir, did I hear you right, that all the assembled kings, sages and gods were delighted to see the wonderful festivities of King Yudhishthira, known as Ajatashatru (whose enemy was unborn), especially the Rajasaya Yajna, with the sole exception of Duryodhana? Please tell me why this was so, my lord."
Sage Shuka, also known as Badarayani, replied:
At the Rajasaya Yajna of your saintly grandfather, all his kith and kin, bound by their love for him, engaged themselves in various duties, great and small.
Bhima supervised the kitchen, Duryodhana looked after the treasury, while Sahadeva respectfully greeted the arriving guests. Nakula procured needed items, Arjuna attended upon the respectable elders, and Sri Krishna washed everyone’s feet. Queen Draupadi served food, and Karna, known for his generosity, gave out the gifts.
Many others, such as Yuyudhana; Vikarṇa, Hardikya, Vidura, Bhurishravas and other sons of Bahlika, and Santardana, similarly volunteered for various duties during the elaborate Yajna. They did so because of their eagerness to please King Yudhishthira.
After the priests, the royals, saints and close well-wishers had all been honoured, and after the Shishupala episode, the King proceeded to the Yamuna for Avabhrta snana.
To the accompaniment of musical instruments, songs and panegyrics, amidst royal decorations and celebratory buntings and flags, King Yudhishthira and Queen Draupadi were led to have the ceremonial bath in the Yamuna.
Even the large armies of fellow kings who had assembled marched in the procession, making the earth shake with their steps. The gods and ancestors blessed from above with flowers, maidens sprinkled everyone with perfumed water and other auspicious things fit for the occasion. The men and women played with each other in a spirit of joyous celebration.
सस्नुस्तत्र तत: सर्वे वर्णाश्रमयुता नरा: । महापातक्यपि यत: सद्यो मुच्येत किल्बिषात् ॥
T: All the citizens belonging to the various orders of Varna and Ashrama then bathed in that place, where even the most grievous sinner can immediately be freed from all sinful reactions.
The royals and everyone else put on new clothes and so on, gifted by Yudhishthira.
In a most felicitous mood, everyone blessed and wished King Yudhishthira well, taking their leave.
Yudhishthira out of his affection for his kith and kin prevailed on them to stay in the Indraprastha Palace for some more days.
एकदान्त:पुरे तस्य वीक्ष्य दुर्योधन: श्रियम् । अतप्यद् राजसूयस्य महित्वं चाच्युतात्मन: ॥
यस्मिन् नरेन्द्रदितिजेन्द्रसुरेन्द्रलक्ष्मीर्नाना विभान्ति किल विश्वसृजोपक्लृप्ता: ।
ताभि: पतीन् द्रुपदराजसुतोपतस्थे यस्यां विषक्तहृदय: कुरुराडतप्यत् ॥
यस्मिन् तदा मधुपतेर्महिषीसहस्रं श्रोणीभरेण शनकै: क्वणदङ्घ्रिशोभम् ।
मध्ये सुचारु कुचकुङ्कुमशोणहारं श्रीमन्मुखं प्रचलकुण्डलकुन्तलाढ्यम् ॥
T: One day Duryodhana, while observing the riches of King Yudhishthira’s palace, felt greatly disturbed by the magnificence of both the Rajasaya Yajna and the prosperity of its performer, the King, whose life and soul was Lord Achyuta.
That palace reflected the collective opulence and glory of all magnificent royalty, as it had been created by none other than the gifted Maya Asura. With those riches and amidst that prosperity, Draupadi served her husbands, and Duryodhana, the prince of the Kurus, lamented because he had always very much coveted her.
Sri Krishna’s retinue of queens also was present there, enlivening the palace with their beauty accompanied by the tinkling of their anklets and rustling of their dresses.
सभायां मयक्लृप्तायां क्वापि धर्मसुतोऽधिराट् । वृतोऽनुगैर्बन्धुभिश्च कृष्णेनापि स्वचक्षुषा ॥
आसीन: काञ्चने साक्षादासने मघवानिव । पारमेष्ठ्यश्रिया जुष्ट: स्तूयमानश्च वन्दिभि: ॥
त्र दुर्योधनो मानी परीतो भ्रातृभिर्नृप । किरीटमाली न्यविशदसिहस्त: क्षिपन् रुषा ॥
स्थलेऽभ्यगृह्णाद् वस्त्रान्तं जलं मत्वा स्थलेऽपतत् ।
जले च स्थलवद् भ्रान्त्या मयमायाविमोहित: ॥ जहास भीमस्तं दृष्ट्वा स्त्रियो नृपतयोऽपरे ।
निवार्यमाणा अप्यङ्ग राज्ञा कृष्णानुमोदिता: ॥
स व्रीडितोऽवाग्वदनो रुषा ज्वलन् निष्क्रम्य तूष्णीं प्रययौ गजाह्वयम् ।
हाहेति शब्द: सुमहानभूत् सतामजातशत्रुर्विमना इवाभवत् ।
बभूव तूष्णीं भगवान् भुवो भरं समुज्जिहीर्षुर्भ्रमति स्म यद् दृशा ॥
एतत्तेऽभिहितं राजन् यत्पृष्टोऽहमिह त्वया । सुयोधनस्य दौरात्म्यं राजसूये महाक्रतौ ॥
T: On one specific occasion, it so happened that Emperor Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, was sitting just like Indra on a golden throne in the assembly hall built by Maya Asura. Present with him were his attendants and relatives, and also Bhagavan Sri Krishna, veritably Yudhishthira’s eye for truth.
Displaying the richness of Brahma himself, King Yudhishthira was seated, and was being praised by the court poets.
Just then, the proud Duryodhana, holding a sword in his hand and wearing a crown and necklace, entered the palace in the company of his brother, peremptorily insulting the doorkeepers as he entered.
Duryodhana then became bewildered and disoriented by the illusions embedded in the palace by Maya Asura. Thus, Duryodhana mistook the solid floor for water and lifted the end of his garment. And elsewhere he fell into the water, mistaking it for the solid floor.
When Bhima saw this, he laughed and so did the women, kings and others. King Yudhishthira tried to stop them, but Sri Krishna seemed to approve of their natural reaction to the situation.
Humiliated and burning with anger, Duryodhana turned his face down, left without uttering a word, and immediately returned to Hastinapura.
The sages present loudly cried out, “Alas, alas!” and King Yudhishthira was somewhat saddened. But the Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna remained silent, whose intention was to remove the burden of the earth of evil royals. We know how Bhagavan’s mere glance could bewilder anyone like Duryodhana.
Sage Shuka concluded, “I hope, King Parikshit, I have described to you what occurred during the Rajasuya and how it inflamed the anger of Duryodhana."
***
॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
