srimahabharat -adiparva - chapters 181st to 195 th

Vyasadev Praneetha

The Mahabharat

Book 1 (Adiparva)
Chapter 181

 1 [vai]
      ajināni vidhunvantaḥ karakāṃś ca dvijarṣabhāḥ
      ūcus taṃ bhīr na kartavyā vayaṃ yotsyāmahe parān
  2 tān evaṃ vadato viprān arjunaḥ prahasann iva
      uvāca prekṣakā bhūtvā yūyaṃ tiṣṭhata pārśvataḥ
  3 aham enān ajihmāgraiḥ śataśo vikirañ śaraiḥ
      vārayiṣyāmi saṃkruddhān mantrair āśīviṣān iva
  4 iti tad dhanur ādāya śulkāvāptaṃ mahārathaḥ
      bhrātrā bhīmena sahitas tasthau girir ivācalaḥ
  5 tataḥ karṇa mukhān kruddhān kṣatriyāṃs tān ruṣotthitān
      saṃpetatur abhītau tau gajau pratigajān iva
  6 ūcuś ca vācaḥ paruṣās te rājāno jighāṃsavaḥ
      āhave hi dvijasyāpi vadho hṛṣṭo yuyutsataḥ
  7 tato vaikartanaḥ karṇo jagāmārjunam ojasā
      yuddhārthī vāśitā hetor gajaḥ pratigajaṃ yathā
  8 bhīmasenaṃ yayau śalyo madrāṇām īśvaro balī
      duryodhanādayas tv anye brāhmaṇaiḥ saha saṃgatāḥ
      mṛdupūrvam ayatnena pratayudhyaṃs tadāhave
  9 tato 'rjunaḥ pratyavidhyad āpatantaṃ tribhiḥ śaraiḥ
      karṇaṃ vaikartanaṃ dhīmān vikṛṣya balavad dhanuḥ
  10 teṣāṃ śarāṇāṃ vegena śitānāṃ tigmatejasām
     vimuhyamāno rādheyo yatnāt tam anudhāvati
 11 tāv ubhāv apy anirdeśyau lāghavāj jayatāṃ varau
     ayudhyetāṃ susaṃrabdhāv anyonyavijayaiṣiṇau
 12 kṛte pratikṛtaṃ paśya paśya bāhubalaṃ ca me
     iti śūrārtha vacanair ābhāṣetāṃ parasparam
 13 tato 'rjunasya bhujayor vīryam apratimaṃ bhuvi
     jñātvā vaikartanaḥ karṇaḥ saṃrabdhaḥ samayodhayat
 14 arjunena prayuktāṃs tān bāṇān vegavatas tadā
     pratihatya nanādoccaiḥ sainyās tam abhipūjayan
 15 [karṇa]
     tuṣyāmi te vipramukhyabhujavīryasya saṃyuge
     aviṣādasya caivāsya śastrāstravinayasya ca
 16 kiṃ tvaṃ sākṣād dhanurvedo rāmo vā vipra sattama
     atha sākṣād dhari hayaḥ sākṣād vā viṣṇur acyutaḥ
 17 ātmapracchādanārthaṃ vai bāhuvīryam upāśritaḥ
     vipra rūpaṃ vidhāyedaṃ tato māṃ pratiyudhyase
 18 na hi mām āhave kruddham anyaḥ sākṣāc chacī pateḥ
     pumān yodhayituṃ śaktaḥ pāṇḍavād vā kirīṭinaḥ
 19 [vai]
     tam evaṃ vādinaṃ tatra phalgunaḥ pratyabhāṣata
     nāsmi karṇa dhanurvedo nāsmi rāmaḥ pratāpavān
     brāhmaṇo 'smi yudhāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ
 20 brāhme pauraṃdare cāstre niṣṭhito guru śāsanāt
     sthito 'smy adya raṇe jetuṃ tvāṃ vīrāvicalo bhava
 21 evam uktas tu rādheyo yuddhāt karṇo nyavartata
     brahmaṃ tejas tadājayyaṃ manyamāno mahārathaḥ
 22 yuddhaṃ tūpeyatus tatra rājañ śalya vṛkodarau
     balinau yugapan mattau spardhayā ca balena ca
 23 anyonyam āhvayantau tau mattāv iva mahāgajau
     muṣṭibhir jānubhiś caiva nighnantāv itaretaram
     muhūrtaṃ tau tathānyonyaṃ samare paryakarṣatām
 24 tato bhīmaḥ samutkṣipya bāhubhyāṃ śalyam āhave
     nyavadhīd balināṃ śreṣṭho jahasur brāhmaṇās tataḥ
 25 tatrāścaryaṃ bhīmasenaś cakāra puruṣarṣabhaḥ
     yac chalyaṃ patitaṃ bhūmau nāhanad balinaṃ balī
 26 pātite bhīmasenena śalye karṇe ca śaṅkite
     śaṅkitāḥ sarvarājānaḥ parivavrur vṛkodaram
 27 ūcuś ca sahitās tatra sādhv ime brāhmaṇarṣabhāḥ
     vijñāyantāṃ kva janmānaḥ kva nivāsās tathaiva ca
 28 ko hi rādhā sutaṃ karmaṃ śakto yodhayituṃ raṇe
     anyatra rāmād droṇād vā kṛpād vāpi śaradvataḥ
 29 kṛṣṇād vā devakīputrāt phalgunād vā paraṃtapāt
     ko vā duryodhanaṃ śaktaḥ pratiyodhayituṃ raṇe
 30 tathaiva madrarājānaṃ śalyaṃ balavatāṃ varam
     baladevād ṛte vīrāt pāṇḍavād vā vṛkodarāt
 31 kriyatām avahāro 'smād yuddhād brāhmaṇa saṃyutāt
     athainān upalabhyeha punar yotsyāmahe vayam
 32 tat karma bhīmasya samīkṣya kṛṣṇaḥ; kuntīsutau tau pariśaṅkamānaḥ
     nivārayām āsa mahīpatīṃs tān; dharmeṇa labdhety anunīya sarvān
 33 ta evaṃ saṃnivṛttās tu yuddhād yuddhaviśāradāḥ
     yathāvāsaṃ yayuḥ sarve vismitā rājasattamāḥ
 34 vṛtto brahmottaro raṅgaḥ pāñcālī brāhmaṇair vṛtā
     iti bruvantaḥ prayayur ye tatrāsan samāgatāḥ
 35 brāhmaṇais tu praticchannau rauravājinavāsibhiḥ
     kṛcchreṇa jagmatus tatra bhīmasenadhanaṃjayau
 36 vimuktau janasaṃbādhāc chatrubhiḥ parivikṣitau
     kṛṣṇayānugatau tatra nṛvīrau tau virejatuḥ
 37 teṣāṃ mātā bahuvidhaṃ vināśaṃ paryacintayat
     anāgacchatsu putreṣu bhaikṣa kāle 'tigacchati
 38 dhārtarāṣṭrair hatā na syur vijñāya kurupuṃgavāḥ
     māyānvitair vā rakṣobhiḥ sughorair dṛḍhavairibhiḥ
 39 viparītaṃ mataṃ jātaṃ vyāsasyāpi mahātmanaḥ
     ity evaṃ cintayām āsa sutasnehānvitā pṛthā
 40 mahaty athāparāhṇe tu ghanaiḥ sūrya ivāvṛtaḥ
     brāhmaṇaiḥ praviśat tatra jiṣṇur brahma puraskṛtaḥ

