Jai Sriman Narayana !!
The great epic Mahabharath was composed by
Maharishi Veda Vyasa/Krishna Dwaipayana, son of Sage Parasara and Sathyavati, a
woman from fishermen clan. Mahabharath describes the legend of Bharatha
Dynasty. It was written in 18 Parva such as Adhi Parva,
Sabha Parva, Vana Parva, Virada Parva, Udhyoga Parva, Bhishma Parva, Drona
Parva, Karna Parva, Shalya Parva, Soupthika Parva, Stri Parva, Shanthi Parva,
Anushasana Parva, Ashwamedha Parva, Ashramavasika Parva, Musala Parva,
Mahaprasthanika Parva and Swargarohana Parva and each Parva has divided into
many Upaparva and has chapters in detail. Adhi Parva depicts
the life of King Dushyantha and his wife Shakunthala and their son
Sarvadhamanan, who was famously known as Bharatha, a righteous ruler of
Bharatha empire.
Lord Brahma created deities, Sages and
Prajapathis. It was the beginning of the growth of human race from the
sixty daughters of Daksha Prajapathi. Pururavass, Yayathi,
Puru, Dushyantha, Bharatha, Shanthanu were born in the family of
Dithi, one of the daughters of Daksha Prajapathi.
King Janamejaya, son of King Pareekshit conducted
a grand Yagna to please serpent Gods. There were a huge number of Rishis
& Sages were present in the magnificent Yagna, Maharishi Veda Vyasa along
with his disciple Rishi Vaishampayana and Sage Ugrasrava Sauti was also amongst
them. Rishi Vaishampayana narrated the stories of Kuru Dynasty to
King Janamejaya at the time of Naga Yagna. Later, this anecdote was
described to the Sages and Rishis assembled in Naimisharanya by Sage Sauti, son
of Sage Romaharshana/Lomaharshana, disciple of Maharishi Veda Vyasa.
Rishi Vaishampayana narrates the return of Kunthi
with her five children to the Kingdom of Hasthinapur. The great Rishis
and holy men lived in the woodland conducted a congregation to discuss about
the further proceedings after listening to the heartbreaking incident, the
death of the righteous King Pandu. They collectively decided that the
blameless King Pandu ascended to heaven leaving a great task before them and it
is their responsibility to safely entrust Kunthi and her children to the
Kingdom of Hasthinapur. Rishis and Sages proceeded to Hasthinapur with
the residual of King Pandu and Madri, their five children and Kunthi in order
to assign them in the custody of Bhishma Pithamaha and Drutharashtra. It
was indeed a tiresome journey for Kunthi and her children mentally as well as physically.
Finally, they arrived at the main entrance of the Palace of Hasthinapur and it
was duly informed to King Drutharashtra and Bhishma Pithamaha. The people
of entire Hasthinapur gathered to witness the congregation of great Rishis and
Sages. It was the time of sunset, the people and their families were
flown from different parts of Hasthinapur, huge number of Brahmanas,
Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras were assembled to witness the event. It
was certainly a calm assembly of the people; the whole atmosphere was filled
with holiness to receive their revered King Pandu’s children and his
wife. Shortly, Bhishma Pithamaha, son of King Shanthanu,
Somadatta/Valhika, Drutharashtra, Vidura, Sathyavati, Princesses of Kasi,
Gandhari, hundred sons of Drutharashtra followed by royal household appeared
before them. The priests of Hasthinapur received the Sages and Rishis
with utmost reverence. The elderly Rishi narrated the incidents happened
in the woodland, spoke highly about the virtuous of King Pandu who has
adopted the Vanaprasthashrama with his two wives after abandoning all the
worldly pleasures, lived a life of an ascetic. These couples had five
children of celestials due to the indispensable purpose of Almighty. The
elder one is Yudhishtira with the righteousness of Lord Dharmaraj, Bhima
with the mightiness of Lord Vayu, Arjun possessed benevolence and marvelous
skill in Archery as Lord Indra and Nakula& Sahadeva born to Madri from
Ashwini Kumaras. These five children has possessed virtues and obtained
vast knowledge in Veda Sastra that will provide greatest pleasure to all.
The blameless King Pandu left his mortal coil seventeen days before; his wife
Madri sacrificed her life in the funeral pyre of Pandu. The Rishis and
Sages advised the enlightened members of the assembly to perform whatever rites
remaining for the benefit of the departed soul and offered the residue of Pandu
and Madri, instructed them to receive the children of Pandu and his wife with
all honors. Further, the initial rite of Pandu was performed in the
woodland, the virtuous Pandu who was the powerful enthusiast and the pride of
Kurus requires the performance of annual Sapindakaranam/Shradhha that would
install him properly in the Pitru Loka. The Rishis and holy men after the
gracious lecture to Kurus, instantly disappeared from the very sight of the
people. The people of Hasthinapur amazed at this sight and returned to
their homes.
Jai Sriman Narayana !!
