1-2) Later Bhishma, meditating on Sri Krishna, rejoined his original form of Vasu. Having performed his post-death rituals, when Ganga became sorrowful, Sri Vyasa and Sri Krishna consoled her. They consoled Dharmaraja too. However, he once again was overcome by grief. Then, Sri Vyasa, the Anantaradhas, told him.
Note: Bhishma was the Avatara of one of he eight Vasus named Dyu.
3) “Since you are mistakenly considering Dharma as Adharma, worship Sri Achyuta through the Ashwamedha sacrifices. Rule the land through Dharma. Protect these orphan-like citizens”.
4) When Sri Vyasa said thus, Dharmaraja did the same (as per his advise). He gave up all material comforts and ruled the land performing Go-vrata and other such vratas.
Note: Go-vrata has many variations. Sleeping anywhere like cows, living in vairagya, taking bath with go-mutra and subsisting only on cow’s milk and other such different vratas exist.
5) He kept undertaking the main Danas regularly. No person, who was qualified to receive, went back without getting what he was seeking.
6) Enquiring about the welfare of all, giving whatever people needed, being worshipped by other Kings and performing many Yajnas – Dharmaraja lorded thus. Staying in the palace of King Pandu, he gave up the company of women completely.
7) Bhima, on the other hand, stayed at the palace of Duryodhana, which he had won through his great valour. Being the crown-prince, he enjoyed comforts fit for the King of Devatas, in the company of Draupadi.
8) The form of Bharati Devi was manifest completely in Draupadi by then. She therefore gave up the company of the other four Pandavas and stayed always with Bhima. Like Agni’s flame, she was resplendent without any one else’s contact.
Note: By this time, Shachi, Shyamala and the other Devatas had left Draupadi’s body and only Bharati manifested in her fully. Hence she stayed only with Bhima from then on.
9) The other Pandavas, with affection and mutual consent, handed over Draupadi to the most-knowledgeable Bhima. Having obtained her eternal husband, Draupadi served him with great joy.
10) The crown-prince Bhima, in the company of Bharati in her two forms as Draupadi and Kali, was resplendent, just like Sri Hari who, having killed all Daityas, resides in the Ksheerasagara with Brahma in his navel and in the company of Sridevi and Bhudevi.
11) A son of Bhima, by name Sarvottunga, who was the Avatara of Ahamkarika-Prana, was killed by Ashwathama in the night. His mother was called Devi. She was the daughter of Vasudeva’s (Sri Krishna’s father) wife Rohini. She was earlier the presiding deity of the full-moon called Rakaa. She too was Bhima’s wife.
12) Other twenty daughters of Vasudeva, who possessed auspicious beauty, were wives of Bhimasena. All of them were earlier presiding deities of the various directions and waters. Together with them, Bhima enjoyed material comforts that was unavailable to even Devatas, even as he was being served by Devatas and Gandharvas.
13) Bhima appointed five of his trusted men, who were noble Vaishnavas and possessed excellent intellect, in each village. These were scholarly Brahmanas appointed on salary who would always teach Vaishnava Dharmas. Bhima protected all Dharmas in this way.
14) Those who violated (those Dharmas) were punished personally by him. On the other hand, those who followed them were happily protected by him. The conduct of the Brahmanas (teaching the Dharmas) were overseen by more qualified Brahmanas who would regularly inspect them. Thus, he protected all Dharmas appropriately.
15) In that Kingdom of Bhima, there were no non-Vaishnavas under any circumstance. There were none who worshipped other Devatas as supreme nor anyone who violated Dharmas. No one violated Shastras. There were no unhappy or poor people.
16) To the citizens who were getting knowledge of the truth from visiting Sri Vyasa and Sri Krishna and from Bhima and Sages, Kaliyuga was greater in quality than the first Krutayuga.
17) In the Kruta Yuga, a great meritorious act also fetches only little punya. In contrast, even a small sinful act fetches great paapa. This is the problem (with Kruta). However, Bhimasena, with the grace of Sri Hari, ensured such a defect does not exist in Kali Yuga and made it more meritorious than even Kruta Yuga.
18) Arjuna was always engaged in conquests of other nations. As per the orders of his elder brothers, he used to threaten the Kings of other countries and bring them to the feet of Dharmaraja, along with their precious wealth.