SECTION CLXXXI

(Chaitraratha Parva continued)

"Vasishtha continued, 'The Brahmana lady, thus addressed by them, said, 'Ye children, I have not robbed you of your eye-sight, nor am I angry with you. This child, however, of the Bhrigu race hath certainly been angry with you. There is little doubt, ye children, that ye have been robbed of your sight by that illustrious child whose wrath hath been kindled at the remembrance of the slaughter of his race. Ye children, while ye were destroying even the embryos of the Bhrigu race, this child was held by me in my thigh for a hundred years! And in order that the prosperity of Bhrigu's race might be restored, the entire Vedas with their branches came unto this one even while he was in the womb. It is plain that this scion of the Bhrigu race, enraged at the slaughter of his fathers, desireth to slay you! It is by his celestial energy that your eyes have been scorched. Therefore, ye children, pray ye unto this my excellent child born of my thigh. Propitiated by your homage he may restore your eye-sight.'
"Vasishtha continued, 'Hearing those words of the Brahmana lady, all these princes addressed the thigh-born child, saying, 'Be propitious!' And the child became propitious unto them. And that best of Brahmana Rishis,
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in consequence of his having been born after tearing open his mother's thigh, came to be known throughout the three worlds by the name of Aurva (thigh-born). And those princes regaining their eye-sight went away. But the Muni Aurva of the Bhrigu race resolved upon overcoming the whole world. And the high-souled Rishi set his heart, O child, upon the destruction of every creature in the world. And that scion of the Bhrigu race, for paying homage (as he regarded) unto his slaughtered ancestors, devoted himself to the austerest of penances with the object of destroying the whole world. And desirous of gratifying his ancestors, the Rishi afflicted by his severe asceticism the three worlds with the celestials, the Asuras and human beings. The Pitris, then, learning what the child of their race was about, all came from their own region unto the Rishi and addressing him said:
'Aurva, O son, fierce thou hast been in thy asceticism. Thy power hath been witnessed by us. Be propitious unto the three worlds. O, control thy wrath. O child, it was not from incapacity that the Bhrigus of souls under complete control were, all of them, indifferent to their own destruction at the hands of the murderous Kshatriyas. O child, when we grew weary of the long periods of life alloted to us, it was then that we desired our own destruction through the instrumentality of the Kshatriyas. The wealth that the Bhrigus had placed in their house underground had been placed only with the object of enraging the Kshatriyas and picking a quarrel with them. O thou best of Brahmanas, as we were desirous of heaven, of what use could wealth be to us? The treasurer of heaven (Kuvera) had kept a large treasure for us. When we found that death could not, by any means, overtake us all, it was then, O child, that we regarded this as the best means (of compassing our desire). They who commit suicide never attain to regions that are blessed. Reflecting upon this, we abstained from self-destruction. That which, therefore thou desirest to do is not agreeable to us. Restrain thy mind, therefore, from the sinful act of destroying the whole world. O child, destroy not the Kshatriyas nor the seven worlds. O, kill this wrath of thine that staineth thy ascetic energy.'"

Book 1
Chapter 182

 1 [vai]
      gatvā tu tāṃ bhārgava karmaśālāṃ; pārthau pṛthāṃ prāpya mahānubhāvau
      tāṃ yājñasenīṃ paramapratītau; bhikṣety athāvedayatāṃ narāgryau
  2 kuṭī gatā sā tv anavekṣya putrān; uvāca bhuṅkteti sametya sarve
      paścāt tu kuntī prasamīkṣya kanyāṃ; kaṣṭaṃ mayā bhāṣitam ity uvāca
  3 sādharmabhītā hi vilajjamānā; tāṃ yājñasenīṃ paramapraprītām
      pāṇau gṛhītvopajagāma kuntī; yudhiṣṭhiraṃ vākyam uvāca cedam
  4 iyaṃ hi kanyā drupadasya rājñas; tavānujābhyāṃ mayi saṃnisṛṣṭā
      yathocitaṃ putra mayāpi coktaṃ; sametya bhuṅkteti nṛpa pramādāt
  5 kathaṃ mayā nānṛtam uktam adya; bhavet kurūṇām ṛṣabhabravīhi
      pāñcālarājasya sutām adharmo; na copavarteta nabhūta pūrvaḥ
  6 muhūrtamātraṃ tv anucintya rājā; yudhiṣṭhiro mātaram uttamaujā
      kuntīṃ samāśvāsya kurupravīro; dhanaṃjayaṃ vākyam idaṃ babhāṣe
  7 tvayā jitā pāṇḍava yājñasenī; tvayā ca toṣiṣyati rājaputrī
      prajvālyatāṃ hūyatāṃ cāpi vahnir; gṛhāṇa pāṇiṃ vidhivat tvam asyāḥ
  8 [ārj]
      mā māṃ narendra tvam adharmabhājaṃ; kṛthā na dharmo hy ayam īpsito 'nyaiḥ
      bhavān niveśyaḥ prathamaṃ tato 'yaṃ; bhīmo mahābāhur acintyakarmā
  9 ahaṃ tato nakulo 'nantaraṃ me; mādrī sutaḥ sahadevo jaghanyaḥ
      vṛkodaro 'haṃ ca yamau ca rājann; iyaṃ ca kanyā bhavataḥ sma sarve
  10 evaṃgate yat karaṇīyam atra; dharmyaṃ yaśasyaṃ kuru tat pracintya
     pāñcālarājasya ca yat priyaṃ syāt; tad brūhi sarve sma vaśe sthitās te
 11 [vai]
     te dṛṣṭvā tatra tiṣṭhantīṃ sarve kṛṣṇāṃ yaśasvinīm
     saṃprekṣyānyonyam āsīnā hṛdayais tām adhārayan
 12 teṣāṃ hi draupadīṃ dṛṣṭvā sarveṣām amitaujasām
     saṃpramathyendriya grāmaṃ prādurāsīn mano bhavaḥ
 13 kāmyaṃ rūpaṃ hi pāñcālyā vidhātrā vihitaṃ svayam
     babhūvādhikam anyābhiḥ sarvabhūtamanoharam
 14 teṣām ākāra bhāvajñaḥ kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
     dvaipāyana vacaḥ kṛtsnaṃ saṃsmaran vai nararṣabha
 15 abravīt sa hi tān bhrātṝn mitho bhedabhayān nṛpaḥ
     sarveṣāṃ draupadī bhāryā bhaviṣyati hi naḥ śubhā

