Narada talks about the pilgrim spots

In the forest, the Pandavas were visited by Narada. The Pandavas worshiped him and gave him a place to sit. Draupadi also made her offerings to the sage.

Narada said In the earlier days, Bhishma had performed the Satyavrata vow. He was in the forest, making offerings to the departed ancestors when he met the sage Pulastya. Approaching the sage, Bhishma said I am freed of my sins by seeing you.

The sage was pleased to hear this and asked Bhishma what he wanted. Bhishma said he wanted to know about the greatness of the pilgrim sites.

The sage said - One who had full control over his words and actions would get the full merit of the pilgrim site. The person should not be greedy and should have control over anger.

The sacrifices can be performed by the rich or by the kings. If the poor man visits the pilgrim site and fasts and takes the name of God, he will get the merits of the sacrifices.

There is a pilgrim spot called Pushkara. If someone has a bath in the lake, in this holy spot, all his sins will be washed away.

The second most important pilgrim spot is Dwaravati. Taking the name of God here, one gets saved from the clutches of Yama.

The next spot is Kurkshetra, taking the name of the place itself absolves the sins of the resource. Then one goes to the place called Vara where the great Varaha was born.

The next is placte called Ramarishi. Parashurama had bathed here after killing the khastriyas.

The next is the place called Kapila where people who bathe, go the realm of the Sun.

Having mentioned these places, Narada left.

Yudhistira then wanted to visit these pilgrim spots. 

Narada comes to visit Yudhistira

One day Narada came to visit Yudhistira. Everyone got up when they saw him. Yudhistira bowed down to him, offered him a seat and worshiped him. The sage asked Yudhistira how things were in his land. Yudhistira said all his subjects were happy and he had everything under his control. Yudhistira showed him the grand assembly hall and the sage said he not seen anything like this.

He started describing the assembly halls he had seen. Indra's assembly hall was built by Vishwakarma. Countless sages and Gods sat there along with Harishchandra. Narada spoke of the assembly hall of Yama which which was built in way to maintain uniform weather all through out the year. Many kings lived there with Yama. Varuna's assembly hall was inside the water. It was called Pushkarmali. All rivers of the world could come and assemble there. Kubera's assembly hall was built by Vishwakarma on Kailasha. It was a joyous place where constant song and dance was performed. Vibhishana lived there, serving his brother, Kubera. Close by lived Shiva with Uma and his children.

Narada said the assembly hall of Indraprastha was beyond comparison.
Yudhistira asked why alone was Harischandra in Indra's court while the other kings were in Yama's court.

Narada said Harishchandra had successfully completed the Rajyasuya sacrifice. Other kings who tried this sacrifice did not survive, so their sacrifices were incomplete.

Narada said Pandu had sent his greetings to Yudhistira and had said that of all the sacrifices, Rajyasuya was the biggest and Yudhistira should perform that.

Yudhistira sent for his brothers after Narada left. he asked them what they felt about what Narada had said about the sacrifice. They all agreed and thought it was best to ask for Krishna's advise. Yudhistira sent a message to Krishna. On hearing that Krishna. climbed on Garuda and came to Indraprastha. 

Weighing of Krishna

Satyabhama said she had been tricked into giving away Krishna by Narada. She asked Narada to return Krishna back to her. Narada said she had given Krishna to him, in front of all, so how could she ask back for Krishna. Narada said if she did not stop asking for Krishna back, he would get angry. Satyabhama said she was not afraid and if his anger burnt her, she would not be sad as living without Krishna was unthinkable for her. She asked Narada that how did the others, Sachi, Parvati and Swaha get their husbands back.
Narada said Agni was blazing hot with many tongues of flame, so he was not taken. Shiva was not taken as he covered himself in ashes, rode a bull, wore bones and snakes and was surrounded by ghosts. Indra was not taken as he was unable to move without his elephant or horse as his vehicle. Krishna is different. His looks have no match in the three worlds. Wherever I g, I will have Krishna with me and I will be blessed.

Satyabhama fainted hearing this. Krishna said to Narada stop this play. Narada said Satyabhama was selfish and she did not think what would be consequences of the fast that she would be undertaking.
Narada revived Satyabhama and said he would give back Krishna if she could give to him, Krishna's weight in gold.

A huge weighing scale was organized. Krishna sat on one side and all the jewels and gold were added to the other side. People from Dwaraka started getting all the wealth they had and started adding that.
Adding all that weight could not move the scale a bit and Krishna was still on the ground, on his side of the scale.

Uddhava, a follwer of Krishna, then said all the wealth in the world would not be able to move Krishna, in whose body the entire universe resided. He asked the people to remove the wealth from the scales. He asked them to get a tulsi leave. On that he wrote the name of Krishna and kept it on the scale. The scale with Krishna now lifted.

Narada took the Tulsi leaf and went.

This is the greatness of the name of Krishna.

