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HISTORY OF prisoner by the

INDIA. PART II.

2nd, The Vaishnava sacrifice performed by Duryodhana.

Jealous desire of
Duryodhana to

suya.

Disqualified

whilst the Ma

hishthira are alive.

Assyrians, he was rescued by Abraham and his armed servants, and the victory was celebrated by a feast of bread and wine. This similarity, however, by no means implies that the two narratives refer to the same event, but simply that such little victories followed by a feast were a characteristic of the patriarchal period.

The second incident of the exile, namely, the Vaishnava sacrifice performed by Duryodhana, may now be related as follows:

After these things, Raja Duryodhana resolved to celeperform a Raja- brate a Rajasúya, that should surpass the Rajasúya of his cousin Yudhishthira; and he called to his priest and said :"Let all things be got ready for a Rajasúya sacrifice." Then the priest answered:-"O Duryodhana, you cannot haraja and Yud- perform a Rajasúya whilst the Maharaja is still alive, and whilst your enemy Yudhishthira is also alive; but you may perform a Vaishnava sacrifice, and all the Rajas who are your vassals may attend it; and this sacrifice is as great as a Rajasúya." And Duryodhana said:-"Be it so!" So all things were made ready for a Vaishnava sacrifice; and messengers were sent to summon all the Chieftains belonging to the Raj that they should attend the sacrifice.

Prepares to

perform aVaishnava sacrifice.

His brother
Duhsásana in-

the Pandavas to

Now whilst the messengers were going their rounds, it sultingly invites came into the heart of Duhsásana, the brother of Duryodthe sacrifice. hana, to send a messenger to Yudhishthira, to invite the Pándavas to be present likewise; and the man went his way and delivered the message to his brethren. Then Mild answer of Yudhishthira, ever mild and dignified, thus made reply :

Yudhishthira.

Wrathful reply of Bhima.

"Such a sacrifice as Raja Duryodhana is about to perform must redound to the exaltation of the whole house of Bhárata; but I and my brethren cannot attend until the years of our exile be accomplished." But Bhíma was very wroth, and he cried out to the messenger:-"Go and tell Raja Duryodhana, that when the thirteen years are over, Raja Yudhishthira will kindle such a sacrifice with his weapons

as will burn up all the sons of Dhritarashtra.” 1 These HISTORY OF messages were duly delivered to Raja Duryodhana, but he

answered not a word.

INDIA. PART II.

performs the

crifice,

of his friends

palace in a great

of Karna.

After this Raja Duryodhana performed the Vaishnava Duryodhana sacrifice without the city, and distributed much provisions, Vaishnava saand many dresses, and rich gifts; and all those who were his friends said that no one had ever before performed so Divers opinions great a sacrifice, whilst those who were his enemies said and enemies. that the sacrifice was not worth one-sixteenth of the Rajasúya of Yudhishthira. And Duryodhana returned to Returns to his his own house in great state, while the eulogists and procession. story-tellers went before him and opened their mouths in his praise, and celebrated the deeds of his fathers; and all the people came out in great multitudes, and scattered flowers and parched grain along the road before him. And Congratulations Karna said to Duryodhana :-" By the auspicious force of your great destiny you have brought this sacrifice to an end; and when by your fortunate power you shall have slain the Pándavas, and shall perform the Rajasúya, I too will be present and pay you homage." Duryodhana answered:-"When I have slain the Pándavas, I will certainly perform the Rajasúya, and you shall be there to do me reverence." Then Karna vowed a vow, saying:-"I will Karna's vow to neither wash my feet, nor eat venison, and I will say nay to every one who asks me for a favour, until I have slain Arjuna." And the spies of the Pándavas carried intelligence of all that occurred to Raja Yudhishthira; and when Yudhishthira heard that Karna had bound himself by a Sorrow of Yudvow to slay Arjuna, he was very sorrowful, for he knew that the day would come when there would be a great battle between Arjuna and Karna.

slay Arjuna.

hishthira.

tradition of the

The foregoing tradition of the Vaishnava sacri- Review of the fice that was performed by Duryodhana throws a sacrifice of

1 William the Norman is said to have uttered a similar rough threat to that of Bhima. William was very corpulent and confined to his chamber. The French King remarked that his English brother was a long time lying in. William retorted that there should be no lack of tapers at his churching, and he kept his word by ravaging France with fire and sword.

Duryodhana.

INDIA.

Reasons why

Duryodhana

could not per

form a Rajasuya as Yudhishthira

had done.

HISTORY OF clearer light upon the institution known as the PART II. Rajasúya, inasmuch as it confirms the view that a Rajasúya was emphatically an assertion of sovereignty. Duryodhana could not assert his sovereignty because his father was still living, and because his enemy and rival, Yudhishthira, was alive also. Yudhishthira, on the other hand, had been in a condition to perform a Rajasúya, because he had established an independent Raj at Indra-prastha, and had succeeded in conquering all who had opposed him. It is, however, difficult to say in what respect the Vaishnava sacrifice differed from the Doubts respect. Rajasúya. The worship of Vishnu appears indeed to have been of a comparatively modern origin, and to have belonged to a period posterior to the age of animal sacrifices. Under such circumstances, whilst the fact may be admitted that Duryodhana performed a sacrifice, the statement that it was a Vaishnava sacrifice may be regarded as a later interpolation.

ing the Vaishnava sacrifice.

