Before the Rajasuya, the four younger Pandava brothers went in different directions to conquer the kingdoms and bring tribute to Indraprastha. Yudhistira stayed back and ruled the land. Arjuna went northwards, and his conquests were described in detail in Sabha Parva.
Arjuna set out with a large army after obtaining permission from his older brother and the blessings of the Brahmins. Armed with his inextinguishable quivers and Gandiva bow, he got into the chariot gifted by Agni Deva and rode ahead.
His first stop was the Kulinda (Kuninda), Anarta, and Kalakuta kingdoms. He appointed Sumandala as the chief of the rear end of his army and continued toward Shakala and King Prativindhya, one of the seven Dvipas. Arjuna fought an intense battle with the kings of Shakala and defeated them all.
From there, he proceeded to Pragjyotisha, ruled by Bhagadatta. They fought for eight days before Bhagadatta chose to make peace. He smiled and praised Arjuna for being a dominant warrior and offered him a gift. Arjuna informed him about the Rajasuya and asked for tribute. He also invited the king to attend the celebrations. Bhagadatta agreed to pay the tribute and said he was a good friend of Arjuna’s father (Indra) and was happy to do so.
Arjuna then went to the mountains, which were protected by Kubera. He conquered kingdoms in the inner, outer, and upper mountain regions. Next, he went to Kuluta, ruled by Brihanta. The king faced the Pandava with a fourfold army. However, he realized he couldn’t face Arjuna and agreed to a truce. He paid the tribute and accepted the invitation to attend the Rajasuya yagna.
Next, Arjuna defeated Senabindu, Modapura, Vamadeva, Sudamana, and Susamkula before reaching north Kuluta and conquering those kingdoms. He set up his army base in Divahprastha and fought King Vishvagashva Pourava. Defeating him, Arjuna tackled the even mountain-dwelling dacoit tribes known as Utsavasamketa. Then, he conquered Kashmir and Lohita kingdoms. From there, he went to defeat the Trigartas, the Darvas, the Kokanadas, the Abhisaris, and the Rochamanas, who lived in Urasha. He conquered the city of Simhapure, protected by Chitrayudhasura.
Arjuna continued his conquests and added the Suhmas and the Cholas (not the southern Cholas) to the list. He even defeated Bahlika and moved to subdue the Daradas and the Kambojas. He also tackled the bandits living in the forests in the northeast before fighting the Lohas, the Kambojas, and the northern Rishikas. After the battle with the Rishikas, he got eight horses in the color of a parrot’s breast.
Conquering the Himalayas and Nishkuta Mountains, he crossed the white mountains to the land of the Kimpurushas protected by Drumaputra. Another intense battle took place here. Arjuna then went to Hataka, protected by Guhyaka, where they signed a truce. Next, he went to Lake Manasa and visited the regions where rishis lived. From there, he conquered the lands of the gandharvas and got horses in the color of partridges and with speckles.
Arjuna traveled to the northern part of Harivarsha. However, the giant guards at the entrance informed him that he could not enter the protected lands. Anyone who entered those cities would have to die. They said they were pleased with his conquests and wished him luck. The land of the north kurus cannot have wars, and even if Arjuna entered, he wouldn’t see anything inside. They added that if he wanted anything, he could ask them, and they would give it. He respectfully replied that he wouldn’t enter if it was forbidden for humans. However, he needed a little tribute to take back as a sign of the kingdom’s support for Yudhistira’s Rajasuya. The guards gave him divine garments, ornaments, etc.
When he reached the end, Arjuna turned back towards Indraprastha with all the wealth and tributes he collected.
When Krishna visited Indraprastha, Yudhistira asked for his opinion about performing the Rajasuya yagna. Krishna said Yudhistira was worthy of the yagna, but first, they had to take some steps, such as killing Jarasandha of Magadha, freeing the other kings from imprisonment, and conquering the four sides of the earth.
Here, Krishna narrated the events related to the birth of Jarasandha and why he had to be killed by Bhima.
A long time ago, Brihadratha was the king of Magadha. He was a powerful warrior with three akshauhinis of the army – a handsome man with radiant energy like the sun. He married the twin daughters of the king of Kashi and loved them equally. He treated them as his equal partners and never showed preference or partiality to either. However, they couldn’t have children no matter how much they tried and how many sacrifices and yagnas they conducted.
One day, Chandakaushika, the son of Rishi Kakshivat, stopped at Magadha to stay in the kingdom for a few days. The king visited the rishi and paid his respects. He made proper arrangements for the rishi’s stay in the kingdom. Pleased with this, Chandakaushika offered the king a boon.
Brihadratha replied that he had decided to give up the kingdom and go to the forest with his wives as he was unfortunate to not have an heir. The rishi closed his eyes to meditate. Just then, a mango from the tree he was sitting under fell into his lap. The rishi offered the mango to Brihadratha and told him to give it to his queen. He recited a mantra to charge the fruit and said it would give him a son.
Since Brihadratha had two wives, he cut the mango into two equal parts and gave one piece each to them. Soon, the queens conceived and were delighted. However, they gave birth to two half-formed babies. Each part has one hand, one leg, etc. Heartbroken, the queens cried. The midwives wrapped the pieces in a cloth and took them out of the back gates to discard the malformed infants. They left the bundle near a forest.
A while later, a rakshasi named Jara smelled human scent and went in search of food. She lived in the same forest and was a meat eater. She saw the bundle and removed the wrappings. This caused the two parts of the infants to come together. Right before her eyes, the deformed parts became a full-bodied, healthy boy. The newborn opened his eyes and let out a loud cry. Jara knew she couldn’t eat this baby.
Meanwhile, the cry reached the queens in the palace, and they felt their breast milk flow. They rushed out to see Jara holding a baby in her arms. The rakshasi managed to shape-shift into a presentable appearance by then.
Brihadratha and his wives reclaimed their son with immense gratitude. The king asked Jara who she was. She replied that she was a rakshasi who could change forms at will and lived happily in his forest. Jara said she was safe in his kingdom and wanted to return the favor by returning the child. Then, she vanished.
The king named his son Jarasandha after the rakshasi who saved his life. He crowned the boy his heir. A few years later, Rishi Chandakaushika visited Magadha again. The king and queens went to pay homage to the rishi, who blessed them and said that he was aware of all that occurred. The rishi said Jarasandha would grow up to be a formidable ruler with no equal and that he would bring other kings under his subjugation.
When Jarasandha was old enough, Brihadratha and his wives took up vanaprastha and went to live the rest of their lives in the forest. Jarasandha achieved all that was predicted by the rishi.
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Dwarka was the kingdom Krishna built for his people with help from Vishwakarma, the celestial architect. Located to the West of Kuru and near the ocean, it was protected on four sides by high hills.
The kingdom was enclosed within gigantic walls and had gates on four sites. The main entrance was called Vardhamana. Inside the gates, the kingdom was neatly planned to accommodate several thousands of residents, with gardens, parks, etc.
The gardens always flourished with flowering plants and fruit-laden trees and resembled the Nandana in heaven. The royal buildings shone like the sun and moon. The city was surrounded by moats filled with blooming lotus flowers. The Raivataka Hill was on the east on Dwarka, the Latavesta (Rainbow Hill) on the south, Sukaksa Hill on the west, and the Venumanta Hill on the north. Krishna personally planted Vaijayanthi flags on each hill to ensure the safety of Dwarka. The Hamsakuta Hill was also located near Dwarka and was sixty palm trees tall and one yojana in width.
