Chapter 209

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Hearing these words of Vidura, Drupada said, ‘It iseven so as thou, O Vidura of great wisdom, hast said. Venerable one, Itoo have been exceedingly happy in consequence of this alliance. It ishighly proper that these illustrious princes should return to theirancestral kingdom. But it is not proper for me to say this myself.

If thebrave son of Kunti viz., Yudhishthira, if Bhima and Arjuna, if thesebulls among men, viz., the twins, themselves desire to go and if Rama(Valadeva) and Krishna, both acquainted with every rule of morality, beof the same mind, then let the Pandavas go thither. For these tigersamong men (Rama and Krishna) are ever engaged in doing what is agreeableand beneficial to the sons of Pandu.’

“Hearing this, Yudhishthira said, ‘We are now, O monarch, with all ouryounger brothers, dependent on thee. We shall cheerfully do what thou artpleased to command.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Then Vasudeva said, ‘I am of opinion that thePandavas should go. But we should all abide by the opinion of kingDrupada who is conversant with every rule of morality.’

“Drupada then spoke, ‘I certainly agree with what this foremost of men,thinketh, having regard to the circumstances. For the illustrious sons ofPandu now are to me as they are, without doubt, to Vasudeva. Kunti’s sonYudhishthira himself doth not seek the welfare of the Pandavas soearnestly as, Kesava, that tiger among men.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Commanded by the illustrious Drupada, thePandavas, then, O king, and Krishna and Vidura, taking with them Krishna,the daughter of Drupada, and the renowned Kunti, journeyed towards thecity called after the elephant, stopping at various places along the wayfor purposes of pleasure and enjoyment. King Dhritarashtra, hearing thatthose heroes had neared the capital sent out the Kauravas to receivethem. They who were thus sent out were, O Bharata, Vikarna of the greatbow, and Chitrasena, and Drona that foremost of warriors, and Kripa ofGautama’s line. Surrounded by these, those mighty heroes, their splendourenhanced by that throng slowly entered the city of Hastinapura. The wholecity became radiant, as it were, with the gay throng of sight-seersanimated by curiosity. Those tigers among men gladdened the hearts of allwho beheld them. And the Pandavas, dear unto the hearts of the people,heard, as they proceeded, various exclamations with the citizens, everdesirous of obeying the wishes of those princes, loudly uttered. Someexclaimed, ‘Here returns that tiger among men, conversant with all therules of morality and who always protects us as if we were his nearestrelatives.’ And elsewhere they said, ‘It seems that king Pandu–thebeloved of his people–returneth today from the forest, doubtless to dowhat is agreeable to us.’ And there were some that said, ‘What good isnot done to us today when the heroic sons of Kunti come back to our town?If we have ever given away in charity, if we have ever poured libationsof clarified butter on the fire, if we have any ascetic merit, let thePandavas, by virtue of all those acts stay in our town for a hundredyears.’

“At last the Pandavas, on arriving at the place, worshipped the feet ofDhritarashtra, as also those of the illustrious Bhishma. They alsoworshipped the feet of everybody else that deserved that honour. And theyenquired after the welfare of every citizen (there present). At last, atthe command of Dhritarashtra they entered the chambers that had beenassigned to them.

“After they had rested there for some time, they were summoned (to thecourt) by king Dhritarashtra and Bhishma, the son of Santanu. When theycame, king Dhritarashtra addressing Yudhishthira, said, ‘Listen, O son ofKunti, with thy brothers, to what I say. Repair ye to Khandavaprastha sothat no difference may arise again (between you and your cousins). If youtake up your quarters there no one will be able to do you any injury.Protected by Partha (Arjuna), like the celestials by the thunderbolt,reside ye at Khandavaprastha, taking half of the kingdom.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Agreeing to what Dhritarashtra said, thosebulls among men worshipping the king set out from Hastinapura. Andcontent with half the kingdom, they removed to Khandavaprastha, which wasin unreclaimed desert. Then those heroes of unfading splendour, viz., thePandavas, with Krishna at their head, arriving there, beautified theplace and made it a second heaven. And those mighty car-warriors,selecting with Dwaipayana’s assistance a sacred and auspicious region,performed certain propitiatory ceremonies and measured out a piece ofland for their city. Then surrounded by a trench wide as the sea and bywalls reaching high up to the heavens and white as the fleecy clouds orthe rays of the moon, that foremost of cities looked resplendent likeBhogavati (the capital of the nether kingdom) decked with the Nagas. Andit stood adorned with palatial mansions and numerous gates, eachfurnished with a couple of panels resembling the out-stretched wings ofGaruda. And it was protected with gateways looking like the clouds andhigh as the Mandara mountains. And well-furnished with numerous weaponsof attack the missiles of the foes could not make slightest impression onthem. And they were almost covered with darts and other missiles likedouble-tongued snakes. The turrets along the walls were filled with armedmen in course of training; and the walls were lined with numerouswarriors along their whole length. And there were thousands of sharphooks and Sataghnis (machines slaying a century of warriors) and numerousother machines on the battlements. There were also large iron wheelsplanted on them. And with all these was that foremost of cities adorned.The streets were all wide and laid out excellently; and there was no fearin them of accident. And decked with innumerable mansions, the citybecame like unto Amaravati and came to be called Indraprastha (like untoIndra’s city). In a delightful and auspicious part of the city rose thepalace of the Pandavas filled with every kind of wealth and like unto themansion of the celestial treasurer (Kuvera) himself. And it looked like amass of clouds charged with lightning.

“When the city was built, there came, O king, numerous Brahmanaswell-acquainted with all the Vedas and conversant with every language,wishing to dwell there. And there came also unto that town numerousmerchants from every direction, in the hope of earning wealth. There alsocame numerous persons well-skilled in all the arts, wishing to take uptheir abode there. And around the city were laid out many delightfulgardens adorned with numerous trees bearing both fruits and flowers.There were Amras (mango trees) and Amaratakas, and Kadamvas and Asokas,and Champakas; and Punnagas and Nagas and Lakuchas and Panasas; and Salasand Talas (palm trees) and Tamalas and Vakulas, and Ketakas with theirfragrant loads; beautiful and blossoming and grand Amalakas with branchesbent down with the weight of fruits and Lodhras and blossoming Ankolas;and Jamvus (blackberry trees) and Patalas and Kunjakas and Atimuktas; andKaraviras and Parijatas and numerous other kinds of trees always adornedwith flowers and fruits and alive with feathery creatures of variousspecies. And those verdant groves always resounded with the notes ofmaddened peacocks and Kokilas (blackbirds). And there were variouspleasure-houses, bright as mirrors, and numerous bowers of creepers, andcharming and artificial hillocks, and many lakes full to the brim ofcrystal water, and delightful tanks fragrant with lotuses and lilies andadorned with swans and ducks and chakravakas (brahminy ducks). And therewere many delicious pools overgrown with fine aquatic plants. And therewere also diverse ponds of great beauty and large dimension. And, O king,the joy of the Pandavas increased from day to day, in consequence oftheir residence in that large kingdom that was peopled with pious men.

“Thus in consequence of the virtuous behaviour of Bhishma and kingDhritarashtra towards them, the Pandavas took up their abode inKhandavaprastha. Adorned with those five mighty warriors, each equal untoIndra himself, that foremost of cities looked like Bhogavati (the capitalof the nether kingdom) adorned with the Nagas. And, O monarch, havingsettled the Pandavas there, the heroic Krishna, obtaining their leave,came back with Rama to Dwaravati.'”