Satyabhama gives away Krishna

In Dwaraka, the Parijata tree was kept at the door of Satyabhama. The tree was decorated very nicely. One day when Krishna and Satyabhama were sitting below the tree, Narada came there. Narada said to Satyabhama - There is no one equal to you. You are the greatest. You have managed to get the Parijata tree on earth. Fast and pray for getting Krishna as your husband for all lives to come. The daughter of Poulama, Sachi had done such a fast and got Indra as her husband. Daughter of the Himalayas, Parvati, also had done such a fast and she got Shiva as her husband.
Satyabhama asked Narada about the procedure. Narada asked to first take the permission of Krishna as she would have tie Krishna to a tree and give him away to that tree.
Satyabhama said she would take Krishna's permission. She started organizing whatever material was needed for the fast. She gathered cows, gold and all that was needed. When she went to Krishna and asked for his permission, he readily agreed.
Satyabhama tied Krishna to the Parijata tree and she sat down before the tree with grass strands in her hand.
Rukmini and the other wives of Krishna came to see the celebration.
Satyabhama then gave away Krishna.

Narada then said he had given Krishna as offering and he would be taking him away. He told Krishna to change into clothes of an ascetic.
Krishna was untied from the tree and he went off with Narada, as an ascetic. All people of Dwaraka were aghast. All started crying.
Rukmini and the other wives started following Narada and Krishna. Narada asked them to stay back. Rukmini said she would go with Krishna. Narada said Satyabhama had given away Krishna alone.
Rukmini said Satyabhama did not consult with anyone before giving away Krishna, so she was not concerned with that. 

Krishna pacifies Satyabhama

Satyabhama was lying on the floor, crying away. Hearing that Krishna was coming, Satyabhama started crying out louder in anger. She looked at Krishna and said a well wisher of Rukimini had come and started cursing Rukmini. Krishna said Why you do use such words against Rukmini?
Satyabhama then said Krishna had given the the Parijata flower to Rukmini and not to her. She was feeling insulted and would give up her life.
Krishna said Do not cry over one flower. I will get you the Parijata tree itself.
This pleased Satyabhama and she got up.
Krishna spent the night with Satyabhama.
In the morning, Narada came back. He said the Gods had refused to give the Parijata flowers away. He said the Gods had also insulted Krishna calling him a cowherd.

This angered Krishna and he decided to deal with the situation himself. He said Indra had become too proud and he needed to be taught a lesson. He said he would go to Indra and get the Parijata tree from there.

Krishna then sent for Garuda. He asked Garuda to take him to Indra to get the Parijata tree to Dwaraka. he got his mace and Sudarshana chakra and climbed on top of Garuda.
Satyabhama said she wanted to go with Krishna. Krishna agreed and also asked to of his followers, Satyaki and Kama to come along.

When Balarama heard this, he said he would come along also. Krishna asked Balarama to stay back and guard Dwaraka. 

Krishna asks Narada to get Parijata flowers

The sage said Janmajeya, listen to the story of how Krishna got Parijata.

Once Narada roaming around reached the Raivataka mountain. He sang songs glorifying Krishna. A flower of the Parijata tree was tied to Narada's Veena and he gave that to Krishna.
It was a wonderful, rare flower whose fragrance traveled distances and attracted others.
Krishna gave that flower to Rukmini, his wife. Rukmini was very happy to have that.
Narada left the mountain. On his way he thought of mentioning about the Parijata to Satyabhama, another wife of Krishna and daughter of Satrajit. He went to Dwaraka and met Satyabhama.
Narada said when he had gone to Indra, he had been presented with the Parijata flowers, which was rare for the humans. I gave a flower to Krishna, as he was the one capable of having it. Krishna gave that flower to Rukmini.
He said he had thought Satyabhama was the favorite of Krishna, but now he realized that it was Rukmini who was closer to him.

Satyabhama started tearing off her jewels. She fell on the floor and started crying.
Narada seeing this then went off to the Raivataka to tell Krishna. Krishna was having his meal, which was being served by Rukmini. Narada went there.

Krishna asked Narada about his visit. He said he had gone to Dwaraka and had told her that Krishna had given the Parijata flower to Rukmini. Hearing this, Satyabhama was lying on the floor, crying her heart out.

Krishna asked Rukmini to give the flower to Satyabhama. Rukmini said this was not the correct thing to do. Having gifted her something, she was being asked to give that back.
Krishna then asked Narada where he had got the Parijata flower.

Narada said the tree grew in the heaven and was guarded closely bu Indra's guards. Narada asked Krishna to ask for the flowers; hearing Krishna asking for the flowers, he would give it to him.

Krishna asked Narada to go as his messenger to Indra. He asked to Narada to ask for flowers from the Parijata tree, which had appeared when the cosmic ocean had been churned. 

Narada goes to Shiva

The Gods and the demons had finished the churning of ocean. All were aware of what had happened except Shiva. Narada went to inform Shiva about the churning of the ocean.

Narada went to Kailash and bowed down before Durga and Shiva. He informed Shiva about all that had happened. He told Shiva that Vishnu had got back Lakshmi and the gem called Kaustava. Indra had got the horse Uchchaihshravas and the elephant, Airavata. The nectar had also come which would make all who consumed it, immortal.

Narada said all Gods had got something from the Ocean except Shiva. Narada asked Shiva what he wanted. While Shiva kept quiet, Durga got angry. She said look at your Lord. He has a necklace made of bones. He has ashes and dust as the coating on his skin. He does not need precious gems nor does he need sandal wood paste. He is all immortal and has no need for any nectar. He has a bull as his vehicle and has no need for any other vehicle. He has no need for a wish fulfilling tree.
Daksha had once ignored your Lord, and as you know, he had called for his destruction and had to get a head of a goat, as his head. Shiva has accepted all that has been discarded like animal skins, bones, ashes and dust.