One could see the forests of Panchajanya and Sarvartuka from the Raivataka Hill. This was also the hill where the Yadavas celebrated their yearly festival of worshiping the mountain. The forests of Citrapushpa, Satapatra, Karavira, and Kusumbhi surrounded the Sukaksa Hill, while the Venumanta Hill provided great sights of the Caitraratha, Nandana, Ramana, and Bhavana forests. To the west of Dwarka was a large lake named Pushkarini, which measured a hundred bow lengths. Indradyumna was another big lake in the city and was the favorite spot of the kinnaras.
There were a total of fifty gates to enter Dwarka and each of them was fortified with spear-like and circular devices that prevented enemies from breaching or entering without permission. Outside the city gates, eight thousand chariots sat ready for the warriors to drive.
The central area of the city was approximately eight yojanas wide and twelve yojanas long. The adjoining sections were double this size. It boasted eight major main roads and sixteen crossroads with an intricate network of bylanes. The city was well-connected throughout. There were exclusive herb gardens with all healing herbs from Mount Meru. Krishna brought many plants and trees from Brahma’s world and planted them in Dwarka.
Houses had large windows, flags, and colorful roofs. Music was constantly played in the city and in every house. The upper rooms of the houses displayed bird cages and were studded with gems on the outside. The city glittered like a jewel everywhere. The houses were made of gold, silver, marble, bricks, and other items, depending on the owner’s choice. Every house in Dwarka had bells.
The colors used on the walls and houses were shades of gold, white, cream, etc. This led to a soothing and pleasant feeling.
Krishna’s entire palace was four yojanas square and had countless rooms and mini houses inside. The one where he lived was one yojana square with golden-domed roofs designed to suit Rukmini’s taste. Satyabhama’s palace was white with a gem-studded staircase, a lovely garden, and colorful flags. Jambavati’s palace was between Rukmini’s and Satyabhama’s with a main door glowing like Jambu gold and with the radiance of Mount Kailasa.
Sukesi, Suprabha (palace named Padmakuta), Lakshmana, and Mitravinda also had their own palaces. Mitravinda’s palace was blue-toned and made of lapis lazuli, the same shade as Krishna’s skin. Sudatta’s palace was called Ketuman.
Krishna had his personal resting place or palace called Viraja where he spent some time alone whenever necessary. It was one yojana square and decorated with precious stones, flags, etc.
Numerous birds, animals, cattle, etc., were also found in Dwarka, enjoying the beautiful gardens. Many animals roamed nearby in the surrounding forests. The ocean was to the west side of the kingdom.
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Kubera is also known as Vaishravana. His sabha is white in color (like Varuna’s) and is a hundred yojanas long and seventy yojanas wide. He built his sabha himself (like Indra). It is luminous as the moon and is located in the sky at the peak of Mount Kailasa. The sabha is held aloft by the guhyakas.
Kubera’s sabha is filled with tall golden trees and oozes divine fragrance. Extensive coral trees, scented groves, and water lilies are found in abundance. Alaka and Nandana gardens belong to this sabha. Vaishravana sits on the throne wearing colorful robes and glittering ornaments and garlands. He is handsome and surrounded by a thousand women. Many gandharvas, yakshas, and apsaras sing and dance here. The sabha is never empty. Someone will always be dancing or singing in ecstasy.
Apsaras like Mishrakeshi, Rambha, the sweet-smiling Chitrasena, Charunetra, Ghritachi, Menaka, Punjikasthala, Vishvachi, Sahajanya, Pramlocha, Urvashi, Ira, Varga, Sourabheyi, Samichi, Budbuda and Lata are a part of Kubera’s sabha.
Kinnaras, naras (humans), and many others are guests here. Nalakubera (Kubera’s son) is always in the sabha. Others like Narada Muni visit often. Shiva (Pasupati), Parvati (Uma), and their thousands of followers (dwarves, pichasas, etc.) sit with Vaishravana in this sabha.
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The sabha of Brahma Deva was not an easy place to enter, not even for Narada Muni. Surya Deva described the details of the exquisite sabha and advised Narada to perform tapasya to gain entry.
Brahma’s sabha is a place where there is no fatigue or exhaustion. It doesn’t have a fixed form or shape and constantly changes in appearance. The dimensions are also a mystery and ever-changing. It is a place to experience the pleasure of the mind and has the right temperatures with a radiance brighter than the sun. A person who enters this sabha will no longer feel hungry, thirsty, or tired.
Brahma sits in the sabha surrounded by his countless children created from his mind, arms, chest, legs, etc. Apart from them (Daksha, Pracheta, Pulastya, Pulaha, Marichi, Kashyapa, Bhrigu, Atri, Vasishtha, Goutama, and Angiras), the sabha also has the mind, sky, knowledge, senses, wind, water, moon, sun, constellations, and all the elements that play a role in evolution. The gandharvas and apsaras go to the sabha together with the twenty-seven stars and other planets like Shukra, Brihaspati, as well as Rahu and Ketu. The Maruts, Vedas, Vishwakarma, Vedangas, Shastras, somas, seven kinds of speech, Savitri mantra, learning, wisdom, knowledge, fame, intelligence, forgiveness, etc., are also a part of Brahma’s sabha.
The six seasons, day and night, five yugas, the wheel of time, Vasus, Rudras, Adityas, Ashvins, Sadhyas, Vishvadevas, etc., attend the sabha alongside the guhyakas, rakshasas, pisachas, danavas, birds, animals, and serpents. Even the Valakhilya rishis can be found here.
Anything and everything found across the universe (living and nonliving) belongs to Brahma’s sabha. The place pulses with divine energy which cannot be found anywhere else.
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Yama (Yama Dharmaraja) is the son of the sun god and is also known as Vaivasvata Yama. His sabha was built by Vishwakarma, the celestial architect.
Yama Dharmaraja’s sabha is a hundred yojanas long and can travel anywhere in the universe. It has the perfect temperature (neither hot nor cold). Grief, pain, hunger, thirst, old age, misery, fatigue, and obstructions cannot be found in this sabha. All human and divine desires can be satisfied here. There is enough food and drink for everyone and anyone. The water is tasty and can be found in hot and cold temperatures. The trees bear delicious fruit at all times.
Rajarishis and Brahmacharis attend Yama. Yayati, Nahusha, Puru, Mandhata, and many famous kings can be found in this sabha, including Pandu. Rishis like Agastya and Matanga as well as Kala, Mrithyu, Siddhas, and ancestors who performed severe austerities are a part of Yama’s sabha. Men who died on winter solstice and those who performed evil deeds are present in this sabha.
Trees like palasha, shimshapa, kusa grass, kasha, etc., are found here. The sabha is filled with several kings who act as courtiers of Yama Dharmaraja. However, the place never feels crowded. Everyone in the sabha wears spotless clothes, bracelets, earrings, and flower garlands. They sing, dance, eat, drink, and have a happy time. Gandharvas and apsaras are found even in Yama’s sabha (they travel from one sabha to another).
Sacred sounds, flowers, and fragrances fill the sabha to create a divine atmosphere. Ten million men wait upon the guests in the sabha.