SECTION CLXXXII

(Chaitraratha Parva continued)

"The Gandharva said, 'Vasishtha after this, continued the narration saying, 'Hearing these words of the Pitris, Aurva, O child, replied unto them to this effect:
'Ye Pitris, the vow I have made from anger for the destruction of all the worlds, must not go in vain. I cannot consent to be one whose anger and vows are futile. Like fire consuming dry woods, this rage of mine will certainly consume me if I do not accomplish my vow. The man that represseth his wrath that hath been excited by (adequate) cause, becometh incapable
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of duly compassing the three ends of life (viz., religion, profit and pleasure). The wrath that kings desirous of subjugating the whole earth exhibit, is not without its uses. It serveth to restrain the wicked and to protect the honest. While lying unborn within my mother's thigh, I heard the doleful cries of my mother and other women of the Bhrigu race who were then being exterminated by the Kshatriyas. Ye Pitris, when those wretches of Kshatriyas began to exterminate the Bhrigus together with unborn children of their race, it was then that wrath filled my soul. My mother and the other women of our race, each in an advanced state of pregnancy, and my father, while terribly alarmed, found not in all the worlds a single protector. Then when the Bhrigu women found not a single protector, my mother held me in one of her thighs. If there be a punisher of crimes in the worlds no one in all the worlds would dare commit a crime; if he findeth not a punisher, the number of sinners becometh large. The man who having the power to prevent or punish sin doth not do so knowing that a sin hath been committed, is himself defiled by that sin. When kings and others, capable of protecting my fathers, protect them not, postponing that duty preferring the pleasures of life, I have just cause to be enraged with them. I am the lord of the creation, capable of punishing its iniquity. I am incapable of obeying your command. Capable of punishing this crime, if I abstain from so doing, men will once more have to undergo a similar persecution. The fire of my wrath too that is ready to consume the worlds, if repressed, will certainly consume by its own energy my own self. Ye masters, I know that ye ever seek the good of the worlds: direct me, therefore, as to what may benefit both myself and the worlds.'
"Vasishtha continued, 'The Pitris replied saying, O, throw this fire that is born of thy wrath and that desireth to consume the worlds, into the waters. That will do thee good. The worlds, indeed, are all dependent on water (as their elementary cause). Every juicy substance containeth water, indeed the whole universe is made of water. Therefore, O thou best of Brahmanas, cast thou this fire of thy wrath into the waters. If, therefore, thou desirest it, O Brahmana, let this fire born of thy wrath abide in the great ocean, consuming the waters thereof, for it hath been said that the worlds are made of water. In this way, O thou sinless one, thy word will be rendered true, and the worlds with the gods will not be destroyed.'
"Vasishtha continued, 'Then, O child, Aurva cast the fire of his wrath into the abode of Varuna. And that fire which consumeth the waters of the great ocean, became like unto a large horse's head which persons conversant with the Vedas call by the name of Vadavamukha. And emitting itself from that mouth it consumeth the waters of the mighty ocean. Blest be thou! It behoveth not thee, therefore, to destroy the worlds. O thou Parasara, who art acquainted with the higher regions, thou foremost of wise men!'"

Book 1
Chapter 183

1 [vai]
      bhrātṛvacas tat prasamīkṣya sarve; jyeṣṭhasya pāṇḍos tanayās tadānīm
      tam evārthaṃ dhyāyamānā manobhir; āsāṃ cakrur atha tatrāmitaujāḥ
  2 vṛṣṇipravīras tu kurupravīrān; āśaṅkamānaḥ saharauhiṇeyaḥ
      jagāma tāṃ bhārgava karmaśālāṃ; yatrāsate te puruṣapravīrāḥ
  3 tatropaviṣṭaṃ pṛthu dīrghabāhuṃ; dadarśa kṛṣṇaḥ saharauhiṇeyaḥ
      ajātaśatruṃ parivārya tāṃś ca; upopaviṣṭāñ jvalanaprakāśān
  4 tato 'bravīd vāsudevo 'bhigamya; kuntīsutaṃ dharmabhṛtāṃ variṣṭahm
      kṛṣṇo 'ham asmīti nipīḍya pādau; yudhiṣṭhirasyājamīḍhasya rājñaḥ
  5 tathaiva tasyāpy anu rauhiṇeyas; tau cāpi hṛṣṭāḥ kuravo 'bhyanandan
      pitṛṣvasuś cāpi yadupravīrāv; agṛhṇatāṃ bhāratamukhyapādau
  6 ajātaśatruś ca kurupravīraḥ; papraccha kṛṣṇaṃ kuśalaṃ nivedya
      kathaṃ vayaṃ vāsudeva tvayeha; gūḍhā vasanto viditāḥ sma sarve
  7 tam abravīd vāsudevaḥ prahasya; gūḍho 'py agnir jñāyata eva rājan
      taṃ vikramaṃ pāṇḍaveyānatītya; ko 'nyaḥ kartā vidyate mānuṣeṣu
  8 diṣṭyā tasmāt pāvakāt saṃpramuktā; yūyaṃ sarve pāṇḍavāḥ śatrusāhāḥ
      diṣṭyā pāpo dhṛtarāṣṭrasya putraḥ; sahāmātyo na sakāmo 'bhaviṣyat
  9 bhadraṃ vo 'stu nihitaṃ yad guhāyāṃ; vivardhadhvaṃ jvalana ivedhyamānaḥ
      mā vo vidyuḥ pārthivāḥ ke caneha; yāsyāvahe śibirāyaiva tāvat
      so 'nujñātaḥ pāṇḍavenāvyaya śrīḥ; prāyāc chīghraṃ baladevena sārdham

SECTION CLXXXIII

(Chaitraratha Parva continued)

