Rajadharma Parva is the eighty sixth Upa parva included in the twelfth Maha parva, named as Shanthi parva. Vaishampayana continued narration to Janamejaya in reply to his queries as follows.
How many days were spent in anarchy and who was really ruling then?
On the seventeenth day afternoon, when Duryodhana had hid under the water in Sarovara, there was anarchy in Hastinavati. Balarama was ruling on the next day.
Yudhishtira ordered Bhima to capture Ashvathama. Then, Arjuna used Brahmastra against him for making him surrender, when Ashvathama engaged in massacre violence, lighting fire to the Pandavas’ army camps at night. Yudhishtira had done what Krishna desired after the war. Krishna tried to avoid the situation of anarchy.
After the war, when and how did Yudhishtira enter the Palace?
After the war, on the nineteenth day, Yudhishtira was feeling uneasy to enter Hastinavati and Palace. Then Vyasa, Krishna, Devasthana Rishi, Narada and many Vedic people had requested Yudhishtira to enter Hastinavati and the Palace.
Vyasa had appreciated Bheeshma and told to Yudhishtira, as and when needed, he could be consulted and should be visited to enquire his comforts. Then, a special cart with sixteen bullocks was made ready there. Bhima took the reins. Arjuna held the white umbrella. Nakula and Sahadeva had acted as body guards. Yuyutsu ascended his horse and followed as back side security. Vedic people started reciting the Swastimantras and walked in front row.
The procession entered the Hastinavati front gate and then marched to the Palace. Krishna and Satyaki followed in a chariot from the back. Dritarashtra with Gandhari had been leading in the front sat inside the palanquin, escorted by servants. The ladies team also followed in many palanquins with many kings and soldiers following them. They were very happy. The citizens were happy to see and receive them. The Palace people also welcomed them.
The Palace was decorated to please Krishna and Yudhishtira. In the front, Dritarashtra with Gandhari were leading but Sanjaya was the charioteer carrying the royal materials belonging to Dritarashtra.
Who was Charvaka? How did Krishna describe him?
Charvaka was a demon king and a friend of Duryodhana. Charvaka had conducted penance for many years and got boons to shine in this world with powers. He had not been killed in the war.
To please his friend Duryodhana, Charvaka had disguised as a Brahmin and appeared on the way to the Palace of Hastinavati. He started to condone Yudhishtira in a loud voice. He boasted that he was a representative of Vedic scholars. Yudhishtira became momentarily sad but immediately Krishna had recognized him.
Krishna would not worship demons, but Krishna would honor real Brahmins since they were not land owners, but only real Vedic scholars eligible to be worshipped by all in this world, as Krishna described. Many innocent Brahmins were killed by Charvaka. The suffering relatives were waiting for the assuming of power by Yudhishtira to plead their complaints.
Krishna instructed Yudhishtira to do the needful. When the real Vedic scholars with Dhaumya had declared the truth about Charvaka, the army intelligence using their security soldiers had handled the situations. Later, Yudhishtira safely entered the Palace, being fully decorated and very pleasant in many respects.
Who crowned Yudhishtira after the war?
Dhaumya had arranged for the crowning ceremony of Yudhishtira. Kripa helped in the rituals. Dhaumya Rishi is mentioned in this website in Ajnatavasa Parva.
Kripa was to safeguard the throne in the Hastinavathi Palace. Dhaumya was to crown Yudhishtira to the throne in the Hastinavathi Palace. Hence both Kripa and Dhaumya together conducted the ceremony and declared Yudhishtira as emperor.
Bhima was the Minister. Vidura had continued as legal advisor. Arjuna was the commander in chief to monitor the defense system. Nakula had been corronated to the throne of North Madra. Sahadeva had been corronated to the throne of South Madra. Yudhishtira had started the administration with peace.
After assigning duties and allotting separate palaces, how was Kripa treated?
Bhima was assigned the duties of chief minister of the empire and allotted the palace of Duryodhana. Arjuna was assigned the duties of commander in chief of army and allotted the palace of Dushasana. Nakula was assigned the duties of financial tasks and allotted the palace of Vikarna. Sahadeva was assigned the duties of chief of intelligence and allotted the palace of Durmukha. Vidura was assigned law and order risks. Dhaumya was assigned the works of rituals.
Kripa was relieved of his overload and appointed as the head of the education for the royal princes. After the war, many princes were minors, so Kripa was engaged as teacher. Later, Yuyutsu had been crowned for Indraprastha. North Madra was crowned by Nakula. South Madra was allotted as a separate kingdom for Sahadeva. Kripa was besides working as a teacher and also participated in the rightful administrative matters.
What did Krishna do on the next day morning after war?
Krishna was meditating on the next day early morning. Then, Yudhishtira asked him the reason for his meditation. Krishna advised Yudhishtira to visit Bheeshma and get his counsel in administrative matters. Then Satyaki and Krishna started to visit Bheeshma. Yudhishtira with Arjuna followed them in another chariot.
After reaching the battlefield, what did Krishna tell about Kurukshetra?
Krishna had started to explain the previous history of Samanta Panchaka. It was Krita Yuga when Parashurama had punished the erring kings. Krishna described to the Pandavas assembly, how, later, the number of kings flourished in the world. In the Kritayuga, there lived a king with name Kushika. Many names get repeated. There was Satyavati also. Parashurama is always living, as Chiranjeevi.
