The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose: Sabha Parva — John Shaqi
The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose: Sabha Parva
Religion
The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose: Sabha Parva
Epic literature, Sanskrit
the monarch cheerfully saluted the Rishi, and gave with due ceremonies
a befitting seat unto him. The king also gave him kine and the usual
offerings of the Arghya including honey and the other ingredients.
Conversant with every duty the monarch also worshipped the Rishi with
gems and jewels with a whole heart. Receiving that worship from
Yudhishthira in proper form, the Rishi became gratified. Thus
worshipped by the Pandavas and the great Rishis, Narada possessing a
complete mastery over the Vedas, said unto Yudhishthira the following
words bearing upon religion, wealth, pleasures and salvation.
"Narada said--'Is the wealth thou art earning being spent on proper
objects? Doth thy mind take pleasure in virtue? Art thou enjoying the
pleasures of life? Doth not thy mind sink under their weight? O chief
of men, continuest thou in the noble conduct consistent with religion
and wealth practised by thy ancestors towards the three classes of
subjects, (viz., good, indifferent, and bad)? Never injurest thou
religion for the sake of wealth, or both religion and wealth for the
sake of pleasure that easily seduces? O thou foremost of victorious men
ever devoted to the good of all, conversant as thou art with the
timeliness of everything, followest thou religion, wealth, pleasure and
salvation dividing thy time judiciously? O sinless one, with the six
attributes of kings (viz., cleverness of speech, readiness in providing
means, intelligence in dealing with the foe, memory, and acquaintance
with morals and politics), dost thou attend to the seven means (viz.,
sowing dissensions, chastisement, conciliation, gifts, incantations,
medicine and magic)? Examinest thou also, after a survey of thy own
strength and weakness, the fourteen possessions of thy foes? These are
the country, forts, cars, elephants, cavalry, foot-soldiers, the
principal officials of state, the zenana, food supply, computations of
the army and income, the religious treatises in force, the accounts of
state, the revenue, wine-shops and other secret enemies. Attendest thou
to the eight occupations (of agriculture, trade, &c), having examined,
O thou foremost of victorious monarchs, thy own and thy enemy's means,
and having made peace with thy enemies? O bull of the Bharata race, thy
seven principal officers of state (viz., the governor of the citadel,
the commander of forces, the chief judge, the general in interior
command, the chief priest, the chief physician, and the chief
astrologer), have not, I hope, succumbed to the influence of thy foes,
nor have they, I hope, become idle in consequence of the wealth they
have earned? They are, I hope, all obedient to thee. Thy counsels, I
hope, are never divulged by thy trusted spies in disguise, by thyself
or by thy ministers? Thou ascertainest, I hope, what thy friends, foes
and strangers are about? Makest thou peace and makest thou war at
proper times? Observest thou neutrality towards strangers and persons
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