"The Gandharva continued, 'The Brahmana sage (Parasara) thus addressed by the illustrious Vasishtha restrained his wrath from destroying the worlds. But the Rishi Parasara endued with great energy--the son of Saktri--the foremost of all persons acquainted with the Vedas--performed a grand Rakshasa sacrifice. And remembering the slaughter of (his father) Saktri, the great Muni began to consume the Rakshasas, young and old, in the sacrifice he performed. And Vasishtha did not restrain him from this slaughter of the Rakshasa, from the determination of not obstructing this second vow (of his grandson). And in that sacrifice the great Muni Parasara sat before three blazing fires, himself like unto a fourth fire. And the son of Saktri, like the Sun just emerging from the clouds, illuminated the whole firmament by that stainless sacrifice of his into which large were the libations poured of clarified butter. Then Vasishtha and the other Rishis regarded that Muni blazing with his own energy as if he were the second Sun. Then the great Rishi Atri of liberal soul desirous of ending that sacrifice, an achievement highly difficult for others,--came to that place. And there also came, O thou slayer of all foes, Pulastya and Pulaha, and Kratu the performer of many great sacrifices, all influenced by the desire of saving the Rakshasas. And, O thou bull of the Bharata race, Pulastya then, seeing that many Rakshasas had already been slain, told these words unto Parasara that oppressor of all enemies:
'There is no obstruction, I hope, to this sacrifice of thine, O child! Takest thou any pleasure, O child, in this slaughter of even all those innocent Rakshasas that know nothing of thy father's death. It behoveth thee not to destroy any creatures thus. This, O child, is not the occupation of a Brahmana devoted to asceticism. Peace is the highest virtue. Therefore, O Parasara, establish thou peace. How hast thou, O Parasara, being so superior, engaged thyself in such a sinful practice? It behoveth not thee to transgress against Saktri himself who was well-acquainted with all rules of morality. It behoveth not thee to extirpate any creatures. O descendant of Vasishtha's race, that which befell thy father was brought about by his own curse. It was for his own fault that Saktri was taken hence unto heaven. O Muni, no Rakshasa was capable of devouring Saktri; he himself provided for his own death. And, O Parasara, Viswamitra was only a blind instrument in that matter. Both Saktri and Kalmashapada, having ascended to heaven are enjoying great happiness. And, the other sons also of the great Rishi Vasishtha who were younger than Saktri, are even now enjoying themselves with the celestials. And, O child, O offspring of Vasishtha's son, thou hast also been, in this sacrifice, only an instrument in the destruction of these innocent Rakshasas. O, blest be thou! Abandon this sacrifice
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of thine. Let it come to an end.'
"The Gandharva continued, 'Thus addressed by Pulastya, as also by the intelligent Vasishtha, that mighty Muni--the son of Saktri then brought that sacrifice to an end. And the Rishi cast the fire that he had ignited for the purpose of the Rakshasas' sacrifice into the deep woods on the north of the Himavat. And that fire may be seen to this day consuming Rakshasas and trees and stones in all seasons.'"

Book 1
Chapter 184

 1 [vai]
      dhṛṣṭadyumnas tu pāñcālyaḥ pṛṣṭhataḥ kurunandanau
      anvagacchat tadā yāntau bhārgavasya niveśanam
  2 so 'jñāyamānaḥ puruṣān avadhāya samantataḥ
      svayam ārān niviṣṭo 'bhūd bhārgavasya niveśane
  3 sāye 'tha bhīmas tu ripupramāthī; jiṣṇur yamau cāpi mahānubhāvau
      bhaikṣaṃ caritvā tu yudhiṣṭhirāya; nivedayāṃ cakrur adīnasattvāḥ
  4 tatas tu kuntī drupadātmajāṃ; tām uvāca kāle vacanaṃ vadānyā
      ato 'gram ādāya kuruṣva bhadre; baliṃ ca viprāya ca dehi bhikṣām
  5 ye cānnam icchanti dadasva tebhyaḥ; pariśritā ye parito manuṣyāḥ
      tataś ca śeṣaṃ pravibhajya śīghram; ardhaṃ caturṇāṃ mama cātmanaś ca
  6 ardhaṃ ca bhīmāya dadāhi bhadre; ya eṣa mattarṣabha tulyarūpaḥ
      śyāmo yuvā saṃhananopapanna; eṣo hi vīro bahubhuk sadaiva
  7 sā hṛṣṭarūpaiva tu rājaputrī; tasyā vacaḥ sādhv aviśaṅkamānā
      yathāvad uktaṃ pracakāra sādhvī; te cāpi sarve 'bhyavajahrur annam
  8 kuśais tu bhūmau śayanaṃ cakāra; mādrī sutaḥ sahadevas tarasvī
      yathātmīyāny ajināni sarve; saṃstīrya vīrāḥ suṣupur dharaṇyām
  9 agastyaśāstām abhito diśaṃ tu; śirāṃsi teṣāṃ kurusattamānām
      kuntī purastāt tu babhūva teṣāṃ; kṛṣṇā tiraś caiva babhūva pattaḥ
  10 aśeta bhūmau saha pāṇḍuputraiḥ; pādopadhāneva kṛtā kuśeṣu
     na tatra duḥkhaṃ ca babhūva tasyā; na cāvamene kurupuṃgavāṃs tān
 11 te tatra śūrāḥ kathayāṃ babhūvuḥ; kathā vicitrāḥ pṛtanādhikārāḥ
     astrāṇi divyāni rathāṃś ca nāgān; khaḍgān gadāś cāpi paraśvadhāṃś ca
 12 teṣāṃ kathās tāḥ parikīrtyamānāḥ; pāñcālarājasya sutas tadānīm
     śuśrāva kṛṣṇāṃ ca tathā niṣaṇṇāṃ; te cāpi sarve dadṛśur manuṣyāḥ
 13 dhṛṣṭadyumno rājaputras tu sarvaṃ; vṛttaṃ teṣāṃ kathitaṃ caiva rātrau
     sarvaṃ rājñe drupadāyākhilena; nivedayiṣyaṃs tvarito jagāma
 14 pāñcālarājas tu viṣaṇṇarūpas; tān pāṇḍavān aprativindamānaḥ
     dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ paryapṛcchan mahātmā; kva sā gatā kena nītā ca kṛṣṇā
 15 kac cin na śūdreṇa na hīnajena; vaiśyena vā karadenopapannā
     kac cit padaṃ mūrdhni na me nidigdhaṃ; kac cin mālā patitā na śmaśāne
 16 kac cit savarṇa pravaro manuṣya; udrikta varko 'py uta veha kac cit
     kac cin na vāmo mama mūrdhni pādaḥ; kṛṣṇābhimarśena kṛto 'dya putra
 17 kac cic ca yakṣye paramapraprītaḥ; saṃyujya pārthena nararṣabheṇa
     bravīhi tattvena mahānubhāvaḥ; ko 'sau vijetā duhitur mamādya
 18 vicitravīryasya tu kac cid adya; kurupravīrasya dharanti putrāḥ
     kac cit tu pārthena yavīyasādya; dhanur gṛhītaṃ nihataṃ ca lakṣyam

