The Coronation of Yudhisthira
Vidura, Sanjaya and Dhaumya completed the preparations for the cremation of the fallen, and a long procession made its way slowly towards the Ganges.
The horror felt in the days of the fighting was now equaled by the pain that the tears of the wives, children, fathers, mothers, friends and acquaintances aroused who, after having found the mountain of corpses, the bodies of their loved ones, they were now going to entrust the ashes to the blessed embrace of Mother Ganga.
One fact, however, aroused the surprise of the Pandavas: Draupadi had just finished the funeral of her five children when Kunti personally celebrated the funeral in favor of Karna, her secret son. The revelation of the truth struck a tremendous blow on them, especially on Arjuna, who never would have suspected that his most hated enemy was in fact his older brother.
It was Narada Muni who consoled him.
“Don’t worry about him,” said the sage, “And don’t feel guilty of his death. Karna actually fell victim to the story of his life; he atoned for the many curses he received throughout his life.”
“Great sage,” Arjuna asked, “Tell us the reasons why our brother Karna had to end up like this. Now more than ever we are interested in getting to know him better.”
And Narada told the story of Karna’s life, leaving everyone surprised and in admiration. Then the honored sage departed.
That same day Yudhisthira was crowned emperor, while Bhima was named yuva-raja. There was a great celebration and all pains were forgotten.
Soon after they returned to Hastinapura, so as to be able to reassure the population: an immense crowd awaited the triumphal arrival of Yudhisthira and his brothers, who were accompanied by the only son of Dhritarastra still alive, the virtuous Yuyutsu.
This is a section of the book “Maha-bharata, Vol. 2”.
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