Srimad Bhagavatam, Volume 3

Srimad Bhagawatam, First Canto, Volume Three
suitable personalities. Kunti did not accept this proposal at first but when
vivid examples were set by Pandu she agreed. Thus by dint of the hymn
awarded by Durbasa Muni she called for Dharmaraj and thus Yudhisthir was
born. She called for demigod Vayu (air) and thus Bhima was born. She called
for Indra the King of heaven and thus Arjuna was born. The other two sons
namely Nakula and Sahadeva was begotten by Pandu himself in the womb of
Madri. Later on Maharaj Pandu died at an early age for which Kunti was too
much agrieved and she fainted. Two co wives namely Kunti and Madri
decided that Kunti should live for the maitenance of the five minor children
the Pandavas and Madri should accept the Sati rituals by meeting voluntary
death along with her husband Pandu. This agreement was endorsed by great
sages like Satasringa and others present on the occasion.
Later on when the Pandavas were banished from the kingdom by the
intrigues of Duryadhona, Kunti followed her sons and she equally faced all
sorts of difficulties during those days. During the forest life one demon girl
Hidimbi wanted Bhima as her husband which was refused by Bhima but when
the girl approached Kunti and Yudhisthir they ordered Bhima to accept her
proposal and give her a son. As a result of this combination Ghatotkach was
born and he fought very valiently on the side of his father with the Kauravas.
In their forest life they lived with a Brahmin family who were in trouble on
account of one Bakasusa demon and Kunti ordered Bhima to kill the Bakasura
to protect the Brahmin famili in troubles created by the demon. She advised
Yudhisther to start for the Panchal Desha. Droupadi was gained in this
Panchala Desha by Arjuna but by order of Kunti all the five brothers of
Pandavas became equally the husband of Panchali or Droupadi. She was
married with five Pandavas in the presence Vyasadeva. Kuntidevi never
forgot her first child Karna and after Karna's death in the battle of
Kurukshetra she lamented and admitted before her others sons that Karna was
her eldest son prior to her marriage with Maharaj Pandu. After the battle of
Kurukshera when Lord Krishna was going back home her prayers for the Lord
is excellently explained and later on she went to the forest along with
Gandhari for severe penance. She used to take meals after each thrirty days.
The last stage of her life is that she sat down tightly in profound meditation
and later on burnt down in the forest fire to ashes.
Droupadi: The most chastened daughter of Maharaj Drupad and partly
incarnation of goddess Sachi the wife of Indra. Maharaj Drupad performed a
great sacrifice under the superintendency of the sage Yaja. By his first
offering Dhristadumna was born and by the second offering Droupadi was
born. She is therefore sister of Dhristadumna and her another name is
Panchali. The five Pandavas married her as the common wife and each of
them begot a son in her. Maharaj Yudhisthir begot a son of the name
Pratibindh, Bhimsena begot a son of the name Sutasome, Arjuna begot
Srutakirti, Nakula begot Satanika and Sahadeva begot Srutakama. She is
described to be the most beautiful lady equal to her mother-in-law Kunti.
During her birth there was a areo message that she should be called as
Krishna. The same message also declared that she is born to kill many a
Kshatriyas. On account of her blessings from Shankara she was awarded with
five husbands equally qualified. When she preferred to select her own
husband, princes and kings were invited from all countries of the world. She
was married with the Pandavas during their exile in the forest but when they
went back home Maharaj Drupad gave them immense wealth as dowry. She
was well received by all the daughter-in-laws of Dhritarastra. When she was
lost in the game, she was forcibly dragged into the assembly hall and attempt
was made to see her naked beauty by Duhsasan even there were all elderly
persons like Bhisma and Drona present. She was a great devotee of Lord
Krishna and by her praying, the Lord Himself became unlimited garment of
divotee to save her from the insult. A demon of the name Jatasura kidnapped
her but her second husband Bhimsena killed the demon and saved her from
the clutches. She saved the Pandavas from the curse of Maharshi Durbasa by
the grace of Lord Krishna. When the Pandavas lived incognito in the palace of
Virata, Kichak was attracted by her exquisite beauty and by arrangement with
Bhima the devil was killed and she was saved. She was too much agrieved
when her all the five sons were killed by Aswatthama. At the last stage she
accompanied her husband Yudhisthir and others and she fell on the way. The
cause of her falling was explained by Yudhisthir but when Yudhisthir entered
the heavenly planet like the glowing sun he saw Droupadi present there as the
goddess of fortune in the havenly kingdom.