SECTION CLXXXIV

(Chaitraratha Parva continued)

"Arjuna asked, 'What for, O Gandharva, did king Kalmashapada command his queen to go unto that foremost of all persons conversant with the Vedas--the master Vasishtha? Why also did that illustrious and great Rishi Vasishtha himself who was acquainted with every rule of morality know a woman he should not have known? O friend, was this an act of sin on the part of Vasishtha? It behoveth thee to remove the doubts I entertain and refer to thee for solution.'
"The Gandharva replied, saying, 'O irrepressible Dhananjaya, listen to me as I answer the question thou hast asked in respect of Vasishtha and king Kalmashapada that cherisher of friends. O thou best of the Bharatas, I have told thee all about the curse of king Kalmashapada by Saktri, the illustrious son of Vasishtha. Brought under the influence of the curse, that smiter of all foes--king Kalmashapada--with eyes whirling in anger went out of his capital accompanied by his wife. And entering with his wife the solitary woods the king began to wander about. And one day while the king under the influence of the curse was wandering through that forest abounding in several kinds of deer and various other animals and overgrown with numerous large trees and shrubs and creepers and resounding with terrible cries, he became exceedingly hungry. And the monarch thereupon began to search for some food. Pinched with hunger, the king at last saw, in a very solitary part of the woods, a Brahmana and his wife enjoying each other. Alarmed at beholding the monarch the couple ran away, their desire ungratified. Pursuing the retreating pair, the king forcibly seized the Brahmana. Then the Brahmani, beholding her lord seized, addressed the monarch, saying, 'Listen to what I say, O monarch of excellent vows! It is known all over the world that thou art born in the solar race, and that thou art ever vigilant in the practice of morality and devoted to the service of thy superiors. It behoveth thee not to commit sin, O thou irrepressible one, deprived though thou hast been of thy senses by (the Rishi's) curse. My season hath come, and wishful of my husband's company I was connected with him. I have not been gratified yet. Be propitious unto us, O thou best of kings! Liberate my husband.' The monarch, however, without listening
p. 368
to her cries cruelly devoured her husband like a tiger devouring its desirable prey. Possessed with wrath at this sight, the tears that that woman shed blazed up like fire and consumed everything in that place. Afflicted with grief at the calamity that overtook her lord, the Brahmani in anger cursed the royal sage Kalmashapada, 'Vile wretch, since thou hast today cruelly devoured under my very nose my illustrious husband dear unto me, even before my desires have been gratified, therefore shall thou, O wicked one afflicted by my curse, meet with instant death when thou goest in for thy wife in season. And thy wife, O wretch, shall bring forth a son uniting herself with that Rishi Vasishtha whose children have been devoured by thee. And that child, O worst of kings, shall be the perpetuator of thy race.' And cursing the monarch thus, that lady of Angira's house bearing every auspicious mark, entered the blazing fire in the very sight of the monarch. And, O thou oppressor of all foes, the illustrious and exalted Vasishtha by his ascetic power and spiritual insight immediately knew all. And long after this, when the king became freed from his curse, he approached his wife Madayanati when her season came. But Madayanati softly sent him away. Under the influence of passion the monarch had no recollection of that curse. Hearing, however, the words of his wife, the best of kings became terribly alarmed. And recollecting the curse he repented bitterly of what he had done. It was for this reason, O thou best of men, that the monarch infected with the Brahmani's curse, appointed Vasishtha to beget a son upon his queen.'"