Here’s the list of kings in Yama’s sabha –
Yayati, Nahusha, Puru, Mandhata, Somaka, Nriga, Trasadasyu, Turaya, Kritavirya, Shrutashrava, Aripranuda, Susimha, Kritavega, Kriti, Nimi, Pratardana, Shibi, Matysa, Prithavaksha, Brihadratha, Aida, Marutta, Kushika, Samkashya, Samkriti, Bhava, Chaturashva, Sadashvormi, the king Kartavirya, Bharata, Suratha, Sunitha, Nala from Nishadha, Divodasa, Sumana, Ambarisha, Bhagiratha, Vyashva, Sadashva, Vadhryashva, Panchahasta, Prithushrava, Rushadgu, Vrishasena, the immensely powerful Kshupa, Rushadashva, Vasumana, Purukutsa, Dhvaji, Rathi, Arshtishena, Dilipa, Usinara, Oushinara, Pundarika, Sharyati, Sharabha, Shuchi, Anga, Arishta, Vena, Duhshanta, Sanjaya, Jaya, Bhangasvari, Sunitha, Nishadha, Tvishiratha, Karandhama, Bahlika, Sudyumna, the powerful Madhu, Kapotaroma, Trinaka, Sahadeva, Arjuna, Dasharathi Rama, Lakshmana, Pratardana, Alarka, Kakshasena, Gaya, Gourashva, Jamadagni Parasurama, Nabhaga, Sagara, Bhuridyumna, Mahashva, Prithvashva, Janaka, the king Vainya, Varishena, Puraja, Janamejaya, Brahmadatta, Trigarta, King Uparichara, Indradyumna, Bhimajanu, Gaya, Prishtha, Naya, Padma, Muchukunda, Bhuridyumna, Prasenajit, Arishtanemi, Pradyumna, Prithagashva, Ajaka, the one hundred kings from Matsya, the hundred Nipas, the hundred Hayas, the one hundred Dhritarashtras, the eighty Janamejayas, the one hundred Brahmadattas, the one hundred fighting Iris, Shantanu, Pandu, Ushadgava, Shataratha, Devaraja, Jayadratha, Vrishadarbhi, Dhaman and his ministers and thousands of Shashabindus.
Note: The numbers mentioned indicate all the kings with the same name. Repeating the same names as ancestors was common in ancient times.
The celestial courtrooms aka sabhas were radiant, powerful, magical, and glorious. Here, Narada described the beauty of an underwater sabha belonging to Varuna.
Varuna’s sabha is present underwater as he is the god of water/ rain. The sabha’s dimensions are the same as Yama’s sabha (hundred yojanas). It looks just as brilliant with white walls and portals. This sabha was also built by Vishwakarma, the celestial architect. He would perform intense tapasya before building every sabha to retain its sanctity.
Located underwater, the sabha is surrounded by bejeweled trees that bloom with flowers and fruits. Blue, black, yellow, white, and red flowers carpet the pathways. Thousands of birds of all varieties can be found in the sabha’s gardens, singing melodiously. The sabha has a pleasant atmosphere and the right temperature.
Varuna adorns the throne with his wife Varuni dressed in celestial attire and jewelry. The Adityas wait upon Varuna and so do the Nagas like Vasuki, Takshaka, Airavata, and many others. Their hoods are marked with auspicious signs and sway to the divine music.
Kings like Bali, Naraka, Prahrada, Viprachitti, the danavas known as Kalakhanjas, Suhanu, Durmukha, Shankha, Sumana, Sumati, Ghatodara, Mahaparshva, Krathana, Pithara, Vishvarupa, Surupa, Virupa, Mahashirsa, Dashagriva, Vali, Meghavasa, Dashavara, Kaitabha, Vitatuta, Samhrada, and Indratapana are a part of Varuna’s sabha. Many daityas and danavas, dressed in rich robes, can also be found here. Varuna rules the sabha holding the dharma’s noose (his weapon).
The oceans, rivers, lakes, fjords, ponds, tanks, springs, fish, and all aquatic creatures are cherished in this sabha. The gandharavas and apsaras often visit to sing and dance, praise Varuna, and make merry.
Mountains with divine herbs and magical properties can be found here. The sabha is so beautiful that one cannot stop staring.
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The celestial courtrooms aka sabhas were radiant, powerful, magical, and glorious. Here, Narada, in Indraprastha, described the beauty of sabha belonging to Indra.
After Maya built the majestic sabha in Indraprastha, many kings, rishis, and Narada Muni arrived to see the place. Upon Yudhistira’s request, Narada described the celestial sabhas.
Indra’s sabha is radiant and has the brilliance of the sun. It was built by Indra himself with one hundred yojanas in width, one hundred and fifty yojanas in length, and five yojanas in height. The sabha floats in the air and can travel anywhere. It has full rooms with thousands of seats for various guests. The sabha is auspicious, pure, and free of fear. The rooms are adorned with celestial trees. On the throne, Indra sits with his wife Sachi. He wears a crown on his head and lohita bracelets on his upper arms. His dress is spotless. Several colorful garlands adorn his neck. Hri, Kirti, and Dyutia are also with him.
The Maruts, siddhas, sadhyas, other gods, and householders worship Indra. Their followers can also be found in the sabha, dressed in fine clothes and jewelry. The devarishis belong to his sabha and have achieved their position through various austerities.
The divine water, herbs, Medha, Shraddha, Sarvasvati, clouds, lightning, wind, rain, thunder, artha, dharma, kama, the eastern direction (Indra is the guardian of the East), twenty-seven types of fires, the planets, the hymns, mantras, and dakshinas can also be found in this sabha.
Apsaras and gandharvas play music and dance all day long to entertain him and the guests. Brihaspati and Shukra also join the sabha at times. Bhrigu and the seven rishis (sapta rishis) often visit this sabha.
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When Agni burned the Kandava forest, only six beings came out alive. One was Maya (the asura architect), and the other was Ashvasena, the son of Takshaka. The other four were the Sharngaka birds. These birds were the children of Rishi Mandapala and a female Sharngaka bird.
Once upon a time, there lived a rishi named Mandapala. He loved to travel across the world and explore new regions in the universe. He had completed all the austerities and given up his body to freely travel across the spaces. However, he wasn’t permitted entry into the world of ancestors (pitrs). When he asked for the reason, he was told by the other dwellers of heaven that he could gain entry to that world only if he had an offspring. His children or grandchildren would perform the necessary rituals to make it possible. Since he didn’t have any kids, he couldn’t enter the pitr world.
Mandapala decided he needed some children quickly. After some thinking, he decided to transform into a bird and find a partner from the same species. He chose Jarita, a female Sharngaka bird as his wife. Jarita laid four eggs and the rishi left them and went back to his previous wife, Lapita. They resumed their travel across the three worlds.
Jarita took care of her eggs and brought up the four chicks with love and affection. Being the sons of a rishi, the little ones were born with immense knowledge. Their mother further taught them about Vedas, Shastras, etc.
One day, Mandapala was roaming with Lapita when he saw Agni Deva move towards the Kandava forest. He was worried about the family he abandoned and requested Agni Deva to not kill his children in the forest fire. Agni Deva agreed.
Meanwhile, Jarita and her sons got a whiff of the forest fire. She was terrified for her children as they were too young to fly. She couldn’t abandon them, nor could she take them with her and escape. The children (Jaritari, Sarisrikva, Stambamitra, and Drona) asked her to leave before the fire caught up. They reasoned that if she was alive, she could have more children. However, if she died, they wouldn’t know how to survive in the big bad world.
Jarita offered many options to hide the chicks (like the mouse’s hole on the ground, hollowed tree trunk, etc.). However, the babies said it was too risky and their nest was the safest place. Jarita wasn’t sure but they convinced her to leave and promised to do their best to stay alive. As the flames came closer, Jarita flew high and left the forest. The four chicks prayed to Agni Deva. He appeared and asked them what they wanted. They requested him to save their little lives.
Agni Deva said that the little Sharngaka birds were also rishis and he would listen to their words. He added that their father, Mandapala, already sought their protection, so their lives would be safe. The youngest chick, Drona, requested Agni Deva to consume the cats which often eyed them as its meal. He assured them that all their enemies would be consumed. The fire blazed on but the nest was unharmed.