Subhadra: Daughter of Vasudeva and own sister of Lord Sri Krishna. She
was not only verydear daughter of Vasudava but also she was very a dear
sister for both Krishna and Valadeve. The three brothers and sisters are
represented in the famous Jagannath Temple of Puri and the Temple is still
visised by thousands of pilgrims daily uptill now. This temple is in
remembrance of the Lord's visit at Kurukshetra during an occasion of solar
eclipse and then meeting with the residents of Vrindaban. The meeting of
Radha and Krishna during this occasion is very much pathetic story and Lord
Sri Chaitanya in the ecstasy of Radharani always berieved for Lord Sri
Krishna at Jagganath Puri. While Arjuna was at Dwarka he liked to have
Subhadra as her queen and he expressed his desire to Lord Krishna. Sri
Krishna knew it that His elder brother Lord Valadeva was arranging her
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marriage elsewhere and as He did not dare to go against the arrangement of
Valadeva He advised Arjuna to kidnap Subhadra. So when all of them were
on a pleasure trip on the Raivata hill, Arjuna managed to kidnap Subhadra
according to the plan of Sri Krishna. Sri Valadeva was very angry upon
Arjuna and He wanted to kill Arjuna but Lord Krishna implored His brother
to excuse Arjuna. Then Subhadra was duly married with Arjuna and
Abhimunya was born of Subhadra. At the premature death of Abhimunya
Subhadra was too much mortified but on the birth of Parikshit she was happy
and solaced.
Prati ujjagmu praharsena pranam tanwa iva agatam
Abhisamgamya bidhibat pariswanga abhivadanaih
Prai—towards, Ujjagmu—went, Praharsena—with great delight, Pranam—
kufe, Tanwa—of the body, Iva—like, Agatam—returned back,
Abhisamgamya—approaching, Bibhibat—in due manner, Pariswamga—
embracing, Abhivadanaih—by obeisances.
In great delight all of them went towards him as if life has returned back
in the body and they exchanged obeisances and embracing in due manner
just to welcome and receive each other.
In the absence of consciousness the limbs of the body remain inactive. But
when consciousness returns back the limbs and senses become active and the
very existence becomes delightful. Vidura was so dear to the family members
of the Kaurava family that his absence for a long time from the palace was
something synonymous with inactivity. All of them were feeling acute
separation from Vidura and therefore his return back in the palace became a
joyful atmosphere for one and all.
Mumuchuh prema vaspougham viraha outkanthya katarah
Raja tam arhayan chakre, krita asana parigraham.
On account of anxieties and long separation all of them emanated
emotional tears out of affection. The King (YUDHISTHIRA) then
arranged for offering sitting accommodation and performances of
reception.
Tam bhuktavantam vishrantam asinam sukhamasane.
Prasrayavanata raja praha tesham cha srinwtam.
After feeding Vidura sumptuously and his taking sufficient rest, he was
seated on a comfortable accomodation and thus the king began to speak
being heard by them all present there.
King Yudhisthira was expert in reception also even in the case of his family
member. Vidura was well received by all the family members by exchange of
embracing and obeisances. After that bathing and arrangements for sumptuous
dinner was made and then he was given sufficient rest. After finishing his rest
he was offered a comfortable place to sit on and then the King began to talk
about on all happenings of both family and otherwise. That is the proper way
of receiving a beloved friend or even an enemy. According to Indian moral
codes even an enemy received at home should be so well received as he may
not feel any fearful situation. An enemy is always afraid of his enemy but he
should be stopped feeling like that when received at home by his enemy. This
means that a person when received at home may be treated as good as a
relative and what to speak of a family member like Vidura who was well
wisher for all the members of the family. Thus Yudhisthira Maharaj began to
speak in the presence of all other members.
Yudhisthira uvacha
Api smaratha no yusmat pakshach chhaya samedhitan
Vipad ganad visadagnader mochita yat sa matrikah.
Maharaj Yudhisthir said, "my uncle do you remember us who were
always protected by you along with our mother from all sorts of
calamities by your partiality wings of a bird even in the matter of
administration of poison to us or setting on fire to our home?"
Due to Pandu's death at an early age his minor children and widow were the
object of special care for all the elderly members of the family specially by
Bhismadeva and Mahatma Vidura. Vidura was more or less partial for the
Pandavas on account of their political position. Although Dhritarastra was
equally careful for the minor children of Maharaj Pandu yet he was one of the
intriguing party who wanted to wash off the descendants of Pandu and replace
them by ascending the sons of Dhritarastra to become the rulers of the
kingdom. Mahatma Vidura could follow this intrigue of Dhritarastra and
company and therefore even though he was a faithful servitor of his eldest
brother Dhritarastra, he did not like his political ambition for the sake of his
own sons. He was therefore overcareful for protection of the Pandavas and
their widow mother and as such he was so to say partial to the Pandavas than
to the sons of Dhritarastra although both of them were equally affectionate in
his ordinary eyes. He was equally affectionate to both the camps of nephews
in the sense that he always chastised Duryodhone for his intriguing policy
against his cousins. He always criticised his elder brother for his policy of
encouragement to his sons and at the same time he was always alert in the
matter of giving special protection to the Pandavas. All these different