Book 1
Chapter 185

1 [vai]
      tatas tathoktaḥ parihṛṣṭarūpaḥ; pitre śaśaṃsātha sa rājaputraḥ
      dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ somakānāṃ prabarho; vṛttaṃ yathā yena hṛtā ca kṛṣṇā
  2 yo 'sau yuvasvāyata lohitākṣaḥ; kṛṣṇājinī devasamānarūpaḥ
      yaḥ kārmukāgryaṃ kṛtavān adhijyaṃ; lakṣyaṃ ca tat patitavān pṛthivyām
  3 asajjamānaś ca gatas tarasvī; vṛto dvijāgryair abhipūjyamānaḥ
      cakrāma vajrīva diteḥ suteṣu; sarvaiś ca devair ṛṣibhiś ca juṣṭaḥ
  4 kṛṣṇā ca gṛhyājinam anvayāt taṃ; nāgaṃ yathā nāgavadhūḥ prahṛṣṭā
      amṛṣyamāṇeṣu narādhipeṣu; kruddheṣu taṃ tatra samāpatatsu
  5 tato 'paraḥ pārthiva rājamadhye; pravṛddham ārujya mahī praroham
      prakālayann eva sa pārthivaughān; kruddho 'ntakaḥ prāṇabhṛto yathaiva
  6 tau pārthivānāṃ miṣatāṃ narendra; kṛṣṇām upādāya gatau narāgryau
      vibhrājamānāv iva candrasūryau; bāhyāṃ purād bhārgava karmaśālām
  7 tatropaviṣṭārcir ivānalasya; teṣāṃ janitrīti mama pratarkaḥ
      tathāvidhair eva narapravīrair; upopaviṣṭais tribhir agnikalpaiḥ
  8 tasyās tatas tāv abhivādya pādāv; uktvā ca kṛṣṇām abhivādayeti
      sthitau ca tatraiva nivedya kṛṣṇāṃ; bhaikṣa pracārāya gatā narāgryāḥ
  9 teṣāṃ tu bhaikṣaṃ pratigṛhya kṛṣṇā; kṛtvā baliṃ brahmaṇasāc ca kṛtvā
      tāṃ caiva vṛddhāṃ pariviṣya tāṃś ca; narapravīrān svayam apy abhuṅkta
  10 suptās tu te pārthiva sarva eva; kṛṣṇā tu teṣāṃ caraṇopadhānam
     āsīt pṛthivyāṃ śayanaṃ ca teṣāṃ; darbhājināgryāstaraṇopapannam
 11 te nardamānā iva kālameghāḥ; kathā vicitrāḥ kathayāṃ babhūvuḥ
     na vaiśyaśūdraupayikīḥ kathās tā; na ca dvijāteḥ kathayanti vīrāḥ
 12 niḥsaṃśayaṃ kṣatriya puṃgavās te; yathā hi yuddhaṃ kathayanti rājan
     āśā hi no vyaktam iyaṃ samṛddhā; muktān hi pārthāñ śṛṇumo 'gnidāhāt
 13 yathā hi lakṣyaṃ nihataṃ dhanuś ca; sajyaṃ kṛtaṃ tena tathā prasahya
     yathā ca bhāṣanti parasparaṃ te; channā dhruvaṃ te pracaranti pārthāḥ
 14 tataḥ sa rājā drupadaḥ prahṛṣṭaḥ; purohitaṃ preṣayāṃ tatra cakre
     vidyāma yuṣmān iti bhāṣamāṇo; mahātmanaḥ pāṇḍusutāḥ stha kac cit
 15 gṛhītavākyo nṛpateḥ purodhā; gatvā praśaṃsām abhidhāya teṣām
     vākyaṃ yathāvan nṛpateḥ samagrām; uvāca tān sa kramavit krameṇa
 16 vijñātum icchaty avanīśvaro vaḥ; pāñcālarājo drupado varārhāḥ
     lakṣyasya veddhāram imaṃ hi dṛṣṭvā; harṣasya nāntaṃ paripaśyate saḥ
 17 tad ācaḍḍhvaṃ jñātikulānupūrvīṃ; padaṃ śiraḥsu dviṣatāṃ kurudhvam
     prahlādayadhvaṃ hṛdaye mamedaṃ; pāñcālarājasya sahānugasya
 18 pāṇḍur hi rājā drupadasya rājñaḥ; priyaḥ sakhā cātmasamo babhūva
     tasyaiṣa kāmo duhitā mameyaṃ; snuṣā yadi syād iti kauravasya
 19 ayaṃ ca kāmo drupadasya rājño; hṛdi sthito nityam aninditāṅgāḥ
     yad arjuno vai pṛthu dīrghabāhur; dharmeṇa vindeta sutāṃ mameti
 20 tathokta vākyaṃ tu purohitaṃ taṃ; sthitaṃ vinītaṃ samudīkṣya rājā
     samīpasthaṃ bhīmam idaṃ śaśāsa; pradīyatāṃ pādyam arghyaṃ tathāsmai
 21 mānyaḥ purodhā drupadasya rājñas; tasmai prayojyābhyadhikaiva pūjā
     bhīmas tathā tat kṛtavān narendra; tāṃ caiva pūjāṃ pratisaṃgṛhītvā
 22 sukhopaviṣṭaṃ tu purohitaṃ taṃ; yudhiṣṭhiro brāhmaṇam ity uvāca
     pāñcālarājena sutā nisṛṣṭā; svadharmadṛṣṭena yathānukāmam
 23 pradiṣṭa śulkā drupadena rājñā; sānena vīreṇa tathānuvṛttā
     na tatra varṇeṣu kṛtā vivakṣā; na jīva śilpe na kule na gotre
 24 kṛtena sajyena hi kārmukeṇa; viddhena lakṣyeṇa ca saṃnisṛṣṭā
     seyaṃ tathānena mahātmaneha; kṛṣṇā jitā pārthiva saṃghamadhye
 25 naivaṃ gate saumakir adya rājā; saṃtāpam arhaty asukhāya kartum
     kāmaś ca yo 'sau drupasadya rājñaḥ; sa cāpi saṃpatsyati pārthivasya
 26 aprāpya rūpāṃ hi narendra kanyām; imām ahaṃ brāhmaṇa sādhu manye
     na tad dhanur mandabalena śakyaṃ; maurvyā samāyojayituṃ tathā hi
     na cākṛtāstreṇa na hīnajena; lakṣyaṃ tathā pātayituṃ hi śakyam
 27 tasmān na tāpaṃ duhitur nimittaṃ; pāñcālarājo 'rhati kartum adya
     na cāpi tat pātanam anyatheha; kartuṃ viṣahyaṃ bhuvi mānavena
 28 evaṃ bruvaty eva yudhiṣṭhire tu; pāñcālarājasya samīpato 'nyaḥ
     tatrājagāmāśu naro dvitīyo; nivedayiṣyann iha siddham annam

SECTION CLXXXV

(Chaitraratha Parva continued)

"Arjuna asked, 'O Gandharva, thou art acquainted with everything. Tell us, therefore, which Veda-knowing Brahmana is worthy to be appointed as our priest.'
"The Gandharva replied, 'There is in these woods a shrine of the name of Utkochaka. Dhaumya, the younger brother of Devala is engaged there in ascetic penances. Appoint him, if ye desire, your priest."
"Vaisampayana said, 'Then Arjuna, highly pleased with everything that had happened, gave unto that Gandharva, his weapon of fire with befitting ceremonies. And addressing him, the Pandava also said, 'O thou best of Gandharvas, let the horses thou givest us remain with thee for a time. When the occasion cometh, we will take them from thee. Blest be thou.' Then the Gandharva and the Pandavas, respectfully saluting each other, left the delightful banks of the Bhagirathi and went wheresoever they desired. Then, O Bharata, the Pandavas going to Utkochaka, the sacred asylum of Dhaumya installed Dhaumya as their priest. And Dhaumya, the foremost of all conversant with the Vedas, receiving them with presents of wild fruits and
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[paragraph continues] (edible) roots, consented to become their priest. And the Pandavas with their mother forming the sixth of the company, having obtained that Brahmana as their priest regarded their sovereignty and kingdom as already regained and the daughter of the Panchala king as already obtained in the Swayamavara. And those bulls of the Bharata race, having obtained the master Dhaumya as their priest, also regarded themselves as placed under a powerful protector. And the high-souled Dhaumya, acquainted with the true meaning of the Vedas and every rule of morality, becoming the spiritual preceptor of the virtuous Pandavas, made them his Yajamanas (spiritual disciples). And that Brahmana, beholding those heroes endued with intelligence and strength and perseverance like unto the celestials, regarded them as already restored, by virtue of their own accomplishments to their sovereignty and kingdom. Then those kings of men, having had benedictions uttered upon them by that Brahmana, resolved to go, accompanied by him, to the Swayamvara of the Princess of Panchala.'"

