Ashramavasa Parva is the ninety-third Upa Parva included in the fifteenth Maha Parva, named as Ashramavasika Parva. Vaishampayana continued narration to Janamejaya in reply to his queries as follows.
How was Yudhishtira ruling in the Hastinavati Palace with Dritarashtra?
ततस्तेसहिताःसर्वेभ्रातरःपंचपांडवाः।
तथाशीलाःसमातस्थ्युर्धृतराष्ट्रस्य शासने॥
Yudhishtira was ruling in the Hastinavati Palace with the satisfactory administration of Dritarashtra since all the other Pandava brothers were assisting him. It continued for fifteen years.
The emperor was happy since Vyasa was visiting there frequently and speaking with them all. The name and fame of the emperor Dritarashtra then spread to all the nooks and corners of the world.
न तां प्रीतिं परामाप पुत्रेभ्यः स महीपतिः ।
यां प्रीतिं पाण्डुपुत्रेभ्यः समवाप तदा नृपः ॥
The emperor (Dritarashtra) had received more affectionate treatment from the children of Pandu, but he had not received love from his own children before the war. Only Bhima was neutral in the proximity of Dritarashtra inside the Hastinavati Palace.
How did Yudhishtira arrange for the annual death days of all the Kauravas?
Yudhishtira was providing the required cash and stores as desired by Dritarashtra, and Yuyutsu was doing the rituals on the death anniversaries of the Kauravas. Yuyutsu was the youngest son of Dritarashtra. All the Pandavas and all the people under the administration of Yudhishtira were trying to make Dritarashtra happy. The opinions of Dritarashtra were honoured by Yudhishtira, and he was always supported.
How did Yudhishtira arrange for the happy life of Gandhari after the war?
After the war, Yudhishtira had arranged for sufficient food, cloth and happy, healthy comforts of life for Gandhari with the help of Kunti and other Palace lady servants.
What did Bhima do after fifteen years?
Bhima was maintaining good health since it was required for him as a befitting minister under Yudhishtira. Dritarashtra was leading a happy life as an honorary emperor, getting the royal protocols from Yudhishtira. Other Pandava brothers were also leading a happy life, but Bhima could not forget his old days of suffering, which he spent in the forests under Nagaloka and his fight with the Kauravas in the Mahabharata war.
Even after fifteen years, Bhima could not forget the bitter experiences of the war. One day, when the massage was done by the palace physicians, Bhima was gossiping with them and told them that he had to kill all the hundred children of Dritarashtra in the war with his powerful arms. Since Dritarashtra was behind Bhima, he could not notice Dritarashtra, but the words had hurt Dritarashtra deeply.
Bhima later consoled Dritarashtra, but Dritarashtra could not forget his children. Hence, Dritarashtra started to think and proposed with his wife to go for penance.
What did Dritarashtra do after fifteen years?
Dritarashtra, with his wife Gandhari, had decided to go to the forest and live with the Rishis, doing penance. He was feeling sorry for his unruly children when Bhima reminded about it with his harsh words, while speaking to the physicians.
What was the opinion of Yudhishtira about the penance of Dritarashtra?
Dritarashtra told Yudhishtira his decisions about doing the penance. But Yudhishtira was very much sympathetic towards Dritarashtra and requested to abandon his decisions regarding going to the forest for penance and not leave the palace of Hastinavati.
Yudhishtira promised Dritarashtra that he would make all possible efforts within the palace for his penance. So Dritarashtra would happily live there, within the Hastinavati Palace, attending with grandchildren and obliged.
What was the opinion of Vyasa about the penance of Dritarashtra?
Dritarashtra was happy in the company of Vyasa. Vyasa was frequently visiting the Palace, and Dritarashtra had consulted him regarding his future penance. Vyasa had supported Dritarashtra on his views about future penance and going to the forests for it.
What was the advice of Dritarashtra to Yudhishtira about his ruling?
Dritarashtra had advised Yudhishtira to follow Dharma and rule the empire peacefully. He should honour the law and order and support righteousness.
How were the donations made by Dritarashtra?
Dritarashtra had received sufficient cash and stores being issued by Yudhishtira. Then, donations were made by him as per the code of conduct suitable for the purpose.
Who was Samba, and what did he announce?
Samba, an expert in the Rigveda, facilitated Dritarashtra. This Samba was not the son of Krishna but a different one residing in the town of Hastinavati. On behalf of the colony people, the Rig-Vedic expert, Samba, announced that the kings of Hastinavati had eased the life of the people, and in the future, in the forest, Dritarashtra and his family would have a peaceful life with God’s blessings.
Why did Sanjaya ask for some money on behalf of Dritarashtra?
On behalf of Dritarashtra, Sanjaya had asked for some money for giving away as donations to celebrate the death anniversaries of Bhishma, Duryodhana with his brothers and Saindhava. Dritarashtra desired to get the blessings of good people.
What did Bhima express to Yudhishita in front of Arjuna?
