Sushmajee
Mahaabhaarat | Kathaa-G | 3-Youth

2-Sabhaa Parv, 5-13  of 80
Kathaa-G - 3-Youth - page 19

Home | Mahaabhaarat | Kathaa | 3-Youth

2-Sabhaa Parv-page 2

Previous | Next

 
Naarad Describes Celestial Courts and suggests Yudhishthir for Raajsooya Yagya

[2-5] Naarad Jee also came there with Paarijaat, Raivat, Saumya and Sumukh. Yudhishthir respected him with usual Arghya. Pleased with Yudhishthir, Naarad Jee asked Yudhishthir his usual welfare, and asked "Weather your study of the Ved, your wealth and knowledge of the Shaastra and marriage are fruitful?" At this Yudhishthir asked - "O sage, How do the Ved, wealth, wife and knowledge of Shaastra bear the fruits?"

Naarad Jee said - "The Ved are fruitful when he who has studied them perform Agnihotra and other sacrifices; wealth bears the fruit when it is given away in charity after one's enjoyment; the wife bears the fruit when she is useful and bears the children; and the knowledge of the Shaastra bears the fruit when one follows humility and good behavior." Yudhishthir said - "I will do so as you have said to me, because now my knowledge has increased."

[2-6] Yudhishthir further said - "Till now I have done the same as you have told me now to the best of my knowledge. We always wish to walk on the path of virtue." Seeing the opportunity, Yudhishthir asked Naarad Jee - ""You have been in three Lok, tell me if you have seen any other court like mine, or better than this one?" Naarad Jee said smiling - "Well, I have never seen such court amongst men on this earth, but I will tell you about the courts of Yam Raaj, Varun, Indra, and Kuber. I will also tell you about the court of Brahmaa where there is no sorrow of any kind if you wish to listen to. All these courts exhibit all kinds of designs found in the Universe." Yudhishthir joined his palms and said politely - "Please, Do describe us these courts, as what these courts are made of, what is their area, who wait upon them in their courts. We all have a great curiosity to listen to it." Naarad Jee said - "All right, Then listen to it, I tell you all."

(2-7) Naarad Jee said - "Indra's court is very luxurious and he has obtained it with his own labor. Indra himself has built it. It is 150 Yojan long, 100 Yojan wide and 5 Yojan high. It can go anywhere at the command of will. There is no old age, grief, disease, fatigue, fear in that court. It is furnished with rooms, seats, beautiful celestial trees and is very delightful. There sit Indra with his wife Shachee on one seat. His crown cannot be described because of its vagueness. He wears pure white clothes. He has performed 100 sacrifices. He is waited upon by Marut Gan, Siddh, celestial Rishi, Saadhya, Devtaa - all in their celestial form. Paraashar, Parvat, Saavarni, Gaalav, Shankh, Durvaasaa, Deerghaatmaa, Yaagyavalkya, Uddaalak, King Harishchandra, Tumburu, Vishwakarmaa, Vaalmeeki, Pulah, Pulastya, Kratu, Mareechi, Gautam, Vaishwaanar, Vishwaksen, Kanv, Kaatyaayan etc etc - some born from women and some living upon air, some living upon fire. 27 Fires conveying the Aahuti of sacrifices, Agni, clouds, Chandra, Brihaspati, Shukra, Vishwaavasu, Chitrasen, planets, Mantra, etc are present there. Many frequently come and leave the court, but Brihaspati and Shukra are always there. All worship Indra. His court is called "Pushkarmaalinee".

[2-8] Now I describe you Yam Raaj's court. His court was built by Vishwakarmaa. It is as bright as gold and covers more than 100 Yojan area. It can give you everything you wish for and is very delightful. There is no old age, hunger, thirst, ill feelings in his court. There are many kinds of juices, sweets and delicious things to enjoy. Garlands of fragrant flowers, hot and cold water, fruit bearing trees glorify the court. Royal sages and Braahman cheerfully wait upon him and worship him. Yayaati, Nahush, Puru, Maandhaataa, Nrig, Trasdasyu, Kritveerya, Arishtnemi, Nimi, Shibi, Brihadrath, Marutt, Kushik, Dhruv, Kaartveerya, Bharat, Surath, Suneeth, Nal, Divodaas, Ambareesh, Bhageerath, Vrishsen, Purukuts, Dileep, Usheenar, Sharyaati, Pundareek, Gaya, Muchukund, Parashuraam, Naabhaag, Sagar, Janak, Raam, Lakshman, Janamejaya, Bhooridatt, etc thousands of kings wait upon him in his court. And Agstya, Matang, Kalaa, and Mrityu (Death), Kaal Chakra (the Wheel of Time), all sinners, all those who die in Winter solstice, officers of Yam Raaj, all wait upon Yam Raaj. Now I will tell you about Varun's court which is also called "Pushkarmaalinee"."

[2-9] Naarad Jee further said - "Varun's court (Pushkarmaalinee) is unparallel in splendor. It is as long and wide as Yam's court and it is all pure white. It was built by Vishwakarmaa in waters. It is surrounded by trees made of gems and jewels bearing flower and fruits. Thousands of birds of a variety of species fly around there. Aaditya, Vaasuki, Takshak, Airaavat, Krishn, Lohit etc all Naag; Virochan's son Bali, Narakaasur, Viprachitti, Durmukh, Shankh, Mahaapaarshwa, Vishwaroop, etc Daitya; the four oceans; Gangaa, Narmadaa, Vipaashaa, Chandrabhaagaa, Saraswatee, Iraavatee, Krishnaa, Kaaveree, Godaavaree etc rivers; all mountains; all wait upon Varun in their personified form. Now you listen to about Kuber's court."

