Chapter 46

“Janamejaya said, ‘It behoveth thee, O learned Brahmana, to tell me whatwas next done by Yudhishthira the mighty-armed son of Dharma after he hadregained his kingdom. It behoveth thee to tell me also, O Rishi, what theheroic Hrishikesa, the supreme master of the three worlds did after this.’

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Listen to me, O king, as I narrate in detail, Osinless one, what the Pandavas, headed by Vasudeva, did after this.Having obtained his kingdom, O monarch, Kunti’s son Yudhishthiraappointed each of the four orders of men to their respective duties. The(eldest) son of Pandu gave unto a thousand high-souled Brahmanas of theSnataka order a thousand Nishkas each. He then gratified the servantsthat were dependant on him and the guests that came to him, includingpersons that were undeserving and those that held heterodox views, byfulfilling their wishes. Unto his priest Dhaumya he gave kine inthousands and much wealth and gold and silver and robes of diverse kinds.Towards Kripa, O monarch, the king behaved in the way one should towardsone’s preceptor. Observant of vows, the king continued to honour Viduragreatly. That foremost of charitable men gratified all persons with giftsof food and drink and robes of diverse kinds and beds and seats. Havingrestored peace to his kingdom, the king, O best of monarchs, possessed ofgreat fame, paid due honour unto Yuyutsu and Dhritarashtra. Placing hiskingdom, at the disposal of Dhritarashtra, of Gandhari, and of Vidura,king Yudhishthira continued to pass his days happily. Having gratifiedeverybody, including the citizens, in this way, Yudhishthira, O bull ofBharata’s race, then proceeded with joined hands to the presence of thehigh-souled Vasudeva. He beheld Krishna, of the hue of a blue cloud,seated on a large sofa adorned with gold and gems. Attired in yellowrobes of silk and decked with celestial ornaments, his person blazed withsplendour like a Jewel set on gold. His bosom adorned with the Kaustubhagem, he looked like the Udaya mountain that decked the rising Sun. Sobeautiful did he look that there is no simile in the three worlds.Approaching the high-souled one who was Vishnu himself in incarnate form,king Yudhishthira addressed him sweetly and smilingly, saying, ‘Oforemost of intelligent men, hast thou passed the night happily? O thouof unfading glory, are all thy faculties in their full vigour? O foremostof intelligent persons, is it all right with thy understanding? We havegot back our kingdom and the whole earth has come under our control, Odivine lord, through thy grace, O refuge of the three worlds and, O thouof three steps,[134] through thy grace have we won victory and obtainedgreat fame and have not fallen away from the duties of our order!’ Untothat chastiser of foes, viz., king Yudhishthira the just who addressedhim in that strain the divine Krishna said not a word, for he was thenrapt in meditation.”