DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.638#0312
232 INDIAN MYTH AND LEGEND
to attend the great sacrifice: their turrets were high, and
they were swan-white and flecked with radiant gold.
Silver and gold adorned the walls of the rooms, which
were richly perfumed and carpeted and furnished to befit
the royal guests.
Then the rajahs came to Indra-prastha in all their
splendour and greeted mighty Yudhishthira. Those who
were friends brought gifts, and those who had been
subdued in battle brought tribute. White-haired and
blind old Dhritarashtra came, and with him were Kripa
and Bhishma and Vidura. Proud Duryodhana and his
brethren came also, professing friendship, and Kama came
with bow and spear and mace. Drona and his son, and
their enemies Drupada and his son, were there also, and
Balarama, Krishna's brother, and their father Vasudeva.
And among many others were jealous Sishupala1, King
of Chedi2, and his son, and both wore bright golden
armour.
Many Brahmans assembled at Indra-prastha, and
Krishna honoured them and washed their feet. The
gifts that were given to these holy sages were beyond
computation. In great numbers came men of every
caste also; and all were feasted at banquets, so that the
words "Take ye and eat" were heard continuously on
every hand.
Now there were deep and smouldering jealousies
among the assembled rajahs, and when the time came
to honour him who was regarded as the greatest among
them by presenting the Arghya3, their passions were set
ablaze. First Bhishma spake forth and said that the
honour was due to Krishna, the pious one, who was the
noblest and greatest among them all. "Krishna," he
1 Pron. sish-oo-pah/la, 2Pron. chay'dee.
3 A gift of fruit or flowers, like an offering to the image of a god.
to attend the great sacrifice: their turrets were high, and
they were swan-white and flecked with radiant gold.
Silver and gold adorned the walls of the rooms, which
were richly perfumed and carpeted and furnished to befit
the royal guests.
Then the rajahs came to Indra-prastha in all their
splendour and greeted mighty Yudhishthira. Those who
were friends brought gifts, and those who had been
subdued in battle brought tribute. White-haired and
blind old Dhritarashtra came, and with him were Kripa
and Bhishma and Vidura. Proud Duryodhana and his
brethren came also, professing friendship, and Kama came
with bow and spear and mace. Drona and his son, and
their enemies Drupada and his son, were there also, and
Balarama, Krishna's brother, and their father Vasudeva.
And among many others were jealous Sishupala1, King
of Chedi2, and his son, and both wore bright golden
armour.
Many Brahmans assembled at Indra-prastha, and
Krishna honoured them and washed their feet. The
gifts that were given to these holy sages were beyond
computation. In great numbers came men of every
caste also; and all were feasted at banquets, so that the
words "Take ye and eat" were heard continuously on
every hand.
Now there were deep and smouldering jealousies
among the assembled rajahs, and when the time came
to honour him who was regarded as the greatest among
them by presenting the Arghya3, their passions were set
ablaze. First Bhishma spake forth and said that the
honour was due to Krishna, the pious one, who was the
noblest and greatest among them all. "Krishna," he
1 Pron. sish-oo-pah/la, 2Pron. chay'dee.
3 A gift of fruit or flowers, like an offering to the image of a god.