ESSENCE OF PURANAS SERIES
Chapter 1: Invocation
Condensed English Translation by Sri V.D.N. Rao
OM SHRI GANESHAYA NAMAH
SHRI SARASWATI
OM BHAGAVATEY VAASUDEVAYA NAMAH /
SHRINIVAASAM HARIM DEVAM VARADAM PARAMESHWARAM TRAILOKYANATHAM GOVINDAM PRANAMAAMYAAKSHARA -MAVYAYAM/
King Janamejaya, a Pandava descendant and the son of Parikshith, enquired of SageVaishampayana, the disciple of Veda Vyasa as to why Kashmira, an integral and illustrious part of Bharata, did not participate in the Maha Bharata Battle. The Sage replied that the then King of Kashmira named Gonanda took the side of King Jarasandha in the latter's war with Yadavas and Balarama of Yadavas killed Gonanda. The succsessor of Gonanda named Damodara decided to take revenge and fought with Shri Krishna of Yadavas at Gandhara in a 'Swayamvara' where a bride could choose her husband and Krishna killed Damodara; yet, out of consideration for Damodara's pregnant wife, Krishna himself coronated Yashovati as the Queen of Kashmira till the birth of Bala Gonanda, who at the time of Bharata Battle could not take sides of either Pandavas or Kauravas.
SHRI SARASWATI
OM BHAGAVATEY VAASUDEVAYA NAMAH /
SHRINIVAASAM HARIM DEVAM VARADAM PARAMESHWARAM TRAILOKYANATHAM GOVINDAM PRANAMAAMYAAKSHARA -MAVYAYAM/
King Janamejaya, a Pandava descendant and the son of Parikshith, enquired of SageVaishampayana, the disciple of Veda Vyasa as to why Kashmira, an integral and illustrious part of Bharata, did not participate in the Maha Bharata Battle. The Sage replied that the then King of Kashmira named Gonanda took the side of King Jarasandha in the latter's war with Yadavas and Balarama of Yadavas killed Gonanda. The succsessor of Gonanda named Damodara decided to take revenge and fought with Shri Krishna of Yadavas at Gandhara in a 'Swayamvara' where a bride could choose her husband and Krishna killed Damodara; yet, out of consideration for Damodara's pregnant wife, Krishna himself coronated Yashovati as the Queen of Kashmira till the birth of Bala Gonanda, who at the time of Bharata Battle could not take sides of either Pandavas or Kauravas.