Bhagavatha Vahini, Chapter 13 - The Coronation of Parikshith

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Source: http://www.vahini.org/bhagavata/chapter13.htm

 

Bhagavatha Vahini

The story of God and his DevoteesWritten by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai BabaDownload this Vahini

 

Chapter 13

The Coronation of Parikshith

Kunthi Devi took the road that Shyamasundar had taken. What was left was the

lifeless body. Arjuna wept aloud, "Brother! What shall I say? We have lost our

mother." Dharmaraja who was standing by was shaken hard by the shock; he

stepped towards the body and finding the face blanched, stood petrified.

The maids outside the door heard the words of Arjuna and they peeped into the

room. Kunthi Devi's body was lying on the floor; Arjuna had the head on his

lap; he was intently looking at the face with tearful eyes. The maids of the

palace transmitted the news from one to another, they entered and realised that

the Dowager Queen had left them, without possibility of return. They wept aloud

at the heart-breaking calamity.

Meanwhile, news reached the Queens in the inner apartments. Within seconds, the

sad tidings spread all over Hasthinapura. The Queens were overcome with grief;

they tottered in, beating their breasts in anguish. In an endless stream of

sorrow, the denizens of the Palace flowed into the apartment. Bhima, Nakula,

Sahadeva and the Ministers were overpowered with grief.

The air was filled with indescribable agony. Nobody could believe that Kunthi

Devi, who, a few minutes ago, was so eagerly awaiting her son Arjuna, to hear

the news he brings from Dwaraka, could have passed away so soon. Those who came

and saw stood mute and motionless. The wailing of the maids, the groans of the

queens, and the grief of the sons melted the rockiest heart.

Dharmaraja consoled every one and instilled some courage. He told them not to

give way to grief. He did not shed tears; he was moving about bravely,

directing every one and infusing strength of mind. This made every one wonder

at his self-control. The Ministers approached him and said, "0 King, your

unruffled nature fills us with admiration. You revered your mother and treated

her as the very breath of your life. How is it that your heart has taken her

death so callously?" Dharmaraja smiled at their question and their anxiety.

"Ministers! I am filled with envy when I think of her death. She is indeed most

fortunate. The world dropped from her life as soon as she heard the news of

Krishna moving on to his Heavenly Home. She left immediately to that Home, for,

she could not bear the pang of separation from Him.

We are most unfortunate. We were so near Him; we derived so much of Ananda from

Him; we heard of His departure; but, yet, we are alive! Had we really the

devotion that we claimed, we should have dropped the body like her when we

heard of that loss. Fie on us! We are but burdens on the earth. All our years

are a waste".

When the citizens and others came to know, that Kunthi Devi had died as soon as

she heard the news of Krishna's departure from the world, they wept even louder

for, the grief at losing Krishna was far greater than the grief at the loss of

the Dowager Queen. Many behaved as if they had grown suddenly insane; many beat

their heads on the walls of their houses; they felt miserable and forlorn.

It was as if petrol was poured on a fire. In the flock of unbearable anguish,

born out of the double loss, Dharmaraja was the only calm soul. He consoled the

queens; he spoke softly and assuringly to each; he told them that there was no

meaning in lamenting the loss of the mother or the departure of the Lord. Each

of them had their course according to a predetermined plan. "It only remains

for us now to fulfil our destiny through appropriate steps," he said.

Dharmaraja called Arjuna near him and said, "Arjuna! Dear brother! Let us not

delay any further. The Funeral rites of mother must begin immediately; we must

have Parikshith crowned Emperor; we must leave Hasthinapura this night itself;

every moment appears an age to me". Dharmaraja was filled with extreme

detachment. But, Arjuna was filled with even more renunciation. He lifted the

mother's head from his lap and placed it on the floor. He ordered Nakula and

Sahadeva to make preparation for the Coronation of Parikshith. He gave

instructions to others, Ministers, officers etc. on the arrangements that had

to be made, in view of the decision of the King and the Princes. He was very

busy, indeed. Bhima busied himself with the arrangements for the funeral of the

mother.

The Ministers, citizens, priests, Gurus, were full of wonder, admiration and

sadness at the strange developments and incidents in the Palace. They were sunk

in grief and despair, but, they had to keep it all to themselves. They were also

affected by a strong wave of detachment. Struck with wonder, they exclaimed,

"Ah, His paternal uncle and aunt left the Palace all of a sudden; the news of

Krishna's departure fell like a thunderbolt on the head already distracted by

this calamity; then quite soon, the mother passed away; ere the corpse is

removed from where she fell, Dharmaraja is preparing for the Coronation! And,

the Emperor is planning to give up everything - power, riches, status,

authority - and to move into the forest with all his brothers! Only these

Pandavas can have such steady courage and renunciation. No one else is capable

of this boldness."

Within minutes, the funeral rites were gone through; the Brahmins were called

in; Dharmaraja decided to have the Coronation Ceremony in quite a simple style.

The subordinate rulers and tributary kings were not to be invited; nor could

invitation be given to citizens and kinsmen at Indraprastha.

Of course, a Coronation in the Bharatha Dynasty, seating a ruler on the sacred

Lion-throne of that line, was usually a grand affair. The date will be fixed

months ahead, the auspicious moment chosen with meticulous care; and, elaborate

preparations on a magnificent scale will follow. But, now, in a matter of

minutes, everything was got ready with whatever material was available and

whoever was near at hand. Parikshith was given a ceremonial bath, the crown

jewels were put on him, and he was brought to the Throne by the Brahmins and

the Ministers. He was placed on the throne and, while Dharmaraja was placing

the diamond studded diadem on his head with his own hands, every one in the

Hall wept in distress. The Imperial Authority that had to be assumed to the

joyous acclamation of the people was imposed on the boy to the accompaniment of

groans and sobs.

Parikshith, the newly crowned Emperor was weeping; why, even Dharmaraja, the man

who crowned him, could not stop his tears, in spite of his best efforts. The

hearts of all the spectators were torn by agonising sorrow. Who can stem the

force of destiny? Fate executes every act, at the time and place, and in the

manner it has to be so executed. Man is nothing before it, he is helpless.

Parikshith was a well-bred virtuous boy; he watched the sadness that pervaded

every face; he noted the incidents and happenings in the Palace; he had sat on

the throne, since he felt he should not transgress the command of his elders;

but, suddenly, he fell at Dharmaraja's feet and pleaded pathetically, "My Lord!

Whatever your wish, I shall honour and obey. But, please do not desert me and

leave me alone". He did not give up his hold on the feet; he continued weeping

and praying. All who saw the tragic scene wept; even the hardest could not but

weep. It was terrible, fraught with dire distress.

The boy fell at the feet of his grandfather, Arjuna and cried piteously.

"Grandpa! How can you move out of here with peace in your hearts, after placing

this heavy burden of empire on my head? I am a child who knows nothing; I am

very foolish; I am ignorant; I have no qualifications; I am incompetent. It is

not just, it is not proper for you to lay on my head this empire which has been

in the care of a long line of heroes, statesmen, warriors and wise men and

remove yourselves to the forest. Let some one else bear this responsibility;

take me also with you to the forest", he pleaded.

 

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