19) Listening always to the nectar of firmed up truth from the lotus-like face of Sri Krishna, Arjuna slowly overcame all his sorrow including that of his son’s loss, and enjoyed himself without indulging in excess material pleasure.
20) Arjuna resided in Dushasana’s palace along with Subhadra and Chitrangada. Like the fully luminous moon in the sky along with his two wives Chandrika and Kanti, Arjuna too was resplendent.
21) Nakula was responsible for paying salaries to all servants and refugees. He resided in Durmukha’s house along with Shalya’s daughter and always remained obedient towards his brothers’ orders.
22) His brother Sahadeva indulged in negotiations and treaties and resided in the clean premises of Durmarshana. Bearing a sword, he was the bodyguard of the King and enjoyed (life) with the daughter of Jarasandha.
23) Krupacharya became the commander of the Pandava army. As per the orders of the Pandavas, Yuyutsu, Sanjaya and Vidura engaged themselves in the service of Dhritharashtra. Along with them, the Pandavas too accorded him respect and served him like a Devata.
24) When the Pandavas were ruling thus under the protection of the two Krishnas (Sri Vyasa and Sri Vasudeva), there was not a single ill person. None used to die an unnatural death. Women would not become widows. Men would not become widowers.
25) The elements such as sound would always be pleasant. Indra would bestow abundant rains. The citizens, being free from troubles, would worship Sri Hari with unmatched devotion.
26) The Earth, cows and Vedas would give abundant results. Clouds, oceans, rivers, hills, trees and animals – all of these would bestow precious stones.
27) The Pandavas, under the refuge of Sri Krishna, controlled the whole world and ruled it very well. In the company of great Sages, Gandharvas, Kings and others, they enjoyed just as the Devatas in Swarga.
28) The glorious lady that was the fame of the Pandavas, born through Sri Vyasa, crushed the Asuras with her feet on their heads and placed her two hands on the heads of noble men while assuring them of safety and opulence. She was present all over the Universe.
Note: Sri Madhwacharya compares the fame of the Pandavas to a lady here. The fame was born due to Sri Vyasa and it crushed evil people. For noble people, the fame of the Pandavas protected them with the abhaya and varada mudras offering them safety and boons. The fame of the Pandavas had spread all over the world.
29) That lady-fame of the Pandavas had her feet in Patala. Her thighs were on Earth while her waist was in the sky. Her arms were spread in all directions while the planets, stars and heavenly objects were her jewellery. Her chest was in Dyu-loka while her lotus-like face was in the Brahmaloka.
30) She bore the protective palm of Sri Hari, the lord of Vaikunta, on her head with respect. Her name was the excellent ‘Bharata’. People listened to and saw her just like a second Draupadi and became purified.
31) When the Pandavas, along with Sri Krishna, were thus ruling the Earth efficiently, two Daityas by name Kali and Bali, being great evil ones, started destroying the nation at some places. The Pandavas immediately got to know of this.
32) Being instructed by the King and Sri Krishna, Bhimasena then defeated both of them along with their ilk. He chased away Bali and captured Kali and brought him in front of Sri Krishna and the King.
33) In the presence of Sri Krishna, Dharmaraja, being very lenient, asked Kali – “O evil minded one! Why you are causing damage to my Kingdom?”
34) When Dharmaraja asked thus, he replied – “After the fall of Duryodhana it is my time now. You stand here having forcefully taken it over”.
35) “O King! Therefore I am causing damage in your Kingdom”. The King replied – “The Kingdom runs based on the King’s strength”.
36) “Based on the order of time, this Kingdom may be yours but it will be taken away forcefully by Kings like me. Therefore how can you desire this land?”
37) “Do not bear any doubt about whether the King is responsible for the times or if time determines a King. It is always the King who makes the time”.
38) Kali then addressed him – “O King! In my time, how can Kings like you be around? I shall first enter Kings and Brahmanas”.
39-40) “O King! My influence does not work on you due to the protection of Krishna. In my time which is against Brahmanas and Vedas, which King would not lose to me apart from you? Once I cast my glance, how can noble qualities remain? What Vedas? What noble thoughts?”
Anandatirtha Prathishtana 