When Krishna and the Pandavas, wearied by grief and the sorrows of the world, sought light upon the mysteries of life, they approached the venerable sage Markandeya. They entreated him to reveal the secret virtues and meritorious lives of kings, sages, and noble women. As they thus spoke, the celestial sage Narada descended, and the…
After Dharmaja’s departure with mighty Bhima and the others, the forests languished beneath the cruel blaze of the sun. Trees, scorched by fire and heat, shed their leaves as an offering to the parched earth—as if in compassion, they laid a golden carpet upon her bosom. Soon the heavens were moved to mercy, and the…
When Arjuna, having subdued the race of Nivātakavachas, journeyed back toward the radiant Amarāvati, his eyes beheld a serene hermitage surrounded by tranquil beauty and a golden city shining afar. Wondering at such splendour, he turned to Mātali and asked whose capital this glorious place might be. The charioteer, wise and devoted, replied that in…
The sons of Pandu abode in peace at the hermitage of the sage Arishtaśenu, in obedience to the counsel of Kubera. One day, the venerable Dhoumya, raising his finger toward the northern sky, said to Yudhishthira, “Behold, O son of Dharma, that is Mount Mandara, and beyond it towers the celestial Meru, the axis of…
When the venerable Sounaka narrated the sacred tale of the Mahabharata before the gathering of sages and scholars, the spoke of the time when the sons of Pandu sojourned amidst the sanctified groves of Badarivana, where in ages past the divine sages Nara and Narayana had performed their austere penance. One tranquil morning, the righteous…
Hanuman, the mighty son of the Wind, beheld Bheema Sena and spoke with grave affection, “My brother, thou journeys to the lake of a thousand-petaled lotuses; but beware, and let restraint temper thy strength. Display not rash courage, for that lake is guarded by fierce Yaksha and Rakshasa warriors. The gods themselves gather those flowers,…
Across the wild grandeur of Mount Gandhamadana strode the mighty and lion-hearted Bhīma, his step as firm and graceful as a war-elephant’s march. In playful spirit he mingled with the beasts of the forest, driving away prowling predators with a careless sweep of his arm. The creepers and flowering trees trembled at his passing, while…
Dharmaja, beholding the rough and rugged path before them, turned to Bheema and spoke with calm resolve. “This way, my brother, is hard to tread. The ground is unkind, the stones sharp, and the forests wild. Let Dhoumya and the other Brahmins return in the chariots; you, Sahadeva, and Draupadi too, may safely go back….
With reverence and due decorum, the guards of Janaka escorted the young sages, Aṣṭāvakra and Śvetaketu, into the grand hall of debate. The assembly glittered with the radiance of wisdom; sages, scholars, and masters of ancient sciences adorned its breadth, while the royal seer Janaka presided with serene majesty upon his throne. The atmosphere shimmered…
The sage Romasa spoke of King Somaka, who once performed a great sacrifice and obtained a son named Jantu. The child was the joy of the palace, tenderly reared by the king, the queens, and their attendants. All the queens loved him as their own, so united in affection that the people marveled at such…
