Yudhistira began ruling the kingdom like Rama ruled Ayodhya.
One day he called his brothers and said Something is disturbing me. I am not able to concentrate on my duties. Krishna has left for Dwaraka and I am feeling alone.
Arjuna said If you think of Krishna, he will come to you.
Vyasa happened to come there and the brothers welcomed him.
Yudhistira said I still feel guilty of having killed my dear ones.
Vyasa said Do not feel guilty. You have fulfilled the duties of a Kshatriya. If you want to be free of everything then perform the Ashwamedha Yagna (Horse sacrifice). Tell me tell you something.
You have heard of Parashurama, who on the command of his father, killed his mother. He had to perform a horse sacrifice to get rid of the sin. Later Rama was born in the age of Treta. He performed the sacrifice to wash off the sin of killing many people. Indra performed the sacrifice because he had killed a brahmana.
Yudhistira said The sacrifice requires a lot of wealth. How will I perform such a sacrifice when my treasury is empty?
Vyasa said :
Once there was a king called Marutta. He performed a horse sacrifice and distributed a lot of wealth in the process. The wealth distributed was so much that the priests could not carry that with them. They had to hide the same in the Himalayas. Go there and get that wealth. Use that for the sacrifice.
Yudhistira said This may not be correct. How can I get a brahmin's wealth to wash off my sins?
Vyasa said There is nothing wrong in that. The wealth has been discarded by the brahmins. Wealth does not belong to one alone. What is wealth but part of the earth? And who has control over the elements of the earth?
Yudhistira said You have solved the problem of wealth. Now where will I get the horse?
Vyasa said Go to the kingdom of Yuvanashwa. Defeat the king and get his horses. Send Bhima to fight and get the horses for you.
Yudhistira said Bhima is tired and wounded from the great fight. How can I tell him to fight for me for a horse?
When Bhima heard this he was happy. He said Do not worry. I will go and get the horse for you. Send Arjuna to get the wealth. Vrishaketu, son of Karna, said he would go along with Bhima and get the horse.
Hearing this Yudhistira said I am sad for you. We did not know Karna's real identity and Arjuna, thinking him to be the son of a charioteer, killed him.
Vrishaketu said It is the duty of a Kshatriya to fight. If death comes during that, one will go to heaven. My father chose the wrong side. He paid for his sins. Do not grieve for that. Allow me to go with Uncle Bhima. Yudhistira was happy and gave permission.
Meghavarna, son of Ghatotkacha then came there. He said he too wanted to go along with Bhima. he said he was skilled in the arts of illusion and magic and would be able to help with his skills. Along with Vrishaketu and Bhima, he would go and get the horses.
Yudhistira gave him permission.
Vysasa then said Send Arjuna to get the wealth.
Arjuna climbed up on his chariot and was soon back with all the wealth.
Vyasa then said Let me tell you how to conduct yourself.
Get up early and offer food and water to the Gods. Invite twenty thousand priests and give them gifts. Worship the Gods with flowers and sandal paste. Then the priests will pour five pitchers of butter on the idols. This way hundred thousand pitchers of butter will be used everyday.
Start the sacrifice in the spring time in the month of Chaitra.
The ideal horse should be dark with a yellowish tail. Decorate the horse and worship it. On a plate write your name and tie that on the horse. Also write that whoever captures the horse will have to fight you. On the full moon night let the horse loose and let it go where it wishes.
You will sit at the sacrifice site along with Draupadi till the horse returns back.
Send for Krishna. He will assist you in the process.
Saying this, Vyasa left.
One day he called his brothers and said Something is disturbing me. I am not able to concentrate on my duties. Krishna has left for Dwaraka and I am feeling alone.
Arjuna said If you think of Krishna, he will come to you.
Vyasa happened to come there and the brothers welcomed him.
Yudhistira said I still feel guilty of having killed my dear ones.
Vyasa said Do not feel guilty. You have fulfilled the duties of a Kshatriya. If you want to be free of everything then perform the Ashwamedha Yagna (Horse sacrifice). Tell me tell you something.
You have heard of Parashurama, who on the command of his father, killed his mother. He had to perform a horse sacrifice to get rid of the sin. Later Rama was born in the age of Treta. He performed the sacrifice to wash off the sin of killing many people. Indra performed the sacrifice because he had killed a brahmana.
Yudhistira said The sacrifice requires a lot of wealth. How will I perform such a sacrifice when my treasury is empty?
Vyasa said :
Once there was a king called Marutta. He performed a horse sacrifice and distributed a lot of wealth in the process. The wealth distributed was so much that the priests could not carry that with them. They had to hide the same in the Himalayas. Go there and get that wealth. Use that for the sacrifice.
Yudhistira said This may not be correct. How can I get a brahmin's wealth to wash off my sins?
Vyasa said There is nothing wrong in that. The wealth has been discarded by the brahmins. Wealth does not belong to one alone. What is wealth but part of the earth? And who has control over the elements of the earth?
Yudhistira said You have solved the problem of wealth. Now where will I get the horse?
Vyasa said Go to the kingdom of Yuvanashwa. Defeat the king and get his horses. Send Bhima to fight and get the horses for you.
Yudhistira said Bhima is tired and wounded from the great fight. How can I tell him to fight for me for a horse?
When Bhima heard this he was happy. He said Do not worry. I will go and get the horse for you. Send Arjuna to get the wealth. Vrishaketu, son of Karna, said he would go along with Bhima and get the horse.
Hearing this Yudhistira said I am sad for you. We did not know Karna's real identity and Arjuna, thinking him to be the son of a charioteer, killed him.
Vrishaketu said It is the duty of a Kshatriya to fight. If death comes during that, one will go to heaven. My father chose the wrong side. He paid for his sins. Do not grieve for that. Allow me to go with Uncle Bhima. Yudhistira was happy and gave permission.
Meghavarna, son of Ghatotkacha then came there. He said he too wanted to go along with Bhima. he said he was skilled in the arts of illusion and magic and would be able to help with his skills. Along with Vrishaketu and Bhima, he would go and get the horses.
Yudhistira gave him permission.
Vysasa then said Send Arjuna to get the wealth.
Arjuna climbed up on his chariot and was soon back with all the wealth.
Vyasa then said Let me tell you how to conduct yourself.
Get up early and offer food and water to the Gods. Invite twenty thousand priests and give them gifts. Worship the Gods with flowers and sandal paste. Then the priests will pour five pitchers of butter on the idols. This way hundred thousand pitchers of butter will be used everyday.
Start the sacrifice in the spring time in the month of Chaitra.
The ideal horse should be dark with a yellowish tail. Decorate the horse and worship it. On a plate write your name and tie that on the horse. Also write that whoever captures the horse will have to fight you. On the full moon night let the horse loose and let it go where it wishes.
You will sit at the sacrifice site along with Draupadi till the horse returns back.
Send for Krishna. He will assist you in the process.
Saying this, Vyasa left.
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