This chapter describes and lists the people who come to Indraprastha to attend the ceremony where the royal palace is consecrated. It narrates the food that is served at the ceremony and enlists the rishis and kings who attend it.
Among the food served to the brahmanas, pork and venison are listed. As in so many instances, the concept of vegetarianism is completely negated here, even for brahmanas.
Many rishis attend the ceremony, among them those that are at the head of their orders. Asita and Devala are included as is Sunaka, the ancestor of Kulapati Saunaka. Some of the rishis who find mention here and are not mentioned anywhere else in the Bharata are Sarpamali, Mahasira, Sthulasira, Apsuhoma, Damoshnisha, Traivali, Varahanuka, Maunjayana, Vayubhaksha, Sarika, Valivaka, Sirivaka, Satyapala, Kritasrama, Jatukarna, Sikavat and Alamba.
Among the princes who attend the ceremony are those who "in deer skins learnt the science of weapons under Arjuna." This is clear proof that Arjuna was a teacher as well as a warrior, although he might have been teaching only during his three-year stay at Indraprastha in the interim period between his exile and that of the Pandavas.
No comments:
Post a Comment