However, Mandapala saw the raging flames and was restless. He felt guilty for being selfish and abandoning his family. Lapita was annoyed and told him to go to his new family. She left him and stalked off. Unable to stop worrying, Mandapala walked through the forest and its ruins, searching for his sons.
As the flames settled, Jarita came back and found her sons safe. She let out a delighted cry and hugged her children. Just then, Mandapala also reached the spot and was relieved to find them alive. That said, the four little birds didn’t react or acknowledge his presence. He tried to talk to them and asked for their names.
Jarita asked him to leave since he didn’t care for her or their children and abandoned them. He replied that he had asked Agni Deva to protect his children and assured them that he indeed cared for their safety. Convincing his wife and sons, he left the region. They travelled to another land to live peacefully.
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Draupadi gave birth to five sons, one with each Pandava brother. Her five sons were called the Upapandavas and were born after Abhimanyu (Arjuna and Subhadra’s son). However, more research shows four Upandavas were older than Abhimanyu (who was sixteen when the Kurukshetra War occurred).
The Upapandavas (sons of Pandavas) were born a year apart from each other but were very close. Vyasa described the Upapandavas as beautiful and radiant children (glowing like the sun and moon) who grew up to be well-built, well-trained, and well-mannered.
Prativindhya was Yudhistira’s son, named after a mountain range.
Sutasoma was Bhima’s son, born after Bhima performed the thousand moon sacrifices.
Shrutakarman/ Shrutakirti was Arjuna’s son, born after Draupadi listened to the various exploits of Arjuna (Kritin).
Satanika was Nakula’s son, named after a rishi.
Shrutasena was Sahadeva’s son.
Along with Abhimanyu, they trained under Arjuna and the other Pandava brothers to learn warfare. Purohit Dhaumya taught lessons about Vedas, Shastras, etc. Later, when the Pandavas went into exile, the Upapandavas divided their time between Panchala and Dwarka, though they were under the care of the Panchala king (Draupadi’s father and brother). The Upapandavas were often a unit and stayed together, even on the battlefield.
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King Samvarana was an ancestor of the Pandavas who married Tapati (the river goddess), the daughter of Vivasvat (Surya Deva).
Tapati was the younger daughter of Vivasvat, born after Savitri. She was a mesmerizing beauty with symmetrical features and an unblemished face. She was also known for her devotion to austerities. Surya Deva wanted to find a worthy groom for her when she reached the marriageable age. He searched among the devas, gandharvas, yakshas, and others only to find the right man on earth. Vivasvat zeroed in on King Samvarana, the son of Riksha of the Kuru lineage. Samvarana was a worshipper of the sun and performed many yagnas to ensure the prosperity of his kingdom. He was also a capable warrior and an efficient ruler.
Once, Samvarana went on a hunt in a forest. He was tired, hungry, and thirsty. When his horse died, Samvarana climbed up a hill to search for food. Instead, he saw the most beautiful woman doing tapasya. She was so angelic that Samvarana thought he got a darshan of Goddess Lakshmi. The sun’s rays further enhanced her beauty. Samvarana fell in love with her. He asked her who she was and said he had never seen someone as ethereal as her.
However, Tapati didn’t reply. He continued to talk to her but she vanished. Samvarana searched the entire region, hoping to find her in vain. When it didn’t happen, he was dejected and disappointed. His body was so exhausted that he fell unconscious.
Tapati appeared to help him regain his consciousness. Samvarana was delighted to see her again and proposed marriage immediately. Tapati replied that her marriage would be her father’s decision. She said she would be happy to marry him but he should wait for the right time and approach Vivasvat to ask for her hand. She then rose high into the sky and disappeared again. The king fell unconscious again.
A while later, Samvarana’s ministers arrived at the spot, searching for him. The minister helped the king sit and gave him water to drink. Once he recovered, the king sent everyone back to the kingdom and took a bath to purify himself. Then, he prayed to the family purohit and his guru, Rishi Vashishtha. Hearing his call, Vashishtha arrived at the site on the twelfth day. Samvarana bowed to the rishi and requested his help. Vashishtha agreed. He went to Vivasvat and recommended Samvarana as a suitable groom for Tapati.
Surya Deva accepted the recommendation. He sent Tapati with the rishi to get her married to Samvarana. The king was overjoyed to find the rishi return to the hilltop with the lady. They got married according to the rituals and were blessed by Vashishtha. Samvarana sent a message to his ministers to take care of the kingdom. He stayed back in the forest with Tapati.
The couple spent happy times there for twelve years. However, the lack of a king’s presence affected the kingdom. There was no rain for the entire duration. Severe drought hit the land, and the citizens suffered.
Vashishtha advised Samvarana and Tapati to return to the kingdom as it wasn’t right that the ruler stay away from his responsibilities. The rishi supervised the yagna conducted by the king. As soon as they entered the kingdom, the clouds began to rain. Very soon, the Kuru kingdom was prosperous and wealthy again. Samvarana and Tapati continued to rule for a long time.
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The enmity between Drona and Draupada is an interesting situation caused by childhood promises and differences in their approaches to life. After all, Drona was a Brahmin and Draupda was a king.
Drona was the son of Rishi Bharadwaja. He studied Vedas, Vedeangas, and Shastras under his father. Bharadwaja had a friend, King Prishata, whose son was Draupada. When young, Drona and Draupada played and studied together as the rishi trained them in various arts and skills.
Though they were friends during their childhood and teen years, their paths took them in different directions. When Prishata passed away, Draupada became the king of Panchala. Drona was married to Kripi, the twin sister of Kripa. Drona and his wife had a son called Ashvatthaman.
Years passed. Drona lived with his wife and son in a humble ashram. They didn’t have enough money and struggled to even have milk at home. When Drona heard that Parasurama was giving away his wealth, he approached the rishi for some donation. However, Parasurama had already given away everything he had. Then, Drona asked Parasurama for his knowledge of weaponry and warfare. The rishi gladly shared it and taught him about Dhanur Veda.
One day, Drona decided to renew his acquaintance with his childhood friend, King Draupada. He went to Panchala and tried to remind the king about their younger days. Draupada’s response was lukewarm. While he was willing to give some donations, he didn’t show interest in renewing their friendship. An angry Drona left the place and went towards Kuru where he caught the attention of the young princes. Soon, Bhishma found out and made Drona the teacher of the Kauravas and Pandavas. Bhishma gave houses to Drona and Kripa and ensured they had enough wealth to live comfortably.
However, Drona wasn’t one to forget the insults by Draupada. When the princes finished their training, he asked them to attack Panchala and defeat Draupada as a guru dakshina. The Kauravas, Pandavas, and Karna did what their master wanted. Arjuna showed his prowess, which impressed everyone, including Draupada. When Draupada lost, Drona said he would take only half the kingdom and leave the other half for Draupada to continue ruling.
This act made Draupada resent Drona. He wanted a powerful son who would one day defeat and kill Drona. Eventually, Draupada found a way to have this son, Dhristadhyumna. Draupadi was also born from the same yagna.
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Arjuna Conquers the Northern Kingdoms – Stories from Sabha Parva
Before the Rajasuya, the four younger Pandava brothers went in different directions to conquer the kingdoms and bring tribute to Indraprastha. Yudhistira stayed back and ruled the land. Arjuna went northwards, and his conquests were described in detail in Sabha Parva.
Arjuna set out with a large army after obtaining permission from his older brother and the blessings of the Brahmins. Armed with his inextinguishable quivers and Gandiva bow, he got into the chariot gifted by Agni Deva and rode ahead.