Bhima had remembered the days of the dice game and the happy remarks of Dritarashtra then. Before leaving Hastinavati, in order to enter the forests after the dice game, the Pandavas had been expelled without any money.
Hence, the logic of Bhima was that Dritarashtra did not deserve any donation. But Arjuna told Bhima, as an elder brother, he would respect Bhima and simultaneously respect Dritarashtra also, and Arjuna would sanction the desired money from his treasury.
How did Yudhishtira arrange money for Sanjaya?
Yudhishtira had always honored Dritarashtra and he agreed with Arjuna. Yudhishtira had appreciated Arjuna and requested that Sanjaya take as much money as he required from both of the treasuries, belonging to himself as well as to Arjuna, but not to be displeased with Bhima since he had expressed his misery due to the sufferings in the past. Yudhishtira was very sympathetic to Dritarashtra.
How did Dritarashtra conduct the Shraddhayajna or Daanayajna?
Dritarashtra had conducted the Shraddhayajna or Daanayaja by donating gold, silver, gems and jewels to old people and experts in Vedic-reciting people. He also donated clothes, food and accommodation for a fortnight for all the guests.
What did Kunti decide?
Kunti had decided to follow Gandhari and go to the forest with her to serve her. Dritarashtra, being blind, was helped by Sanjaya.
How did Vyasa describe the journey of Kunti, Subhadra and Uttara during the farewell, while going to forest with Gandhari and Dritarashtra?
Dritarashtra and Gandhari had started towards the forest for their penance life with the Rishis. Vyasa had compared the scenario with the old journey of Yudhishtira with Draupadi. Then Kunti was accompanied by the children, Upapandavas. Subhadra was then accompanied with Abhimanyu. In the current event, Uttara was accompanied with child Pareekshit, Vyasa had described.
How did Dritarashtra conduct the first day evening prayers?
Dritarashtra had reached on the banks of the River Bhageerathi on the first day evening. There were many Rishi people with their hermits. Dritarashtra also decided to rest there for that night. He had completed his evening prayers.
Vidura and Sanjaya had provided beds for Dritarashtra and Gandhari. Kunti had prepared her bed next to Gandhari. Some of the people from Hastinavati also slept there being the first day. Vidura and Sanjaya had slept in the hermits of Rishi people with them. Being the first day, Dritarashtra and Gandhari felt sorry for the people who followed them.
Why Pandava brothers again visited Dritarashtra with the Palace family?
Pandavas had become careless in their routine life since people had started to speak and see Dritarashtra, Gandhari and Kunti at Dritarashtra’s forest camp. Hence Yudhishtira had ordered to arrange a grand visit with family and people to the forest.
With food, cook and tents with protective soldiers and chariots containing all royal goods, they visited, the camp on the banks of Yamuna River. They saluted each other and the Rishi people blessed them in their hermitages. Kunti was very happy. Dritarashtra with Gandhari were also happy to see the Hastinavati people.
What was done in the Ashrama of Shatayupa by the Pandava family?
In the Ashrama of Shatayupa, Pandavas with their Royal family members had seen Dritarashtra, Gandhari and Kunti. Vidura and Sanjaya were also there. Many Rishi people were in the hermits living happily. Narada had intimated the Rishi people about the peaceful life of all died souls in the heaven. Pandavas family felt happy.
How Vidura had ended his life and entered the body of Yudhishtira?
After visiting Dritarashtra, Yudhishtira intended to speak with Vidura. He was spending his last moments in the forest but he was walking. Yudhishtira followed Vidura while he was walking.
After going a short distance, the soul of Vidura had entered the body of Yudhishtira and the body of Vidura had fell down. Yudhishtira had returned to the hermit of Shatayupa and seen Vyasa there explaining about it.
What did Vyasa describe about Vidura and Yudhishtira?
Vyasa had described about Vidura to Dritarashtra and the assembly of the people there in the Shatayupa Ashram premises. The hermit was sufficiently big and many kings used to visit there frequently with their parents, for spending the last moments of aged people in life. It was a better place to live peacefully and to leave the mortal bodies of human beings, similar to Varanasi.
Vyasa told both Vidura and Yudhishtira were partially incarnated from the God of death called as Yama Dharma. Hence, after the current life, the energy of his soul had entered the body of Yudhishtira. Being the emperor, Yudhishtira had arranged for the final funeral of Vidura.
The rituals were done and Sanjaya decided to go to the Himalaya hills. Together, they spent one month in the hermit. Vyasa had instructed Sanjaya about Yoga Samadhi, and later, Sanjaya had done the Yoga Samadhi in the Himalayas.
What did Vyasa assure them that the next wonderful deed would be shown?
Vyasa had assured them to show his wonderful deed by showing their dead sons. The show of their war-killed sons would be seen in the next article.
Next post, Mahabharat: Putradarshana Parva would be more interesting.
Mahabharat: Naradagamana 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.
Readers may share this story with children, friends and family.
Leave a Reply