Jalapradanika Parva is the eighty fourth Upa parva included in the eleventh Maha parva named as Stri parva. Vaishampayana continued narration to Janamejaya in reply to his queries as follows.
What was the main difference between Shraddha and Jalapradanika Parvas?
The contents of Shraddha parva dealt with the dead bodies in the funerals using fire by only the male livings people of the kings and soldiers of the war. The contents of Jalapradanika parva described the offering of water oblations in honor of the dead, on the banks of river Ganga using the holy water, by all the livings people of the kings and soldiers of the war.
The fire flames usually show, burning upward, symbolizing the soul entering in to the heaven. The water oblations usually show, pouring downward, symbolizing the physical remains entering in to the permanent earth. Then, the heart and body get purified gradually.
On the side of the Kauravas army, who was alive and authorized to perform the water offering rituals after the war?
Yuyutsu was the youngest of the Kauravas alive after the Mahabharata war on the side of Kauravas and he was authorized for the water offering rituals. He was very sympathetic. He had protested Dushasana in the court, while the dice game was played between Duryodhana and Yudhistira. He supported righteousness, frequently referring the phrase ॥ यतो धर्मस्ततो जयः ॥.
Before the commencement of the war, an option to accept the sides was provided by Yudhishtira, and Yuyutsu had entered the side of the Pandavas army. Please refer Bhishma Patana parva of this website.
It was Yuyutsu who initially named Yudhishtira as Dharmaraja. Yuyutsu had later ruled in Indraprastha, and helped Yudhishitra with his Ashwamedha yaga also.
Who was the mother of Yuyutsu? What happened to the land he ruled later?
The maid servant of Gandhari, named as Sugadha, was the mother of Yuyutsu. Dritarashtra was his father. He had ruled Indraprastha and got natural death. He had lived for one hundred and twenty years of age and after his death, the land he ruled was amalgamated with the land of king Parikshit of Hastinavati.
What was done on the banks of river Ganga?
On the river banks of Ganga, the children and widows of the deceased kings and soldiers had offered the water, in honor of the people who entered into heaven.
What was the word used for the water ritual done by Yudhishtira?
‘Tarpana’ was the word used for the water ritual done by Yudhishtira. Kunti informed Yudhishtira, as Karna was his elder brother. Since Karna was killed by Arjuna in the war, all Pandava brothers repented for the death of Karna. So as per the instructions of Dhaumya, Yudhishtira had offered the ‘Tarpana’ in his name.
What did Yuyutsu do?
Yuyutsu was the son of Dritarashtra. He had done the water oblations in honor of the deceased Kauravas. He was the student of Drona, so offered on his behalf also.
How was Shalya honored during water oblation?
Sahadeva had performed the water oblation on behalf of Shalya after his death.
How did Janamejaya describe the river banks during the ‘Jalapradanika’?
There were eleven Akshohini soldiers on the Kauravas side, and seven Akshohini soldiers on the Pandavas side, but all had died during the war. After declaring the war had ended by Yudhishtira, Dhaumya had instructed to offer the water oblations in honor of all the deceased, by taking a bath, having a dip, in the water of Ganga river.
The widows and children had assembled on the river banks for the water rituals. It was like an ocean of people. Yudhishtira had ordered for the arrangement of the required donations as usual as told by Dhaumya. The river was also called as Bhageerati.
What was the duration of Jalapradanika and why was it so prolonged?
The Jalapradanika lasted for one month after the crowning of Yudhishtira. Dhaumya was doing the supervision of water oblations on the banks of Bhageerati river every day morning and then they were returning to the Palace.
After the morning food, Yudhishtira was going to meet Bhishma lying on the battle field. Bhima was in charge of the court session and he was consulting Vidura for solving routine problems of the citizens but practically, there were no serious issues.
Since Vyasa had introduced about Asvamedha, Draupadi and Arjuna started the preliminary preparatory works for it. Yudhishtira had thus tried to bring the peaceful atmosphere in the Hastinavati city and Palace within a month.
Why did Krishna not do the water oblation after the war?
Krishna had not fought in the war but he was a charioteer to Arjuna. Krishna had not killed anybody in war. Satyaki and Kritavarma had done the water oblations. The legal inheritress of king Bhoja and Yuyudhana had also performed the water rituals on behalf of the deceased after the Mahabharata war. The brother of Krishna, Balarama was away from the war and hence simply accompanied the rituals praying for the souls to rest in the heaven with peace forever.
Who consoled Yudhishtira, justifying Karna’s death, during Jalapradanika?
Narada had consoled Yudhishtira, justifying Karna’s death, during Jalapradanika. In the previous life, Karna was very powerful and unnecessarily disturbed Nara and Narayana. Karna had tried to get rid of all his sins in the present life. But he had joined with Duryodhana and Shakuni.
Karna had fought for Duryodhana and the marriage of Duryodhana was arranged by him. He had to support violence and always thinking of killing Arjuna. Krishna had blessed Pandavas so they got the victory. Thus Narada had both appreciated Karna as well as consoled Yudhishtira.
Next post, Mahabharat: Griha Parva would be more interesting.
Mahabharat: Rajadharma Parva would be presented separately in another article.
What are the benefits of reading this story?
On reading this story, children would gain more memory power, great moral strength in their lives in future; creating a sense of self-reliance, leading to peace and progress.
It is humbly prayed for the blessings of God Krishna upon us.
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