His first stop was the Kulinda (Kuninda), Anarta, and Kalakuta kingdoms. He appointed Sumandala as the chief of the rear end of his army and continued toward Shakala and King Prativindhya, one of the seven Dvipas. Arjuna fought an intense battle with the kings of Shakala and defeated them all.
From there, he proceeded to Pragjyotisha, ruled by Bhagadatta. They fought for eight days before Bhagadatta chose to make peace. He smiled and praised Arjuna for being a dominant warrior and offered him a gift. Arjuna informed him about the Rajasuya and asked for tribute. He also invited the king to attend the celebrations. Bhagadatta agreed to pay the tribute and said he was a good friend of Arjuna’s father (Indra) and was happy to do so.
Arjuna then went to the mountains, which were protected by Kubera. He conquered kingdoms in the inner, outer, and upper mountain regions. Next, he went to Kuluta, ruled by Brihanta. The king faced the Pandava with a fourfold army. However, he realized he couldn’t face Arjuna and agreed to a truce. He paid the tribute and accepted the invitation to attend the Rajasuya yagna.
Next, Arjuna defeated Senabindu, Modapura, Vamadeva, Sudamana, and Susamkula before reaching north Kuluta and conquering those kingdoms. He set up his army base in Divahprastha and fought King Vishvagashva Pourava. Defeating him, Arjuna tackled the even mountain-dwelling dacoit tribes known as Utsavasamketa. Then, he conquered Kashmir and Lohita kingdoms. From there, he went to defeat the Trigartas, the Darvas, the Kokanadas, the Abhisaris, and the Rochamanas, who lived in Urasha. He conquered the city of Simhapure, protected by Chitrayudhasura.
Arjuna continued his conquests and added the Suhmas and the Cholas (not the southern Cholas) to the list. He even defeated Bahlika and moved to subdue the Daradas and the Kambojas. He also tackled the bandits living in the forests in the northeast before fighting the Lohas, the Kambojas, and the northern Rishikas. After the battle with the Rishikas, he got eight horses in the color of a parrot’s breast.
Conquering the Himalayas and Nishkuta Mountains, he crossed the white mountains to the land of the Kimpurushas protected by Drumaputra. Another intense battle took place here. Arjuna then went to Hataka, protected by Guhyaka, where they signed a truce. Next, he went to Lake Manasa and visited the regions where rishis lived. From there, he conquered the lands of the gandharvas and got horses in the color of partridges and with speckles.
Arjuna traveled to the northern part of Harivarsha. However, the giant guards at the entrance informed him that he could not enter the protected lands. Anyone who entered those cities would have to die. They said they were pleased with his conquests and wished him luck. The land of the north kurus cannot have wars, and even if Arjuna entered, he wouldn’t see anything inside. They added that if he wanted anything, he could ask them, and they would give it. He respectfully replied that he wouldn’t enter if it was forbidden for humans. However, he needed a little tribute to take back as a sign of the kingdom’s support for Yudhistira’s Rajasuya. The guards gave him divine garments, ornaments, etc.
When he reached the end, Arjuna turned back towards Indraprastha with all the wealth and tributes he collected.
Read about Bhima, Nakula, and Sahadeva’s conquests.
The Birth of King Jarasandha – Stories from Sabha Parva
When Krishna visited Indraprastha, Yudhistira asked for his opinion about performing the Rajasuya yagna. Krishna said Yudhistira was worthy of the yagna, but first, they had to take some steps, such as killing Jarasandha of Magadha, freeing the other kings from imprisonment, and conquering the four sides of the earth.
Here, Krishna narrated the events related to the birth of Jarasandha and why he had to be killed by Bhima.
A long time ago, Brihadratha was the king of Magadha. He was a powerful warrior with three akshauhinis of the army – a handsome man with radiant energy like the sun. He married the twin daughters of the king of Kashi and loved them equally. He treated them as his equal partners and never showed preference or partiality to either. However, they couldn’t have children no matter how much they tried and how many sacrifices and yagnas they conducted.
One day, Chandakaushika, the son of Rishi Kakshivat, stopped at Magadha to stay in the kingdom for a few days. The king visited the rishi and paid his respects. He made proper arrangements for the rishi’s stay in the kingdom. Pleased with this, Chandakaushika offered the king a boon.
Brihadratha replied that he had decided to give up the kingdom and go to the forest with his wives as he was unfortunate to not have an heir. The rishi closed his eyes to meditate. Just then, a mango from the tree he was sitting under fell into his lap. The rishi offered the mango to Brihadratha and told him to give it to his queen. He recited a mantra to charge the fruit and said it would give him a son.
Since Brihadratha had two wives, he cut the mango into two equal parts and gave one piece each to them. Soon, the queens conceived and were delighted. However, they gave birth to two half-formed babies. Each part has one hand, one leg, etc. Heartbroken, the queens cried. The midwives wrapped the pieces in a cloth and took them out of the back gates to discard the malformed infants. They left the bundle near a forest.
A while later, a rakshasi named Jara smelled human scent and went in search of food. She lived in the same forest and was a meat eater. She saw the bundle and removed the wrappings. This caused the two parts of the infants to come together. Right before her eyes, the deformed parts became a full-bodied, healthy boy. The newborn opened his eyes and let out a loud cry. Jara knew she couldn’t eat this baby.
Meanwhile, the cry reached the queens in the palace, and they felt their breast milk flow. They rushed out to see Jara holding a baby in her arms. The rakshasi managed to shape-shift into a presentable appearance by then.
Brihadratha and his wives reclaimed their son with immense gratitude. The king asked Jara who she was. She replied that she was a rakshasi who could change forms at will and lived happily in his forest. Jara said she was safe in his kingdom and wanted to return the favor by returning the child. Then, she vanished.
The king named his son Jarasandha after the rakshasi who saved his life. He crowned the boy his heir. A few years later, Rishi Chandakaushika visited Magadha again. The king and queens went to pay homage to the rishi, who blessed them and said that he was aware of all that occurred. The rishi said Jarasandha would grow up to be a formidable ruler with no equal and that he would bring other kings under his subjugation.
When Jarasandha was old enough, Brihadratha and his wives took up vanaprastha and went to live the rest of their lives in the forest. Jarasandha achieved all that was predicted by the rishi.
The City of Dwarka – Stories from Sabha Parva
Dwarka was the kingdom Krishna built for his people with help from Vishwakarma, the celestial architect. Located to the West of Kuru and near the ocean, it was protected on four sides by high hills.
The kingdom was enclosed within gigantic walls and had gates on four sites. The main entrance was called Vardhamana. Inside the gates, the kingdom was neatly planned to accommodate several thousands of residents, with gardens, parks, etc.
The gardens always flourished with flowering plants and fruit-laden trees and resembled the Nandana in heaven. The royal buildings shone like the sun and moon. The city was surrounded by moats filled with blooming lotus flowers. The Raivataka Hill was on the east on Dwarka, the Latavesta (Rainbow Hill) on the south, Sukaksa Hill on the west, and the Venumanta Hill on the north. Krishna personally planted Vaijayanthi flags on each hill to ensure the safety of Dwarka. The Hamsakuta Hill was also located near Dwarka and was sixty palm trees tall and one yojana in width.
One could see the forests of Panchajanya and Sarvartuka from the Raivataka Hill. This was also the hill where the Yadavas celebrated their yearly festival of worshiping the mountain. The forests of Citrapushpa, Satapatra, Karavira, and Kusumbhi surrounded the Sukaksa Hill, while the Venumanta Hill provided great sights of the Caitraratha, Nandana, Ramana, and Bhavana forests. To the west of Dwarka was a large lake named Pushkarini, which measured a hundred bow lengths. Indradyumna was another big lake in the city and was the favorite spot of the kinnaras.