What did Yudhishtira ask Krishna about the kings who had been regenerated?
Some queens were alive and pregnant. They had given birth to princes but they were not in Palaces, and were looked after by non-human beings. The princes were brought up by bears, monkeys, cows and birds. Parashurama went for penance. Later, the kings were educated and again the natural Sanatana Dharma was flourished. Sanatana Dharma could not be fully wiped out, Krishna told.
Why was Bheeshma unable to speak when Yudhishtira and Krishna visited?
Bheeshma had been lying on his bed of arrows for the last few days. He was very weak and sleepless. He could not speak but he appreciated Krishna as a living God. He requested Krishna for the ability to speak and provide blessings to regain good health. All the blood and physical body previously had under Duryodhana was no more then.
Bheeshma then got blessings of Krishna and protection from Yudhishtira. Then, everybody returned since it was time for sunset. All of them returned hoping to visit Bheeshma again on the following day morning.
What was assured by Krishna to Bhishma after war?
Krishna assured Bhishma his words would be honoured like Vedas.
What was Rajadharma according to Bheeshma?
Bheeshma was a learned man. He had learnt many subjects under various special teachers. He was not married but got good knowledge of family life. He had kept his vow and led a life helping the Hastinavati kings. The code of conduct for kings, their rules and regulations, their duties and obligations were called as Rajadharma.
What were the procedures to have good character and good administration?
अद्रोहः सर्व भूतेषु कर्मणा मनसा गिरा ।
अनुग्रहस्च दानं च शीलमेतत् प्रशस्यते ॥
Meaning: Practicing non-violence towards all living beings in thinking, action, and all policies, generous in control of wealth including donations were appreciated as good administration and as procedures of good characters.
What was Varnashrama? How it was decided according to Bheeshma?
Varnashrama was the classification in the society. It was decided by aptitudes and characters. A person willing to practice administration, support law and order, interested to execute public services, get training in the usage of weapons was termed Kshatriya. Usually, the wards of kings were naturally exposed and called as Rajakumaras meaning as princes.
A teacher or a person engaged in rituals was called as a Brahmin. A Brahmin was not allowed to own any landed properties but he could live in forests maintaining hermits. He was allowed to accept donations. Then, education was free and compensations for teaching were decided after the successful completion of the student-hood. Usually, a Brahmin was financially not considered.
A Vaishya was controlling the exchange of commodities. Gold, silver, gems and jewelries were the media of marketing. A Vaishya was given the highest status in the society then. Suta was the service provider to all. Manual service and mechanical services were controlled by Sutas. Hence, Sutas were considered after Vaishyas. The father of Karna was providing the chariot services to Bheeshma. So Bheeshma was frequently referring Karna as Sutaputra but he was the king of Anga.
How did Bheeshma explain about taxation and intelligence reporters?
Bheeshma explained about taxation and intelligence reporters to Yudhishtira. Taxation was the source for the wealth for the ruling king. The intelligence reporters should be of two types. The ruling head should have open and direct reporters besides secret reporters. The defense system must be sincere and strong.
The Rajadharma described by Bheeshma to Yudhishtira reveals the truth of his desire about the change of administration from Duryodhana to him. There was no hatred. Bheeshma used pleasing words whenever Yudhishtira visited him.
How did Bheeshma control Duryodhana for the period of thirteen years?
The Palace of Hastinavati was very rich in many respects. The late king Pandu had made the Bharata Varsha as the strongest in defense but after his death, the throne was occupied by Duryodhana instead of offering to Yudhishtira. The character and antecedents of Duryodhana was not satisfactory but Bheeshma had promised his father, Dritarashtra, that he would manage the routine business of the Palace amicably.
Since Dritarashtra was blind, Bheeshma was sympathetic towards him and allowed Duryodhana to sit on the throne. Bheeshma was struggling to maintain internal peace within the Hastinavati Palace. Bheeshma knew fully about the external administration techniques. The Pandavas were kept away from the Hastinavati Palace for thirteen years.
Duryodhana frequently desired to kill Bhima. Karna desired to kill Arjuna to satisfy himself and to please Duryodhana. Shakuni was camping in the Palace with his children and always planning to keep Pandavas away making Kauravas happy. Bheeshma had diverted the thinking mind of Duryodhana from the idea of killing of Pandavas into doing of Ashwamedha yaga peacefully by using grains in the fire rituals avoiding of live horse.
Bheeshma was a sincere devotee of Vishnu and impeached Duryodhana for worshipping Vishnu for thirteen years. So, peace was preserved in Hastinavati palace. Esteamed readers are kindly requested to browse Bhumi Parva and Bhagavadgita parva of this website regarding the three hundred Ashwamedha yagas conducted by Bheeshma for the thirteen years. Thus, he had conducted the administration controlling Duryodhana. The three hundred Ashwamedha yagas were successfully completed by Bheeshma.
What were the secrets of a good administration to be adhered by the ruler?
Bheeshma had strongly emphasized the protection or security to all life and liberty in the kingdom of a good administrator. A good ruler should permit the freedom of speech and actions for the learned persons. It would be necessary for the administrator to have consultations. In times of disasters like flood or famine, the ruler must adopt special policies relaxing the normal life and more about such items would be described in the next article Apaddharma parva.
Next post, Mahabharat: Apaddharma Parva would be more interesting.
Mahabharat: Mokshadharma 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.
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