Maha-bharata. Anonymous

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СКАЧАТЬ gifts proclaimed the homage of each prince of warlike might,

       Chieftains vied with rival chieftains to assist the holy rite.

      Bright Immortals, robed in sunlight, sailed across the liquid sky,

       And their gleaming cloud-borne chariots rested on the turrets high!

      Hero-monarchs, holy Brahmans, filled the halls bedecked in gold,

       White-robed priests adept in mantra mingled with the chieftains bold.

      And amidst this scene of splendour, pious-hearted, pure and good,

       Like the sinless god Varuna, gentle-souled Yudhishthir stood,

      Six bright fires Yudhishthir lighted, offerings made to gods above,

       Gifts unto the poor and lowly spake the monarch's boundless love.

      Hungry men were fed and feasted with an ample feast of rice,

       Costly gifts to holy Brahmans graced the noble sacrifice,

      Ida, ajya, homa offerings, pleased the “Shining Ones” on high, Brahmans pleased with costly presents with their blessings filled the sky!

      III

      Glimpses of the Truth

      Dawned the day of abhisheka, proud anointment, sacred bath, Crownéd kings and learnéd Brahmans crowded on Yudhishthir's path,

      And as gods and heavenly rishis throng in Brahma's mansions bright, Holy priests and noble monarchs graced the inner sacred site!

      Measureless their fame and virtue, great their penance and their power,

       And in converse deep and learned Brahmans passed the radiant hour,

      And on subjects great and sacred, oft divided in their thought,

       Various sages in their wisdom various diverse maxims taught,

      Weaker reasons seemed the stronger, faultless reasons often failed,

       Keen disputants like the falcon fell on views their rivals held!

      Some were versed in Laws of Duty, some the Holy Vows professed,

       Some with gloss and varied comment still his learned rival pressed,

      Bright the concourse of the Brahmans unto sacred learning given,

       Like the concourse of the bright stars in the glorious vault of heaven,

      None of impure caste and conduct trespassed on the holy site,

       None of impure life and manners stained Yudhishthir's sacred rite!

      Deva-rishi, saintly Narad, marked the sacrificial rite, Sanctifying by its lustre good Yudhishthir's royal might,

      And a ray of heavenly wisdom lit the rishi's inner eye, As he saw the gathered monarchs in the concourse proud and high!

      He had heard from lips celestial in the heavenly mansions bright,

       All these kings were god incarnate, portions of Celestial Light,

      And he saw in them embodied beings of the upper sky,

       And in lotus-eyéd Krishna saw the Highest of the High!

      Saw the ancient Narayana, great Creation's Primal Cause,

       Who had sent the gods as monarchs to uphold his righteous laws,

      Battle for the cause of virtue, perish in a deadly war,

       Then to seek their upper mansions in the radiant realms afar!

      “Narayana, World's Preserver, sent immortal gods on earth,

       He himself in race of Yadu hath assumed his mortal birth,

      Like the moon among the planets born in Vrishni's noble clan—

       He whom bright gods render worship—Narayana, Son of Man,

      Primal Cause and Self-created! when is done his purpose high,

       Narayana leads Immortals to their dwelling in the sky.”

      Such bright glimpses of the Secret flashed upon his inner sight,

       As in lofty contemplation Narad gazed upon the rite.

      IV

      The Arghya

      Outspake Bhishma to Yudhishthir: “Monarch of this wide domain,

       Honour due to crowned monarchs doth our sacred law ordain,

      Arghya to the wise Preceptor, to the Kinsman and to Priest,

       To the Friend and to the Scholar, to the King as lord of feast,

      Unto these is due the arghya, so our holy writs have said, Therefore to these kings assembled be the highest honour paid,

      Noble are these crownéd monarchs, radiant like the noonday sun,

       To the noblest, first in virtue, be the foremost honour done!”

      “Who is noblest,” quoth Yudhishthir, “in this galaxy of fame,

       Who of chiefs and crownéd monarchs doth our foremost honour claim?”

      Pond'ring spake the ancient Bhishma in his accents deep and clear:

       “Greatest midst the great is Krishna! chief of men without a peer!

      Midst these monarchs pure in lustre, purest-hearted and most high

       Like the radiant sun is Krishna midst the planets of the sky,

      Sunless climes are warmed to verdure by the sun's returning ray,

       Windless wastes are waked to gladness when reviving breezes play,

      Even so this rajasuya, this thy sacrificial rite, Owes its sanctity and splendour unto Krishna's holy might!”

      Bhishma spake and Sahadeva served his mandate quick as thought,

       And the arghya duly flavoured unto peerless Krishna brought,

      Krishna trained in rules of virtue then the offered arghya took, Darkened Sisupala's forehead and his frame in tremor shook,

      To Yudhishthir and to Bhishma turns the chief his flaming eyes,

       To the great and honoured Krishna, Sisupala wrathful cries.

      V

      Sisupala's СКАЧАТЬ