There were a total of fifty gates to enter Dwarka and each of them was fortified with spear-like and circular devices that prevented enemies from breaching or entering without permission. Outside the city gates, eight thousand chariots sat ready for the warriors to drive.
The central area of the city was approximately eight yojanas wide and twelve yojanas long. The adjoining sections were double this size. It boasted eight major main roads and sixteen crossroads with an intricate network of bylanes. The city was well-connected throughout. There were exclusive herb gardens with all healing herbs from Mount Meru. Krishna brought many plants and trees from Brahma’s world and planted them in Dwarka.
Houses had large windows, flags, and colorful roofs. Music was constantly played in the city and in every house. The upper rooms of the houses displayed bird cages and were studded with gems on the outside. The city glittered like a jewel everywhere. The houses were made of gold, silver, marble, bricks, and other items, depending on the owner’s choice. Every house in Dwarka had bells.
The colors used on the walls and houses were shades of gold, white, cream, etc. This led to a soothing and pleasant feeling.
Krishna’s entire palace was four yojanas square and had countless rooms and mini houses inside. The one where he lived was one yojana square with golden-domed roofs designed to suit Rukmini’s taste. Satyabhama’s palace was white with a gem-studded staircase, a lovely garden, and colorful flags. Jambavati’s palace was between Rukmini’s and Satyabhama’s with a main door glowing like Jambu gold and with the radiance of Mount Kailasa.
Sukesi, Suprabha (palace named Padmakuta), Lakshmana, and Mitravinda also had their own palaces. Mitravinda’s palace was blue-toned and made of lapis lazuli, the same shade as Krishna’s skin. Sudatta’s palace was called Ketuman.
Krishna had his personal resting place or palace called Viraja where he spent some time alone whenever necessary. It was one yojana square and decorated with precious stones, flags, etc.
Numerous birds, animals, cattle, etc., were also found in Dwarka, enjoying the beautiful gardens. Many animals roamed nearby in the surrounding forests. The ocean was to the west side of the kingdom.
The Sabha of Kubera – Stories from Sabha Parva
Kubera is also known as Vaishravana. His sabha is white in color (like Varuna’s) and is a hundred yojanas long and seventy yojanas wide. He built his sabha himself (like Indra). It is luminous as the moon and is located in the sky at the peak of Mount Kailasa. The sabha is held aloft by the guhyakas.
Kubera’s sabha is filled with tall golden trees and oozes divine fragrance. Extensive coral trees, scented groves, and water lilies are found in abundance. Alaka and Nandana gardens belong to this sabha. Vaishravana sits on the throne wearing colorful robes and glittering ornaments and garlands. He is handsome and surrounded by a thousand women. Many gandharvas, yakshas, and apsaras sing and dance here. The sabha is never empty. Someone will always be dancing or singing in ecstasy.
Apsaras like Mishrakeshi, Rambha, the sweet-smiling Chitrasena, Charunetra, Ghritachi, Menaka, Punjikasthala, Vishvachi, Sahajanya, Pramlocha, Urvashi, Ira, Varga, Sourabheyi, Samichi, Budbuda and Lata are a part of Kubera’s sabha.
Kinnaras, naras (humans), and many others are guests here. Nalakubera (Kubera’s son) is always in the sabha. Others like Narada Muni visit often. Shiva (Pasupati), Parvati (Uma), and their thousands of followers (dwarves, pichasas, etc.) sit with Vaishravana in this sabha.
Also, read about Indra’s Sabha, Yama’s Sabha, Brahma’s Sabha, and Varuna’s Sabha.
The Sabha of Brahma – Stories from Sabha Parva
The sabha of Brahma Deva was not an easy place to enter, not even for Narada Muni. Surya Deva described the details of the exquisite sabha and advised Narada to perform tapasya to gain entry.
Brahma’s sabha is a place where there is no fatigue or exhaustion. It doesn’t have a fixed form or shape and constantly changes in appearance. The dimensions are also a mystery and ever-changing. It is a place to experience the pleasure of the mind and has the right temperatures with a radiance brighter than the sun. A person who enters this sabha will no longer feel hungry, thirsty, or tired.
Brahma sits in the sabha surrounded by his countless children created from his mind, arms, chest, legs, etc. Apart from them (Daksha, Pracheta, Pulastya, Pulaha, Marichi, Kashyapa, Bhrigu, Atri, Vasishtha, Goutama, and Angiras), the sabha also has the mind, sky, knowledge, senses, wind, water, moon, sun, constellations, and all the elements that play a role in evolution. The gandharvas and apsaras go to the sabha together with the twenty-seven stars and other planets like Shukra, Brihaspati, as well as Rahu and Ketu. The Maruts, Vedas, Vishwakarma, Vedangas, Shastras, somas, seven kinds of speech, Savitri mantra, learning, wisdom, knowledge, fame, intelligence, forgiveness, etc., are also a part of Brahma’s sabha.
The six seasons, day and night, five yugas, the wheel of time, Vasus, Rudras, Adityas, Ashvins, Sadhyas, Vishvadevas, etc., attend the sabha alongside the guhyakas, rakshasas, pisachas, danavas, birds, animals, and serpents. Even the Valakhilya rishis can be found here.
Anything and everything found across the universe (living and nonliving) belongs to Brahma’s sabha. The place pulses with divine energy which cannot be found anywhere else.
Also, read about Indra’s Sabha, Yama’s Sabha, Kubera’s Sabha, and Varuna’s Sabha.
The Sabha of Yama Dharmaraja – Stories from Sabha Parva
Yama (Yama Dharmaraja) is the son of the sun god and is also known as Vaivasvata Yama. His sabha was built by Vishwakarma, the celestial architect.
Yama Dharmaraja’s sabha is a hundred yojanas long and can travel anywhere in the universe. It has the perfect temperature (neither hot nor cold). Grief, pain, hunger, thirst, old age, misery, fatigue, and obstructions cannot be found in this sabha. All human and divine desires can be satisfied here. There is enough food and drink for everyone and anyone. The water is tasty and can be found in hot and cold temperatures. The trees bear delicious fruit at all times.
Rajarishis and Brahmacharis attend Yama. Yayati, Nahusha, Puru, Mandhata, and many famous kings can be found in this sabha, including Pandu. Rishis like Agastya and Matanga as well as Kala, Mrithyu, Siddhas, and ancestors who performed severe austerities are a part of Yama’s sabha. Men who died on winter solstice and those who performed evil deeds are present in this sabha.
Trees like palasha, shimshapa, kusa grass, kasha, etc., are found here. The sabha is filled with several kings who act as courtiers of Yama Dharmaraja. However, the place never feels crowded. Everyone in the sabha wears spotless clothes, bracelets, earrings, and flower garlands. They sing, dance, eat, drink, and have a happy time. Gandharvas and apsaras are found even in Yama’s sabha (they travel from one sabha to another).
Sacred sounds, flowers, and fragrances fill the sabha to create a divine atmosphere. Ten million men wait upon the guests in the sabha.
