Chapter 70

“Vaisampayana said, ‘When the Brahma-weapon was withdrawn by Krishna, atthat time, the laying-in room was illumined by thy father with hisenergy. All the Rakshasas (that had come there) were forced to leave theroom and many of them met with destruction. In the welkin a voice washeard, saying, ‘Excellent, O Kesava, Excellent!’–The blazingBrahma-weapon then returned to the Grandsire (of all the worlds). Thysire got back his life-breaths, O king. The child began to move accordingto his energy and might. The Bharata ladies became filled with joy. Atthe command of Govinda, the Brahmanas were made to utter benedictions.All the ladies, filled with joy, praised Janarddana. Indeed, the wives ofthose Bharata lions, viz., Kunti and Drupada’s daughter and Subhadra, andUttara, and the wives of other lions among men, like (ship-wrecked)persons who have reached the shore after having obtained a boat, becameexceedingly glad. Then wrestlers and actors and astrologers and those whoenquire after the slumbers (of princes), and bands of bards and eulogistsall uttered the praises of Janarddana, while uttering benedictionsfraught with the praises of the Kuru race, O chief of the Bharatas.Uttara, rising up at the proper time, with a delighted heart and bearingher child in her arms, reverentially saluted the delighter of the Yadus.Rejoicing greatly, Krishna made gifts unto the child of many valuablegems. The other chiefs of the Vrishni race, did the same. Then thepuissant Janarddana, firmly adhering to truth, bestowed a name on theinfant who was thy sire, O monarch.–‘Since this child of Abhimanyu hasbeen born at a time when this race has become nearly extinct, let hisname be Parikshit!’ Even this is what he said. Then thy father, O king,began to grow, and gladden all the people, O Bharata. When thy father wasa month old, O hero, the Pandavas came back to their capital, bringingwith them a profusion of wealth. Hearing that the Pandavas were near,those foremost ones of the Vrishni race went out. The citizens decked thecity called after the elephant with garlands of flowers in profusions,with beautiful pennons and standards of diverse kinds. The citizens also,O king, adorned their respective mansions. Desirous of doing what wasbeneficial to the sons of Pandu, Vidura ordered diverse kinds of worshipto be offered to the deities established in their respective temples. Theprincipal streets of the city were adorned with flowers. Indeed, the citywas filled with the hum of thousands of voices which resembled thesoftened roar of distant ocean waves. With dancers all engaged in theirvocation, and with the voice of singers, the (Kuru) city then resembledthe mansion of Vaisravana himself.[186] Bards and eulogists, O king,accompanied by beautiful women were seen to adorn diverse retired spotsin the city. The pennons were caused by the wind to float gaily on everypart of the city, as if bent upon showing the Kurus the southern and thenorthern points of the compass. All the officers also of the governmentloudly proclaimed that that was to be a day of rejoicing for the entirekingdom as an indication of the success of the enterprise for bringing aprofusion of gems and other valuables.'”[187]