Chapter 62

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Having heard these words of his son Vasudeva, thatdescendant of Sura, of righteous soul, casting off his grief, madeexcellent obsequial offerings (unto Abhimanyu). Vasudeva also performedthose rites for the ascension (to Heaven) of his high-souled nephew, thathero who was ever the darling of his sire (Vasudeva). He duly fed sixmillions of Brahmanas, endued with great energy, with edibles possessedof every recommendation. Presenting many clothes unto them, Krishnagratified the thirst for wealth of those Brahmanas. Wonderful were theheaps of gold, the number of kine and of beds and clothes, that were thengiven away. The Brahmanas loudly declared–‘Let (Krishna’s wealth)increase.’ Then Vasudeva of Dasarha’s race, and Valadeva, and Satyaki,and Satyaka, each performed the obsequial rites of Abhimanyu. Exceedinglyafflicted with grief, they failed to attain comfort. The same was thecase with the sons of Pandu in the city called after the elephant.Deprived of Abhimanyu, they failed to obtain peace of mind. The daughterof Virata, O monarch, for many days, totally abstained from all food,exceedingly afflicted by grief on account of the death of her husband. Atthis all her relatives became plunged into excess of grief. They allfeared that the embryo in her womb might be destroyed. Then Vyasa,ascertaining the state of things by his spiritual vision, came there. Thehighly intelligent Rishi, endued with great energy, arrived (at thepalace), addressed Pritha of large eyes, as also Uttara herself,saying,–‘Let this grief be abandoned. O famous lady, a son endued withmighty energy will be born to thee, through the puissance of Vasudeva andat my word. That son will rule the Earth after the Pandavas (havedeparted from it).’ Beholding Dhananjaya, he said unto him, in thehearing of king Yudhishthira the just, and gladdening him with his words,’O Bharata.–‘The grandson, O highly blessed one, will become ahigh-souled prince. He will righteously rule the whole Earth to the vergeof the sea. Therefore, O foremost one of Kuru’s race, cast off thisgrief, O mower of foes. Do not doubt this. This will truly happen. Thatwhich was uttered by the Vrishni hero on a former occasion, will, withoutdoubt, happen. Do not think otherwise. As regards Abhimanyu, he has goneto the regions of the deities, conquered by him with his own acts. Thathero should not be grieved for by thee or, indeed, by the other Kurus.’Thus addressed by his grandsire, Dhananjaya of righteous soul, O king,cast off his grief and even became cheerful. Thy sire, O prince, that artconversant with all duties, began to grow in that womb, O thou of greatintelligence, like the Moon in the lighted fortnight. Then Vyasa urgedthe royal son of Dharma for performing the horse-sacrifice. Having saidso, he made himself invisible there and then. The intelligent kingYudhishthira the just, hearing the words of Vyasa, set his mind on thejourney for bringing wealth (for the sacrifice).'”