Here’s the list of kings in Yama’s sabha –
Yayati, Nahusha, Puru, Mandhata, Somaka, Nriga, Trasadasyu, Turaya, Kritavirya, Shrutashrava, Aripranuda, Susimha, Kritavega, Kriti, Nimi, Pratardana, Shibi, Matysa, Prithavaksha, Brihadratha, Aida, Marutta, Kushika, Samkashya, Samkriti, Bhava, Chaturashva, Sadashvormi, the king Kartavirya, Bharata, Suratha, Sunitha, Nala from Nishadha, Divodasa, Sumana, Ambarisha, Bhagiratha, Vyashva, Sadashva, Vadhryashva, Panchahasta, Prithushrava, Rushadgu, Vrishasena, the immensely powerful Kshupa, Rushadashva, Vasumana, Purukutsa, Dhvaji, Rathi, Arshtishena, Dilipa, Usinara, Oushinara, Pundarika, Sharyati, Sharabha, Shuchi, Anga, Arishta, Vena, Duhshanta, Sanjaya, Jaya, Bhangasvari, Sunitha, Nishadha, Tvishiratha, Karandhama, Bahlika, Sudyumna, the powerful Madhu, Kapotaroma, Trinaka, Sahadeva, Arjuna, Dasharathi Rama, Lakshmana, Pratardana, Alarka, Kakshasena, Gaya, Gourashva, Jamadagni Parasurama, Nabhaga, Sagara, Bhuridyumna, Mahashva, Prithvashva, Janaka, the king Vainya, Varishena, Puraja, Janamejaya, Brahmadatta, Trigarta, King Uparichara, Indradyumna, Bhimajanu, Gaya, Prishtha, Naya, Padma, Muchukunda, Bhuridyumna, Prasenajit, Arishtanemi, Pradyumna, Prithagashva, Ajaka, the one hundred kings from Matsya, the hundred Nipas, the hundred Hayas, the one hundred Dhritarashtras, the eighty Janamejayas, the one hundred Brahmadattas, the one hundred fighting Iris, Shantanu, Pandu, Ushadgava, Shataratha, Devaraja, Jayadratha, Vrishadarbhi, Dhaman and his ministers and thousands of Shashabindus.
Note: The numbers mentioned indicate all the kings with the same name. Repeating the same names as ancestors was common in ancient times.
Also, read about Indra’s Sabha, Brahma’s Sabha, Kubera’s Sabha, and Varuna’s Sabha.
The Sabha of Varuna – Stories from Sabha Parva
The celestial courtrooms aka sabhas were radiant, powerful, magical, and glorious. Here, Narada described the beauty of an underwater sabha belonging to Varuna.
Varuna’s sabha is present underwater as he is the god of water/ rain. The sabha’s dimensions are the same as Yama’s sabha (hundred yojanas). It looks just as brilliant with white walls and portals. This sabha was also built by Vishwakarma, the celestial architect. He would perform intense tapasya before building every sabha to retain its sanctity.
Located underwater, the sabha is surrounded by bejeweled trees that bloom with flowers and fruits. Blue, black, yellow, white, and red flowers carpet the pathways. Thousands of birds of all varieties can be found in the sabha’s gardens, singing melodiously. The sabha has a pleasant atmosphere and the right temperature.
Varuna adorns the throne with his wife Varuni dressed in celestial attire and jewelry. The Adityas wait upon Varuna and so do the Nagas like Vasuki, Takshaka, Airavata, and many others. Their hoods are marked with auspicious signs and sway to the divine music.
Kings like Bali, Naraka, Prahrada, Viprachitti, the danavas known as Kalakhanjas, Suhanu, Durmukha, Shankha, Sumana, Sumati, Ghatodara, Mahaparshva, Krathana, Pithara, Vishvarupa, Surupa, Virupa, Mahashirsa, Dashagriva, Vali, Meghavasa, Dashavara, Kaitabha, Vitatuta, Samhrada, and Indratapana are a part of Varuna’s sabha. Many daityas and danavas, dressed in rich robes, can also be found here. Varuna rules the sabha holding the dharma’s noose (his weapon).
The oceans, rivers, lakes, fjords, ponds, tanks, springs, fish, and all aquatic creatures are cherished in this sabha. The gandharavas and apsaras often visit to sing and dance, praise Varuna, and make merry.
Mountains with divine herbs and magical properties can be found here. The sabha is so beautiful that one cannot stop staring.
Also, read about Indra’s Sabha, Brahma’s Sabha, Kubera’s Sabha, and Yama’s Sabha.
The Sabha of Indra – Stories from Sabha Parva
The celestial courtrooms aka sabhas were radiant, powerful, magical, and glorious. Here, Narada, in Indraprastha, described the beauty of sabha belonging to Indra.
After Maya built the majestic sabha in Indraprastha, many kings, rishis, and Narada Muni arrived to see the place. Upon Yudhistira’s request, Narada described the celestial sabhas.
Indra’s sabha is radiant and has the brilliance of the sun. It was built by Indra himself with one hundred yojanas in width, one hundred and fifty yojanas in length, and five yojanas in height. The sabha floats in the air and can travel anywhere. It has full rooms with thousands of seats for various guests. The sabha is auspicious, pure, and free of fear. The rooms are adorned with celestial trees. On the throne, Indra sits with his wife Sachi. He wears a crown on his head and lohita bracelets on his upper arms. His dress is spotless. Several colorful garlands adorn his neck. Hri, Kirti, and Dyutia are also with him.
The Maruts, siddhas, sadhyas, other gods, and householders worship Indra. Their followers can also be found in the sabha, dressed in fine clothes and jewelry. The devarishis belong to his sabha and have achieved their position through various austerities.
The divine water, herbs, Medha, Shraddha, Sarvasvati, clouds, lightning, wind, rain, thunder, artha, dharma, kama, the eastern direction (Indra is the guardian of the East), twenty-seven types of fires, the planets, the hymns, mantras, and dakshinas can also be found in this sabha.
Apsaras and gandharvas play music and dance all day long to entertain him and the guests. Brihaspati and Shukra also join the sabha at times. Bhrigu and the seven rishis (sapta rishis) often visit this sabha.
This place is called Pushkaramalini.
Also, read about Varuna’s Sabha, Brahma’s Sabha, Kubera’s Sabha, and Yama’s Sabha.
Sharngaka Birds and Rishi Mandapala – Stories from Adi Parva
When Agni burned the Kandava forest, only six beings came out alive. One was Maya (the asura architect), and the other was Ashvasena, the son of Takshaka. The other four were the Sharngaka birds. These birds were the children of Rishi Mandapala and a female Sharngaka bird.
Once upon a time, there lived a rishi named Mandapala. He loved to travel across the world and explore new regions in the universe. He had completed all the austerities and given up his body to freely travel across the spaces. However, he wasn’t permitted entry into the world of ancestors (pitrs). When he asked for the reason, he was told by the other dwellers of heaven that he could gain entry to that world only if he had an offspring. His children or grandchildren would perform the necessary rituals to make it possible. Since he didn’t have any kids, he couldn’t enter the pitr world.
Mandapala decided he needed some children quickly. After some thinking, he decided to transform into a bird and find a partner from the same species. He chose Jarita, a female Sharngaka bird as his wife. Jarita laid four eggs and the rishi left them and went back to his previous wife, Lapita. They resumed their travel across the three worlds.
Jarita took care of her eggs and brought up the four chicks with love and affection. Being the sons of a rishi, the little ones were born with immense knowledge. Their mother further taught them about Vedas, Shastras, etc.
One day, Mandapala was roaming with Lapita when he saw Agni Deva move towards the Kandava forest. He was worried about the family he abandoned and requested Agni Deva to not kill his children in the forest fire. Agni Deva agreed.
Meanwhile, Jarita and her sons got a whiff of the forest fire. She was terrified for her children as they were too young to fly. She couldn’t abandon them, nor could she take them with her and escape. The children (Jaritari, Sarisrikva, Stambamitra, and Drona) asked her to leave before the fire caught up. They reasoned that if she was alive, she could have more children. However, if she died, they wouldn’t know how to survive in the big bad world.
