& Sie
29 / Sacrificial Ceremonies
Performed by Vasudeva

Among the women present at Kuruksetra during the solar eclipse were
Kunti, Gandhari, Draupadi, Subhadra and the queens of many other kings,
as well as the gopis from Vrndavana. When the different queens of Lord
Krsna were submitting their statements as to how they were married and
accepted by Lord Krsna as His wives, all the female members of the Kuru
dynasty were struck with wonder. They were filled with admiration at
how all the queens of Krsna were attached to Him with love and affection.
When they heard about the queens’ intensity of love and affection for
Krsna, they could not check their eyes from filling up with tears.

While the women were engaged in conversations among themselves and
the men were similarly engaged in conversation, there arrived almost all
the important sages and ascetics from all directions, who had come for the
purpose of seeing Lord Krsna and Balarama. Chief among the sages were
yan dvaipayana Vyasa, the great sage Narada, Cyavana, Devala, Asita,
Visvamitra, Satananda, Bharadvaja, Gautama, and Lord Parasgurama along
with his disciples; Vasistha, Galava, Bhrgu, Pulastya, Kasyapa, Atri,
Markandeya, Brhaspati, Dvita, Trita, Ekata; the four Kumara sons of
Brahma, Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana and Sanatkumara; Angira and
Agastya, Yajfiavalkya and Vamadeva.

As soon as the sages and ascetics arrived, all the kings, including
Maharaja Yudhisthira and the Pandavas and Lord Krsna and Balarama,
immediately got up from their seats and offered their respects by bowing
down to the universally respected sages. After this, the sages were properly
welcomed by being offered seats and water for washing their feet. Palatable
fruits, garlands of flowers, incense, and sandalwood pulp were presented,
and all the kings, led by Krsna and Balarama, worshiped the sages according
to the Vedic rules and regulations. When all the sages were comfortably
seated, Lord Krsna, who descended for the protection of religion, began

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