Book 1
Chapter 186

1 [dūta]
      janyārtham annaṃ drupadena rājñā; vivāha hetor upasaṃskṛtaṃ ca
      tad āpnuvadhvaṃ kṛtasarvakāryāḥ; kṛṣṇā ca tatraiva ciraṃ na kāryam
  2 ime rathāḥ kāñcanapadmacitrāḥ; sadaśvayuktā vasudhādhipārhāḥ
      etān samāruhya paraita sarve; pāñcālarājasya niveśanaṃ tat
  3 [vai]
      tataḥ prayātāḥ kurupuṃgavās te; purohitaṃ taṃ prathamaṃ prayāpya
      āsthāya yānāni mahānti tāni; kuntī ca kṛṣṇā ca sahaiva yāte
  4 śrutvā tu vākyāni purohitasya; yāny uktavān bhārata dharmarājaḥ
      jijñāsayaivātha kurūttamānāṃ; dravyāṇy anekāny upasaṃjahāra
  5 phalāni mālyāni susaṃskṛtāni; carmāṇi varmāṇi tathāsanāni
      gāś caiva rājann atha caiva rajjūr; dravyāṇi cānyāni kṛṣī nimittam
  6 anyeṣu śilpeṣu ca yāny api syuḥ; sarvāṇi kṛlptāny akhilena tatra
      krīḍā nimittāni ca yāni tāni; sarvāṇi tatropajahāra rājā
  7 rathāśvavarmāṇi ca bhānumanti; khaḍgā mahānto 'śvarathāś ca citrāḥ
      dhanūṃṣi cāgryāṇi śarāś ca mukhyāḥ; śaktyṛṣayaḥ kāñcanabhūṣitāś ca
  8 prāsā bhuśuṇḍyaś ca paraśvadhāś ca; sāṃgrāmikaṃ caiva tathaiva sarvam
      śayyāsanāny uttamasaṃskṛtāni; tathaiva cāsan vividhāni tatra
  9 kuntī tu kṛṣṇāṃ parigṛhya sādhvīm; antaḥpuraṃ drupadasyāviveṣa
      striyaś ca tāṃ kauravarājapatnīṃ; pratyarcayāṃ cakrur adīnasattvāḥ
  10 tān siṃhavikrānta gatīn avekṣya; maharṣabhākṣān ajinottarīyān
     gūḍhottarāṃsān bhujagendra; bhogapralambabāhūn puruṣapravīrān
 11 rājā ca rājñaḥ sacivāś ca sarve; putrāś ca rājñaḥ suhṛdas tathaiva
     preṣyāś ca sarve nikhilena rājan; harṣaṃ samāpetur atīva tatra
 12 te tatra vīrāḥ paramāsaneṣu; sapāda pīṭheṣv aviśaṅkamānāḥ
     yathānupūrvyā viviśur narāgryās; tadā mahārheṣu na vismayantaḥ
 13 uccāvacaṃ pārthiva bhojanīyaṃ; pātrīṣu jāmbūnadarājatīṣu
     dāsāś ca dāsyaś ca sumṛṣṭaveṣā; bhojāpakāś cāpy upajahrur annam
 14 te tatra bhuktvā puruṣapravīrā; yathānukāmaṃ subhṛśaṃ pratītāḥ
     utkramya sarvāṇi vasūni tatra; sāṃgrāmikāny āviviśur nṛvīrāḥ
 15 tal lakṣayitvā drupadasya putro; rājā ca sarvaiḥ saha mantrimukhyaiḥ
     samarcayām āsur upetya hṛṣṭāḥ; kuntīsutān pārthiva putrapautrān

SECTION CLXXXVI

(Swayamvara Parva)

"Vaisampayana said, 'Then those tigers among men--those brothers--the five Pandavas, set out for Panchala to behold that country and Draupadi and the festivities (in view of her marriage). And those tigers among men--those oppressors of all enemies--in going along with their mother, saw on the way numerous Brahmanas proceeding together. And those Brahmanas who were all Brahmacharis beholding the Pandavas, O king, asked them, 'Where are ye going to? Whence also are ye come?' And Yudhishthira replied unto them, saying, 'Ye bulls among Brahmanas, know ye that we are uterine brothers proceeding together with our mother. We are coming even from Ekachakra.' The Brahmanas then said, 'Go ye this very day to the abode of Drupada in the country of the Panchalas. A great Swayamvara takes place there, on which a large sum of money will be spent. We also are proceeding thither. Let us all go together. Extraordinary festivities will take place (in Drupada's abode). The illustrious Yajnasena, otherwise called Drupada, had a daughter risen from the centre of the sacrificial altar. Of eyes like lotus-petals and of faultless features endued with youth and intelligence, she is extremely beautiful. And the slender-waisted Draupadi of every feature perfectly faultless, and whose body emitteth a fragrance like unto that of the blue lotus for two full miles around, is the sister of the strong-armed Dhrishtadyumna gifted with great prowess--the (would-be) slayer of Drona--who was born with natural mail and sword and bow and arrows from the blazing fire, himself like unto the second Fire. And that daughter of Yajnasena will select a husband from among the invited princes. And we are repairing thither to behold her and the festivities on the occasion,
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like unto the festivities of heaven. And to that Swayamvara will come from various lands kings and princes who are performers of sacrifices in which the presents to the Brahmanas are large: who are devoted to study, are holy, illustrious, and of rigid vows; who are young and handsome; and who are mighty car-warriors and accomplished in arms. Desirous of winning (the hand of) the maiden those monarchs will all give away much wealth and kine and food and other articles of enjoyment. And taking all they will give away and witnessing the Swayamvara, and enjoying the festivities, we shall go wheresoever we like. And there will also come unto that Swayamvara, from various countries, actors, and bards singing the panegyrics of kings, and dancers, and reciters of Puranas, and heralds, and powerful athletes. And beholding all these sights and taking what will be given away to illustrious ones, ye will return with us. Ye are all handsome and like unto the celestials! Beholding you, Krishna may, by chance, choose some one amongst you superior to the rest. This thy brother of mighty arms and handsome and endued with beauty also, engaged in (athletic) encounters, may, by chance, earn great wealth.'
"On hearing these words of the Brahmanas, Yudhishthira replied, 'Ye Brahmanas, we will all go with you to witness that maiden's Swayamvara--that excellent jubilee.'"