[2-10] Naarad Jee said - "Vaishravan means Kuber's court is 100 Yojan long and 70 Yojan wide. Kuber himself built it through his Tap. It shines like Moon, but it has golden chambers. Supported by Guhyak, it seems attached to firmament. It smells sweet with celestial fragrances. Sweet smell also comes from jasmine and lotuses bloomed in the River Alakaa and Nandan Gardens. He sits there with his 1,000 wives. Mishrakeshee, Rambhaa, Chitrasenaa, Shuchismitaa, Chaarunetra, Ghritaachee, Menakaa, Punjikaasthalee, Pramlochaa, Urvashee, Iraa etc Apsaraa, many Gandharv, Kinnar Yaksh wait upon Kuber. Devee Lakshmee always lives there. Kuber's son Nalkuber also lives there. Many Braahman, Rishi and Apsaraa etc also come there and go. Besides, Mahaadev (killer of Bhaganetra Asur) along with Umaa and thousands of spirits also wait upon their friend Kuber. Drum, the Chief of Kimpurush; Vishwaavasu, Haahaa and Hoohoo, Tumburu and Parvat, Chitrasen and Chitrarath etc wait upon him. Before Kuber used to worship Shiv, but later Shiv made him his friend; since then Shiv always sits in his friend's mansion. Shankh (conch) and Padm (lotus flower) also worship him in their personified form. It moves with along with the firmament. Now you listen to Brahmaa's court."

[2-11] Naarad Jee said - "Nobody can describe Brahmaa's court saying it "is such". In Sat Yug, once, after seeing Brahmaa's court, Aaditya (Soorya) came to earth in human form and told me about that court which is immeasurable, immaterial and indescribable as regards of shape and form and capable of delighting the heart. Then I expressed my desire to see it, so I asked him as by what Tap, or act, or charm I could see that court. He suggested me to meditate for 1,000 years, I did that, then he endowed me with great power and took me to Brahmaa's court. It is impossible to describe it "it is such" because every moment it changes its form. I have never seen such a thing before. It seems that it is made up of gems. Stationed in Heaven, it blazes forth like Sun. He has himself created it by his own power of illusion.

Daksh, Prachetaa, Pulah, Mareechi, Kashyap, Bhrigu, Atri, Vashishth, Gautam, Angiraa, Pulastya, Prahlaad, Kratu, and Kardam etc Prajaapati; Aangiras of Atharv Ved, intelligence, space, knowledge, Air, Fire, Earth, Sound, Touch, Form, Taste, and elemental and prime causes of the world; all live in that mansion. Agastya, Maarkandeya, Jamadagni, Bharadwaaj, Samvart, Chyavan, Durvaasaa, Rishyashring, Sanat Kumaar, Asit, Deval, Rishabh, Ajaatshatru, Science of healing of eight branches in personified form, and many others wait upon Brahmaa in his mansion. All Lokpaal, Brihaspati, Shukra, Mangal etc planets, Understanding, Patience, Memory, Wisdom, Intelligence, Mantra, Drama, Poems, Muhoort, Day, Night, Fortnight etc all wait upon Brahmaa Jee. I saw all Kaarttikeya, Baalkhilyaadi Rishi, Raakshas, Pishaach etc there. Thus this court is unquestionable in human world.

Naarad Suggests Yudhishthir for Raajsooya Yagya

[2-12] Yudhishthir was silent for a while then said - "Rishivar, It seems that most of the kings of the Earth are now in Yam's court; while all Naag, Daitya, Rivers and Oceans are in Varun's court; and Raakshas, Guhyak, Apsaraa, and Yam Raaj are in Kuber's court. All great Rishi, all the Devtaa, all the branches of learning are in Brahmaa's court. All Gandharv and Rishi are in Indra's court. You have mentioned only one king, Harishchandra, in Indra's court. What good Harishchandra did to be in Indra's court. You met my father Paandu in the region of Pitar. Did he tell you anything?" Naarad Jee said - "I tell you everything. He was a great king who was the king of seven Dweep. After that he performed Raajsooya Yagya in which he gratified all Braahman etc. All those kings who did Raajsooya Yagya attained the region of Indra. Those who do not show their back in battlefield and those who do severe Tap also go to Indra's Lok.

Seeing this your father Paandu has told you something "My sons are now very powerful. If Yudhishthir performs Raajsooya Yagya, I can also go to Indra Lok like Harishchandra and pass countless years there. I know that it is not an easy task but still with the help of his brothers he can do it. But now if anybody can do it, it is only you." I told him that I will tell him when I will go to Mrityu Lok. So I have told you all, now you do whatever appropriate you think. I have heard that there is a class of Brahm Raakshas which always tries to obstruct such sacrifices, and if it is obstructed, then a big calamity can happen, so taking care of this you should act. Now I go to Dwaarakaa." After saying this Naarad Jee went away. Hearing all this Yudhishthir sank in thoughts."

[2-13] Vaishampaayan Jee said - "Till now Paandav were living peacefully but Naarad's coming woke up a desire in Yudhishthir's heart to do Raajsooya Yagya. It was his father's wish also. When he talked about this in his court, everybody was very enthusiastic about it and advised him to do it. So he called Krishn from Dwaarakaa. He was their guide and without consulting Him they couldn't do anything. Krishn came to Indraprasth along with Indrasen. Yudhishthir told Him about Naarad's coming and the wish of his father Paandu and asked His true advice about Raajsooya Yagya as a real friend."

2-Sabhaa Parv - Lokpaal Sabhaa Aakhyaan Parv Ends Here

 

Home | Mahaabhaarat | Kathaa | 3-Youth

Previous | Next

Created by Sushma Gupta On 05/27/04
Contact: sushmajee@yahoo.com
Modified on 02/08/13