Jarita offered many options to hide the chicks (like the mouse’s hole on the ground, hollowed tree trunk, etc.). However, the babies said it was too risky and their nest was the safest place. Jarita wasn’t sure but they convinced her to leave and promised to do their best to stay alive. As the flames came closer, Jarita flew high and left the forest. The four chicks prayed to Agni Deva. He appeared and asked them what they wanted. They requested him to save their little lives.
Agni Deva said that the little Sharngaka birds were also rishis and he would listen to their words. He added that their father, Mandapala, already sought their protection, so their lives would be safe. The youngest chick, Drona, requested Agni Deva to consume the cats which often eyed them as its meal. He assured them that all their enemies would be consumed. The fire blazed on but the nest was unharmed.
However, Mandapala saw the raging flames and was restless. He felt guilty for being selfish and abandoning his family. Lapita was annoyed and told him to go to his new family. She left him and stalked off. Unable to stop worrying, Mandapala walked through the forest and its ruins, searching for his sons.
As the flames settled, Jarita came back and found her sons safe. She let out a delighted cry and hugged her children. Just then, Mandapala also reached the spot and was relieved to find them alive. That said, the four little birds didn’t react or acknowledge his presence. He tried to talk to them and asked for their names.
Jarita asked him to leave since he didn’t care for her or their children and abandoned them. He replied that he had asked Agni Deva to protect his children and assured them that he indeed cared for their safety. Convincing his wife and sons, he left the region. They travelled to another land to live peacefully.
Birth and Names of the Upapandavas – Stories from Adi Parva
Draupadi gave birth to five sons, one with each Pandava brother. Her five sons were called the Upapandavas and were born after Abhimanyu (Arjuna and Subhadra’s son). However, more research shows four Upandavas were older than Abhimanyu (who was sixteen when the Kurukshetra War occurred).
The Upapandavas (sons of Pandavas) were born a year apart from each other but were very close. Vyasa described the Upapandavas as beautiful and radiant children (glowing like the sun and moon) who grew up to be well-built, well-trained, and well-mannered.
Along with Abhimanyu, they trained under Arjuna and the other Pandava brothers to learn warfare. Purohit Dhaumya taught lessons about Vedas, Shastras, etc. Later, when the Pandavas went into exile, the Upapandavas divided their time between Panchala and Dwarka, though they were under the care of the Panchala king (Draupadi’s father and brother). The Upapandavas were often a unit and stayed together, even on the battlefield.
King Samvarana Marries Tapati – Stories from Adi Parva
King Samvarana was an ancestor of the Pandavas who married Tapati (the river goddess), the daughter of Vivasvat (Surya Deva).
Tapati was the younger daughter of Vivasvat, born after Savitri. She was a mesmerizing beauty with symmetrical features and an unblemished face. She was also known for her devotion to austerities. Surya Deva wanted to find a worthy groom for her when she reached the marriageable age. He searched among the devas, gandharvas, yakshas, and others only to find the right man on earth. Vivasvat zeroed in on King Samvarana, the son of Riksha of the Kuru lineage. Samvarana was a worshipper of the sun and performed many yagnas to ensure the prosperity of his kingdom. He was also a capable warrior and an efficient ruler.
Once, Samvarana went on a hunt in a forest. He was tired, hungry, and thirsty. When his horse died, Samvarana climbed up a hill to search for food. Instead, he saw the most beautiful woman doing tapasya. She was so angelic that Samvarana thought he got a darshan of Goddess Lakshmi. The sun’s rays further enhanced her beauty. Samvarana fell in love with her. He asked her who she was and said he had never seen someone as ethereal as her.
However, Tapati didn’t reply. He continued to talk to her but she vanished. Samvarana searched the entire region, hoping to find her in vain. When it didn’t happen, he was dejected and disappointed. His body was so exhausted that he fell unconscious.
Tapati appeared to help him regain his consciousness. Samvarana was delighted to see her again and proposed marriage immediately. Tapati replied that her marriage would be her father’s decision. She said she would be happy to marry him but he should wait for the right time and approach Vivasvat to ask for her hand. She then rose high into the sky and disappeared again. The king fell unconscious again.
A while later, Samvarana’s ministers arrived at the spot, searching for him. The minister helped the king sit and gave him water to drink. Once he recovered, the king sent everyone back to the kingdom and took a bath to purify himself. Then, he prayed to the family purohit and his guru, Rishi Vashishtha. Hearing his call, Vashishtha arrived at the site on the twelfth day. Samvarana bowed to the rishi and requested his help. Vashishtha agreed. He went to Vivasvat and recommended Samvarana as a suitable groom for Tapati.
Surya Deva accepted the recommendation. He sent Tapati with the rishi to get her married to Samvarana. The king was overjoyed to find the rishi return to the hilltop with the lady. They got married according to the rituals and were blessed by Vashishtha. Samvarana sent a message to his ministers to take care of the kingdom. He stayed back in the forest with Tapati.
The couple spent happy times there for twelve years. However, the lack of a king’s presence affected the kingdom. There was no rain for the entire duration. Severe drought hit the land, and the citizens suffered.
Vashishtha advised Samvarana and Tapati to return to the kingdom as it wasn’t right that the ruler stay away from his responsibilities. The rishi supervised the yagna conducted by the king. As soon as they entered the kingdom, the clouds began to rain. Very soon, the Kuru kingdom was prosperous and wealthy again. Samvarana and Tapati continued to rule for a long time.
Enmity Between Drona and Draupada – Stories from Adi Parva
The enmity between Drona and Draupada is an interesting situation caused by childhood promises and differences in their approaches to life. After all, Drona was a Brahmin and Draupda was a king.
Drona was the son of Rishi Bharadwaja. He studied Vedas, Vedeangas, and Shastras under his father. Bharadwaja had a friend, King Prishata, whose son was Draupada. When young, Drona and Draupada played and studied together as the rishi trained them in various arts and skills.
Though they were friends during their childhood and teen years, their paths took them in different directions. When Prishata passed away, Draupada became the king of Panchala. Drona was married to Kripi, the twin sister of Kripa. Drona and his wife had a son called Ashvatthaman.
Years passed. Drona lived with his wife and son in a humble ashram. They didn’t have enough money and struggled to even have milk at home. When Drona heard that Parasurama was giving away his wealth, he approached the rishi for some donation. However, Parasurama had already given away everything he had. Then, Drona asked Parasurama for his knowledge of weaponry and warfare. The rishi gladly shared it and taught him about Dhanur Veda.
One day, Drona decided to renew his acquaintance with his childhood friend, King Draupada. He went to Panchala and tried to remind the king about their younger days. Draupada’s response was lukewarm. While he was willing to give some donations, he didn’t show interest in renewing their friendship. An angry Drona left the place and went towards Kuru where he caught the attention of the young princes. Soon, Bhishma found out and made Drona the teacher of the Kauravas and Pandavas. Bhishma gave houses to Drona and Kripa and ensured they had enough wealth to live comfortably.
However, Drona wasn’t one to forget the insults by Draupada. When the princes finished their training, he asked them to attack Panchala and defeat Draupada as a guru dakshina. The Kauravas, Pandavas, and Karna did what their master wanted. Arjuna showed his prowess, which impressed everyone, including Draupada. When Draupada lost, Drona said he would take only half the kingdom and leave the other half for Draupada to continue ruling.
This act made Draupada resent Drona. He wanted a powerful son who would one day defeat and kill Drona. Eventually, Draupada found a way to have this son, Dhristadhyumna. Draupadi was also born from the same yagna.