SECTION 210
(Rajya-labha Parva)
"Janamejaya said, 'O thou possessed of ascetic wealth, what
did they, my grandsires the Kauntheyas do after obtaining the kingdom of
Indraprastha? How did their wife Draupadi obey them all? How is it also that no
dissensions arose amongst Kauntheyas, all attached to one wife, Krishna? I wish
to hear everything in detail regarding the behaviour towards one another of
those Kauntheyas after their union with Krishna.'
"Vaisampayana said, 'The Kauntheyas, having obtained their
kingdom, at the command of Dhritarashtra, passed their days in joy and
happiness at Khandavaprastha with Krishna. And Yudhishthira, having obtained
the sovereignty, virtuously ruled the land, assisted by his brothers. And the
sons of Kunti, having vanquished all their foes, continued to live there in
great happiness. And Kauntheyas, seated on royal seats of great value, used to
discharge all the duties of government. And one day, while all those Kauntheyas
were so seated, there came unto them the celestial Rishi Narada, in course of
his wanderings. Beholding the Rishi, Yudhishthira offered him his own handsome
seat. And after the celestial Rishi had been seated, Yudhishthira duly offered
him the Arghya with his own hands. And the king also informed the Rishi of the
state of his kingdom. The Rishi accepting the worship, became well-pleased, and
eulogising him with benedictions, commanded the king to take his seat.
Commanded by the Rishi, the king took his seat. Then the king sent word unto
Krishna in the inner apartments of the arrival of the illustrious one. Hearing
of the Rishi's arrival Draupadi, purifying herself properly, came with a
respectful attitude to where Narada was with the Kauntheyas. Krishna, worshipping
the celestial Rishi's feet, stood with joined hands before him, properly
veiled, The illustrious Narada, pronouncing various benedictions on her,
commanded the princess to retire. After Krishna had retired, the illustrious
Rishi, addressing in private all the Kauntheyas with Yudhishthira at their
head, said, 'The renowned Krishna is the wedded wife of you all. Establish a
rule amongst yourselves so that disunion may not arise amongst you. There were,
in former days, celebrated throughout the three worlds, two brothers named
Sunda and Upasunda living together and incapable of being slain by anybody
unless each slew the other. They ruled the same kingdom, lived in the same house,
slept on the same bed, sat on the same seat, and ate from the same dish. And
yet they killed each for the sake of Tilottama. Therefore, O Yudhishthira,
preserve your friendship for one another and do that which may not produce
disunion amongst you.'
"On hearing this, Yudhishthira asked, 'O great Muni, whose
sons were Asuras called Sunda and Upasunda? Whence arose that dissension
amongst them, and why did they slay each other? Whose daughter also was this Tilottama
for whose love the maddened brothers killed each other? Was she an Apsara or
the daughter of any celestial? We desire, to hear in detail everything as it
happened. Indeed, our curiosity hath become great.'"
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