Maha-bharata Part 43

Every duty thus completed, joyful Yudhishthir's mind, And he blessed his faithful brothers with an elder's blessings kind.

II

The Feasting

Men in nations are a.s.sembled, hymns are sung by saint and sage, And in learned disputations keen disputants oft engage,

And the concourse of the monarchs view the splendour of the rite, Like the glorious sky of INDRA is the sacrificial site!

Bright festoons and flaming streamers o'er the golden arches hung, Groups of men and gay-dressed women form a bright and joyous throng,

Jars of cool and sparkling waters, vessels rich with gold inlaid, Costly cups and golden vases Kuru's wealth and pride displayed!

Sacrificial stakes of timber with their golden fastenings graced, Consecrated by the _mantra_ are in sumptuous order placed,

Countless creatures of the wide earth, fishes from the lake and flood, Buffaloes and bulls from pasture, beasts of prey from jungle wood,

Birds and every egg-born creature, insects that from moisture spring, Denizens of cave and mountain for the sacrifice they bring!

n.o.ble chiefs and mighty monarchs gaze in wonder on the site, Filled with every living object, corn and cattle for the rite,

Curd and cake and sweet confection are for feasting Brahmans spread, And a hundred thousand people are with sumptuous viands fed!

With the accents of the rain-cloud drum and trumpet raise their voice, Speak Yudhishthir's n.o.ble bounty, bid the sons of men rejoice,

Day by day the holy _yajna_ grows in splendour and in joy, Rice in hillocks feeds all comers, maid and matron, man and boy,

Lakes of curd and lakes of b.u.t.ter speak Yudhishthir's bounteous feast, Nations of the Jambu-dwipa share it, greatest and the least!

For a hundred diverse races from a hundred regions came, Ate of good Yudhishthir's bounty, blessed the good Yudhishthir's name,

And a thousand proud attendants, gay with earrings, garland-graced, Carried food unto the feeders and the sweet confections placed,

Viands fit for crowned monarchs were unto the Brahmans given, Drinks of rich and cooling fragrance like the nectar-drink of heaven!

III

Sacrifice of Animals

Victor of a hundred battles, Arjun came with conquering steed, Vyasa, herald of the Vedas, bade the holy rite proceed:

"For the day is come, Yudhishthir, let the sacrifice be done, Let the priests repeat the mantra golden as the morning sun!

Threefold bounteous be thy presents, and a threefold merit gain, For thy wealth of gold is ample, freely thy _dakshina_ rain!

May the threefold rich performance purify the darkening stain, Blood of warriors and of kinsmen slaughtered on the gory plain!

May the _yajna's_ pure ablution wash thee of the cruel sin, And the meed of sacrificers may the good Yudhishthir win!"

Vyasa spake; and good Yudhishthir took the _diksha_ of the rite, And commenced the _aswa-medha_ gladdening every living wight,

Round the altar's holy l.u.s.tre moved the priests with sacred awe, Swerved not from the rule of duty, failed not in the sacred law.

Done the rite of pure _pravargya_ with the pious hymn and lay, To the task of _abhishava_ priests and Brahmans led the way,

And the holy Soma-drinkers pressed the sacred Soma plant, And performed the pure _savana_ with the solemn _saman_ chant.

Bounty waits on squalid hunger, gifts dispel the timid fear, Gold revives the poor and lowly, mercy wipes the mourner's tear,

Tender care relieves the stricken by the gracious king's command, Charity with loving sweetness spreads her smile o'er all the land!

Day by day the _aswa-medha_ doth with sacred rites proceed, Day by day on royal bounty poor and grateful myriads feed,

And adept in six Vedangas, strict in vow and rich in lore, Sage preceptors, holy teachers, grew in virtue ever more!

Six good stakes of _vilwa_ timber, six of hard _khadira_ wood, Six of seasoned _sarvavarnin_, on the place of _yajna_ stood,

Two were made of _devadaru_, pine that on Himalay grows, One was made of wood of _slesha_ which the sacrificer knows,

Other stakes of golden l.u.s.tre quaint with curious carving done, Draped in silk and gold-brocaded like the _ursa major_ shone!

And the consecrated altar built and raised of bricks of gold, Shone in splendour like the altar Daksha built in days of old,

Eighteen cubits square the structure, four deep layers of brick in height, With a s.p.a.cious winged triangle like an eagle in its flight!

Beasts whose flesh is pure and wholesome, dwellers of the lake or sky, Priests a.s.signed each varied offering to each heavenly power on high,

Bulls of various breed and colour, steeds of mettle true and tried, Other creatures, full three hundred, to the many stakes were tied.

_Deva-rishis_ viewed the feasting, sweet _gandharvas_ woke the song, _Apsaras_ like gleams of sunlight on the greensward tripped along,

_Kinnaras_ and _kim-purushas_ mingled in the holy rite, _Siddhas_ of austerest penance stood around the sacred site!

Vyasa's great and gifted pupils, who the Vedas have compiled, Gazed upon the _aswa-medha_, on the wondrous _yajna_ smiled!

From the bright ethereal mansions heavenly _rishi_ Narad came, Chetra-sena woke the music, singer of celestial fame,

Cheered by more than mortal music Brahmans to their task incline, And Yudhishthir's fame and virtue with a brighter l.u.s.tre shine!

IV

Sacrifice of the Horse

Birds and beasts thus immolated, dressed and cooked, provide the food, Then before the sacred charger priests in rank and order stood,

And by rules of Veda guided slew the horse of n.o.ble breed, Placed Draupadi, _Queen of yajna_, by the slain and lifeless steed,

Hymns and gifts and pure devotion sanctified the n.o.ble Queen, Woman's worth and stainless virtue, woman's pride and wisdom keen!