'"
SECTION CCXXIV
(Khandava-daha Parva)
"Vaisampayana said, 'The Pandavas, after they had taken up their abode at
Indraprastha at the command of Dhritarashtra and Bhishma began to bring
other kings under their sway. All the subjects (of the kingdom) lived most
happily depending upon Yudhishthira the just, like a soul living happily
depending upon a body blest with auspicious marks and pious deeds. And, O
bull in Bharata's race, Yudhishthira paid homage unto virtue, pleasure,
and profit, in judicious proportion, as if each were a friend dear unto
him as his own self. It seemed as if the three pursuits--virtue, pleasure,
and profit--became personified on earth, and amongst them the king shone
as a fourth. The subjects having obtained Yudhishthira as their king,
obtained in their monarch one that was devoted to the study of the Vedas,
one that was performer of the great sacrifices, and one that was protector
of all good people. In consequence of Yudhishthira's influence, the good
fortune of all the monarchs of the earth became stationary, and their
hearts became devoted to the meditation of the Supreme Spirit, and virtue
itself began to grow every way all round. And in the midst of and assisted
by his four brothers, the king looked more resplendent (than he would have
done if he were alone), like a great sacrifice depending upon and assisted
by the four Vedas. Many learned Brahmanas with Dhananjaya at their head,
each like unto Vrihaspati, waited upon the monarch, like the celestials
waiting upon the Lord of the creation.
Pages:
810
811
812
813
814
815
816
817
818
819
820
821
822
823
824
825
826
827
828
829
830
831
832
833
834