3rd, Yudhishthira's dream.

Apparently a

Buddhistic parable.

Legend of the dream.

The third incident of the exile, namely, Yudhishthira's dream, is mythical in its present form, but still is evidently founded on authentic fact. The Pándavas prepared to move to another forest, apparently because the game had become scarce in the neighbourhood of their encampment; and this simple incident has been converted into a significant parable which bears traces of a Buddhistic origin. The parable is as follows:

Now it so happened that Yudhishthira dreamed a dream, and in his dream the wild animals of the forest came to him The animals of weeping and trembling with fear, and they said to him :— "We are the very few animals that have escaped your hands, and we therefore pray you to remove to another place that we

the jungle im

plore Yudhishthira to leave.

INDIA. PART II.

The Pandavas

So move to the

ourselves may be relieved from the terror of our lives, and HISTORY OF may multiply again as before." And Yudhishthira was moved with sorrow, and when he awoke he told his dream to his brethren how that the animals had implored his mercy. the Pandavas went away with their wife Draupadí and priest Dhaumya, and dwelt in the forest of Káma, and took up their abode in a hut, which was given to them by a holy Rishi who dwelt in that quarter.

forest of Káma.

of Jayadratha to carry off Draupadi.

The fourth incident in the twelve years' exile, 4th. The attempt namely, Jayadratha's attempt to carry off Draupadí, throws a strange light upon the old jungle life, which many Kshatriya heroes appear to have occasionally led in days of yore. The tradition may be related as follows:

in the absence of

tain to inquire lineage.

And it came to pass that one day the Pandavas went out Jayadratha, Raja of Sindhu, to hunt in the forest, and they left their wife Draupadí, with visits Draupadi her own consent, in charge of the priest Dhaumya. And it her husbands. happened that Jayadratha, the Raja of Sindhu, was going on that day with a great train to Chedipur to celebrate his marriage with the daughter of the Raja of that city; and he passed Falls in love by the hut, and saw Draupadí standing against a tree, and he with Draupali. was stricken with her beauty; and he said in his heart :-" If this beautiful damsel be not already married I will go no further, but will espouse her." And he sent a Chieftain who was sends a Chiefwith him to go and inquire her name and lincage; and the her name and Chieftain alighted from his chariot and went to Draupadí, and inquired who she was, and told her his own name, and the Conversation name of Jayadratha, and also the names of the other Chieftains Chieftain and who were with them. Now when Draupadí saw that a strange man was coming towards her, she left the tree, and drew her veil around her; but when the Chieftain had finished speaking, she came forward and said :-"As there is neither man nor woman near, I must myself answer your questions: But I know who you are; your father is Raja of Saurashtra, and Jayadratha is my kinsman, for he has married Duhsalá, who is the daughter of Maharaja Dhritarashtra: I am Draupadí, Draupadi's profthe daughter of Raja Drupada, and the wife of the five ties.

between the

Draupadi.

fered hospitali

INDIA.

PART II.

Jayadratha enters the hut.

HISTORY OF Rajas of Indra-prastha: My husbands have gone out to hunt in the forest, but they will soon return: Alight, therefore, all of you, for Raja Yudhishthira will be gladdened at your coming, and will prepare a feast for you." So the man went and told Raja Jayadratha all that she had said; and Jayadratha got down from his chariot, he and six Chieftains who were with him, and entered the house like a jackal entering a pagoda. And Jayadratha asked Draupadí if all was well with her and her husbands; and she replied that all was well. 'And Draupadí desired that he would take a seat, and she offered to bring water to wash his feet, saying:-"The Pandavas will soon return with plenty of venison, and Raja Yudhishthira will rejoice to make you welcome." His wicked pro- Then Raja Jayadratha said to her:-" Put yourself to no trouble on my account, but get you into my chariot, that we may be happy together: The Pándavas have lost their Raj, and have become vagabonds in the jungle; so do not waste your attentions upon such husbands as these, but leave them to themselves and come with me, and I will make you my Rání." Then Draupadí knit her brow and arose in anger, and said:" Get you gone to your own land, for my husbands are Rajas of great renown, as deadly as serpents, and as powerful as Indra. Would you attack a wild elephant with a staff, or arouse a sleeping lion with a switch? Would you kick a tiger with your foot, or stroke a venomous serpent with your toes? toes? Yet such will my husbands be unto you, unless you depart with all speed to your own home." Her curses and Then Raja Jayadratha tried to soothe her, but she heeded not

posals to Draupadi.

Rage of Draupadi.

threats.

his words, but poured forth curses upon him, and threatened him with the arrow of Arjuna, and the mace of Bhíma, and the wrath of all her husbands. And the Raja put forth his hand, and took hold of her garment; and she struck him Jayadratha car with her fist and knocked him down. Then the Raja arose

ries away Draupadi in his chariot by main force.

and seized her with all his strength, and placed her in his chariot, while she shrieked and cried out to the priest Dhaumya for help and succour. And Dhaumya came Kshatriyas con- out and said :-" O Jayadratha, you are breaking the good rying away of old laws of the Kshatriyas, for by those laws you cannot take

Laws of the

cerning the car

women.

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