01.102
Core:Pandu becomes the King.
Vaiśampāyana said:
When the three princes were born, the land of Kurujāṅgala, the people of the Kurus, and Kurukṣetra—all three flourished.
The land yielded tall and fruitful crops; the rain god rained in due season; trees were abundant with flowers and fruits.
Vehicles were joyful, beasts and birds delighted; garlands were fragrant, fruits were juicy.
The cities were filled with merchants and artisans; the brave, the learned, and the virtuous lived in happiness.
There were no bandits, nor were people inclined to unrighteousness; even in the distant regions, the golden age prevailed.
The people, devoted to charity, rites, sacrifices, and vows, bound by mutual love, flourished greatly.
The people, free from pride, anger, and greed, flourished together; supreme righteousness prevailed.
The city shone like a vast ocean, full and majestic, adorned with gates, arches, and ramparts resembling masses of clouds. It was crowded with hundreds of mansions, resembling the city of Indra.
Joyful people roamed and played in rivers, forests, tanks, marshes, slopes, and beautiful woods.
The southern Kurus mingled and competed with the northern Kurus, moving among siddhas, sages, and celestial bards. No one was miserable, and there were no widowed women.
In that delightful region, the Kurus constructed many wells, gardens, halls, ponds, and residences for brāhmaṇas. With Bhīṣma protecting all in accordance with the scriptures, O king.
That land became beautiful, adorned with hundreds of sacred shrines and yūpas; it prospered by receiving peoples from foreign nations. By Bhīṣma's establishment, the wheel of dharma prevailed in the kingdom.
As the great-souled princes performed their duties, all the citizens and countryfolk lived in constant festivity.
In the homes of the Kurus and the citizens, O king, voices were heard everywhere saying, “Let it be given! Let it be enjoyed!”
Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Pāṇḍu, and the wise Vidura were cared for by Bhīṣma like his own sons from birth.
Trained through sacraments, engaged in vows and study, skilled in effort and exercise—they grew into youth.
They became experts in archery, horseback riding, mace and sword combat, elephant training, and the science of polity.
They excelled in epics, purāṇas, and various sciences; thoroughly trained, they mastered the essence of the Vedas and Vedāṅgas.
Pāṇḍu became valiant in archery and surpassed other men; Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the king, was exceedingly strong.
In the three worlds, there was none equal to Vidura; ever devoted to dharma, he attained the highest in righteousness, O king.
Seeing the lineage of Śantanu perished and then restored, a proclamation spread across all kingdoms.
The daughter of Kāśi bore heroic sons; the Kuru land and Hastināpura, famed in ancient lore, flourished under Bhīṣma, knower of all dharmas.
Because Dhṛtarāṣṭra was blind and Vidura was of mixed birth, Pāṇḍu became king.
