05.092

Vaiśampāyana said.

Thus, as those two wise men conversed, that auspicious night adorned with favorable stars passed by. (5-92-1)

As Vidura, the high-minded one, listened, he heard various words—full of dharma, artha, and kāma and adorned with manifold meanings, words, and syllables. (5-92-2)

With fitting stories for Kṛṣṇa, whose brilliance is limitless, that night passed for him as if he were without desire. (5-92-3)

Then many bards and panegyrists with melodious voices awakened Keshava with the sounds of conches and drums. (5-92-4)

Then, Janārdana, the foremost among all the Sātvatas and descendant of the Daśārhas, rose and performed all the necessary morning duties. (5-92-5)

Having completed his daily duties and prayers, performed the fire offering, and adorned himself, Madhava then approached the rising sun. (5-92-6)

Then Duryodhana and Shakuni, son of Subala, approached Krishna of the Dasharhas, the unconquered one, as he stood performing the Sandhya ritual. (5-92-7)

Then they informed Kṛṣṇa that Dhṛtarāṣṭra had entered the assembly, along with the Kuru elders led by Bhīṣma, and all the assembled kings and princes. (5-92-8)

Just as the gods in heaven request Indra, they ask you, Govinda; and Govinda welcomed those two with the utmost sweetness in his words. (5-92-9)

Then, when the sun was clear, Janardana, the scorcher of foes, gave gold, clothes, cows, and horses to the Brahmins. (5-92-10)

The charioteer then approached the unconquered Daśārha, who had given away gems and was standing there, and honored him. (5-92-11)

Recognizing that he had arrived, the great-minded one saw the divine chariot, resounding like a great thundercloud and adorned with all gems. (5-92-12)

Janardana, having circumambulated the fire and the Brahmins, put on the Kaustubha gem, radiating with supreme splendour. (5-92-13)

Kṛṣṇa, surrounded by the Kurus and protected by the Vṛṣṇis, Śauri, the joy of all the Yādavas, ascended the chariot. (5-92-14)

Vidura, the knower of all righteous duties, followed the descendant of Dasharha onto the chariot—the foremost among all beings, the best among upholders of righteousness. (5-92-15)

Then Duryodhana and Śakuni, son of Subala, followed Kṛṣṇa—the scourge of his enemies—on a second chariot. (5-92-16)

Sātyaki, Kritavarman, and the great chariot-warriors of the Vrishnis also followed Krishna from behind, with chariots, horses, and even elephants. (5-92-17)

Their chariots—adorned with gold, yoked with superb horses, resounding, brilliant, and beautiful—shone as they went. (5-92-18)

With its dust swept and sprinkled, the great road traversed by royal sages was entered at the right time by Kṛṣṇa, the wise one, shining in his splendor. (5-92-19)

Then, when Krishna, the descendant of the Daśārs, departed, single-faced drums were sounded, conch horns were blown there, and all sorts of other instruments as well. (5-92-20)

Mighty young warriors from all the people, as brave as lions, surrounded Kṛṣṇa's chariot and went along, scorchers of foes. (5-92-21)

Then, many thousands of others—wearing wondrous and marvelous garments, bearing swords, spears, and weapons—went ahead before Kṛṣṇa. (5-92-22)

Hundreds of elephants there, and thousands of excellent horses, followed the unconquered hero of the Daśārhas as he proceeded. (5-92-23)

The city of the Kurus was filled with people eager to see Janardana—the old and the young, the women, all crowding the streets for the subduer of enemies. (5-92-24)

The houses, crowded in many ways with women leaning on the railings, seemed to sway under their weight. (5-92-25)

Honored by the Kurus, listening to various conversations, responding respectfully as was fitting, and looking about, he proceeded slowly. (5-92-26)

Then, having reached the assembly, Keśava's followers made all the directions resound with the blaring of conch shells and the sound of flutes. (5-92-27)

Then that whole assembly of kings of immeasurable radiance was filled with excitement and joy in anticipation of Krishna's arrival. (5-92-28)

Then, as Kṛṣṇa drew near, the kings rejoiced, hearing that chariot's thunder, like the roar of thunderclouds. (5-92-29)

Then, having reached the entrance of the hall, the eminent one of all the Sātvatas—the descendant of Śūra—descended from the chariot, which was like the summit of Kailāsa. (5-92-30)

Then he entered the assembly hall, which resembled a mountain cloud, radiant with brilliance, and was like the dwelling of Mahendra. (5-92-31)

Taking Vidura and Satyaki by the hand, the illustrious one, O king, shining like the sun, enveloped the Kurus in his splendor. (5-92-32)

In front of Vāsudeva sat both Karna and Duryodhana; behind Krishna were seated the Vrishnis and Kritavarma. (5-92-33)

Then, having Dhṛtarāṣṭra at the forefront, Bhīṣma, Droṇa, and the others all rose from their seats, honoring Janārdana. (5-92-34)

As Dāśārha (Kṛṣṇa) approached, the wise and magnanimous, greatly renowned one rose together with Bhīṣma and Droṇa. (5-92-35)

As the great king Dhritarashtra, the lord of men, rose, those thousands of kings arose as well from all sides. (5-92-36)

An auspicious seat, adorned with gold, was arranged there for Kṛṣṇa by the order of Dhṛtarāṣṭra. (5-92-37)

But Madhava, smiling, addressed the king, Bhishma, and Drona, and, being righteous, also addressed the other kings according to their standing. (5-92-38)

There, all the kings and rulers, and the Kauravas, honored Keśava—Janārdana—who had properly arrived in the assembly. (5-92-39)

There, standing in the midst of the kings, that descendant of the Dasharhas, the conqueror of enemy cities and scourge of his foes, saw the sages dwelling in the sky. (5-92-40)

Then, upon seeing those seers headed by Nārada, the descendant of the Daśārhas gently addressed Bhīṣma, the son of Śantanu. (5-92-41)

O King, the sages have come to see this royal assembly; let them be duly invited with seats and shown great respect. (5-92-42)

While these venerable sages of pure mind remain seated, no one else may sit. Quickly show them due honor. (5-92-43)

When Śāntanu's son saw the sages had arrived at the entrance to the assembly, he promptly instructed his attendants, "(Bring) seats." (5-92-44)

Then, they brought and arranged here and there well-cleaned, large, spacious seats adorned with jewels and gold. (5-92-45)

When they were all seated there and had received the welcoming offerings, O Bhārata, Kṛṣṇa sat down on his seat, and the kings on theirs. (5-92-46)

Duḥśāsana gave an excellent seat to Sātyaki, and Viviṃśati gave a golden stool to Kṛtavarman. (5-92-47)

Then, not far from Kṛṣṇa, Karna and Duryodhana—both great-souled and proud—sat together on a single seat. (5-92-48)

King Shakuni of Gandhara, protected by the Gandharans, sat down on a seat with his son, O lord of the people. (5-92-49)

Vidura, the highly intelligent one, seated himself on a jeweled seat covered with a white-striped animal skin, touching the seat of Śauri. (5-92-50)

Having seen Kṛṣṇa again after a long time, all the kings, every ruler, gazed at Janārdana as if at nectar, unable to get their fill. (5-92-51)

Janardana, shining like the flax flower and clad in yellow garments, shone in the midst of the assembly like a jewel set in gold. (5-92-52)

Then all became silent, their minds absorbed in Govinda; there, indeed, not a single man spoke anything at all. (5-92-53)