Adi Parva›The Death of Parikshit and Janamejaya's Vengeance

A Suta Bard Predicts the Sacrifice Will Be Incomplete

Why "Minor"?

Causal ReachTop 93%

Character WeightTop 100%

State ChangeTop 92%

Narrative RecallTop 50%

~1 min read

As the sacrificial platform is being built, a wise suta—a bard and builder—observes the site and the timing. He publicly declares that the sacrifice will not be completed and that a Brahmana will be the cause. King Janamejaya, hearing this, orders that no one be allowed entry without his knowledge.

Earlier, when the sacrificial platform was being built and the sacrifice had not started, a great incident occurred that suggested the sacrifice might be disrupted. There was a man who was a suta (a bard and charioteer). He was an extremely wise builder and one who was skilled in the knowledge of architecture. He was also a raconteur of ancient tales. This bard observed the site and the timing. He said, "The land on which the platform was constructed and the time at which it was measured indicate that this sacrifice will not be completed. A Brahmana will be the cause." On hearing this, before being instated on the platform, King Janamejaya instructed the door-keeper that no one should be allowed entry without his knowledge.

Adi Parva, Chapter 47