02.006
Library: Yudhisthira enquires about various assemblies.
Vaiśampāyana said.
After duly honoring and being permitted by the great sage, Yudhishthira, the king of dharma, replied in due order after the sage's words. (2-6-1)
O Lord, I have stated this just determination of dharma as it is; this procedure has been performed by me according to my ability and in accordance with justice. (2-6-2)
Whatever actions were performed by kings in the past should not be doubted, as they were done with reason and meaning, and in accordance with justice. (2-6-3)
O Lord, we wish to follow the righteous path of those people, but it is not possible for us to proceed in the same way as those with controlled minds. (2-6-4)
Having thus spoken, the righteous-souled one, after duly honoring that speech and seeing that the proper time had arrived, beheld the sage who moves among people. (2-6-5)
Yudhiṣṭhira, the wise son of Pāṇḍu, approached the well-seated sage Nārada and asked him in the assembly of kings. (2-6-6)
You always travel through many different worlds, observing those that were created long ago by Brahmā, moving with the speed of thought. (2-6-7)
O Brahmin, have you ever seen any assembly like this anywhere before? Or is there any assembly better than this? If so, please tell me, as I am asking. (2-6-8)
Having heard that speech of Dharmarāja, Nārada, smiling, replied to Pāṇḍava with sweet words. (2-6-9)
O Bhārata, O king, I have neither seen nor heard among men an assembly made of jewels like this of yours. (2-6-10)
But I shall describe the assembly of the king of the ancestors, of Varuṇa, and of the wise; also that of Indra and of the one dwelling on Kailāsa. (2-6-11)
O best of the Bharatas, if your mind is attentive to listening, I shall describe to you the divine assembly of Brahmā, which is free from fatigue. (2-6-12)
Thus addressed by Nārada, Yudhiṣṭhira, the king of dharma, with joined palms, together with his brothers and surrounded by all the kings, responded. (2-6-13)
The great-minded Dharmarāja replied to Nārada, "Please describe all those assemblies; we wish to hear about them." (2-6-14)
O Brahman, what are the substances of those assemblies? What is their extent and what are their dimensions? Who, along with the grandsire, attend upon him in that assembly? (2-6-15)
Indra, the king of gods, Yama the son of Vivasvat, Varuṇa, and Kubera, and others attend upon him in the assembly. (2-6-16)
O sage among the gods, we all wish to hear from you the truth of all this, for we are all filled with great curiosity. (2-6-17)
When the son of Pāṇḍu had thus spoken, Nārada replied to him: 'O king, let us now hear, in order, about those divine assemblies here.' (2-6-18)