Book 1
Chapter 187

1 [vai]
      tata āhūya pāñcālyo rājaputraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram
      parigraheṇa brāhmeṇa parigṛhya mahādyutiḥ
  2 paryapṛcchad adīnātmā kuntīputraṃ suvarcasam
      kathaṃ jānīma bhavataḥ kṣatriyān brāhmaṇān uta
  3 vaiśyān vā guṇasaṃpannān uta vā śūdrayonijān
      māyām āsthāya vā siddhāṃś carataḥ sarvatodiśam
  4 kṛṣṇā hetor anuprāptān divaḥ saṃdarśanārthinaḥ
      bravītu no bhavān satyaṃ saṃdeho hy atra no mahān
  5 api naḥ saṃśayasyānte manastuṣṭir ihāviśet
      api no bhāgadheyāni śubhāni syuḥ paraṃtapa
  6 kāmayā brūhi satyaṃ tvaṃ satyaṃ rājasu śobhate
      iṣṭāpūrtena ca tathā vaktavyam anṛtaṃ na tu
  7 śrutvā hy amarasaṃkāśa tava vākyam ariṃdama
      dhruvaṃ vivāha karaṇam āsthāsyāmi vidhānataḥ
  8 [y]
      mā rājan vimanā bhūs tvaṃ pāñcālya prītir astu te
      īpsitas te dhruvaḥ kāmaḥ saṃvṛtto 'yam asaṃśayam
  9 vayaṃ hi kṣatriyā rājan pāṇḍoḥ putrā mahātmanaḥ
      jyeṣṭhaṃ māṃ viddhi kaunteyaṃ bhīmasenārjunāv imau
      yābhyāṃ tava sutā rājan nirjitā rājasaṃsadi
  10 yamau tu tatra rājendra yatra kṛṣṇā pratiṣṭhitā
     vyetu te mānasaṃ duḥkhaṃ kṣatriyāḥ smo nararṣabha
     padminīva suteyaṃ te hradād anyaṃ hradaṃ gatā
 11 iti tathyaṃ mahārāja sarvam etad bravīmi te
     bhavān hi gurur asmākaṃ paramaṃ ca parāyaṇam
 12 [vai]
     tataḥ sa drupado rājā harṣavyākula locanaḥ
     prativaktuṃ tadā yuktaṃ nāśakat taṃ yudhiṣṭhiram
 13 yatnena tu sa taṃ harṣaṃ saṃnigṛhya paraṃtapaḥ
     anurūpaṃ tato rājā pratyuvāca yudhiṣṭhiram
 14 papraccha cainaṃ dharmātmā yathā te pradrutāḥ purā
     sa tasmai sarvam ācakhyāv ānupūrvyeṇa pāṇḍavaḥ
 15 tac chrutvā drupado rājā kuntīputrasya bhāṣitam
     vigarhayām āsa tadā dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ janeśvaram
 16 āśvāsayām āsa tadā dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram
     pratijajñe ca rājyāya drupado vadatāṃ varaḥ
 17 tataḥ kuntī ca kṛṣṇā ca bhīmasenārjunāv api
     yamau ca rājñā saṃdiṣṭau viviśur bhavanaṃ mahat
 18 tatra te nyavasan rājan yajñasenena pūjitāḥ
     pratyāśvastāṃs tato rājā saha putrair uvāca tān
 19 gṛhṇātu vidhivat pāṇim adyaiva kurunandanaḥ
     puṇye 'hani mahābāhur arjunaḥ kurutāṃ kṣaṇam
 20 tatas tam abravīd rājā dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
     mamāpi dārasaṃbandhaḥ kāryas tāvad viśāṃ pate
 21 [drupada]
     bhavān vā vidhivat pāṇiṃ gṛhṇātu duhitur mama
     yasya vā manyase vīra tasya kṛṣṇām upādiśa
 22 [y]
     sarveṣāṃ draupadī rājan mahiṣī no bhaviṣyati
     evaṃ hi vyāhṛtaṃ pūrvaṃ mama mātrā viśāṃ pate
 23 ahaṃ cāpy aniviṣṭo vai bhīmasenaś ca pāṇḍavaḥ
     pārthena vijitā caiṣā ratnabhūtā ca te sutā
 24 eṣa naḥ samayo rājan ratnasya sahabhojanam
     na ca taṃ hātum icchāmaḥ samayaṃ rājasattama
 25 sarveṣāṃ dharmataḥ kṛṣṇā mahiṣī no bhaviṣyati
     ānupūrvyeṇa sarveṣāṃ gṛhṇātu jvalane karam
 26 [drupada]
     ekasya bahvyo vihitā mahiṣyaḥ kurunandana
     naikasyā bahavaḥ puṃso vidhīyante kadā cana
 27 lokaveda viruddhaṃ tvaṃ nādharmaṃ dhārmikaḥ śuciḥ
     kartum arhasi kaunteya kasmāt te buddhir īdṛśī
 28 [y]
     sūkṣmo dharmo mahārāja nāsya vidmo vayaṃ gatim
     pūrveṣām ānupūrvyeṇa yātuṃ vartmānuyāmahe
 29 na me vāg anṛtaṃ prāha nādharme dhīyate matiḥ
     evaṃ caiva vadaty ambā mama caiva manogatam
 30 eṣa dharmo dhruvo rājaṃś carainam avicārayan
     mā ca te 'tra viśaṅkā bhūt kathaṃ cid api pārthiva
 31 [drupada]
     tvaṃ ca kuntī ca kaunteya dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca me sutaḥ
     kathayantv itikartavyaṃ śvaḥkāle karavāmahe
 32 [vai]
     te sametya tataḥ sarve kathayanti sma bhārata
     atha dvaipāyano rājann abhyāgacchad yadṛcchayā

SECTION CLXXXVII

(Swayamvara Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'Thus addressed by the Brahmanas, the Pandavas, O Janamejaya, proceeded towards the country of the southern Panchalas ruled over by the king Drupada. And on their way those heroes beheld the illustrious Dwaipayana--that Muni of pure soul, and perfectly sinless. And duly saluting the Rishi and saluted by him, after their conversation was over, commanded by him they proceeded to Drupada's abode. And those mighty chariot-fighters proceeded by slow stages staying for some time within those beautiful woods and by fine lakes that they beheld along their way. Devoted to study, pure in their practices, amiable, and sweet-speeched, the Pandavas at last entered the country of the Panchalas. And beholding the capital, as also the fort, they took up their quarters in the house of a potter, Adopting the Brahmanical profession, they began to lead an eleemosynary life. And no men recognised those heroes during their stay in Drupada's capital.
"Yajnasena always cherished the desire of bestowing his daughter on Kiriti (Arjuna), the son of Pandu. But he never spoke of it to anybody. And, O Janamejaya, the king of Panchala thinking of Arjuna caused a very stiff bow to be made that was incapable of being bent by any except Arjuna. Causing some machinery to be erected in the sky, the king set up a mark
p. 371
attached to that machinery. And Drupada said, 'He that will string this bow and with these well-adorned arrows shoot the mark above the machine shall obtain my daughter.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'With these words king Drupada proclaimed the Swayamvara. On hearing of them, O Bharata, the kings of other lands came to his capital. And there came also many illustrious Rishis desirous of beholding the Swayamvara. And there came also, O king, Duryodhana and the Kurus accompanied by Kama. There also came many superior Brahmanas from every country. And the monarchs who came there were all received with reverence by the illustrious Drupada. Desirous of beholding the Swayamvara, the citizens, roaring like the sea, all took their seats on the platforms that were erected around the amphitheatre. The monarch entered the grand amphitheatre by the north-eastern gate. And the amphitheatre which itself had been erected on an auspicious and level plain to the north-east of Drupada's capital, was surrounded by beautiful mansions. And it was enclosed on all sides with high walls and a moat with arched doorways here and there. The vast amphitheatre was also shaded by a canopy of various colours. And resounding with the notes of thousands of trumpets, it was scented with black aloes and sprinkled all over with water mixed with sandal-paste and decorated with garlands of flowers. It was surrounded with high mansions perfectly white and resembling the cloud-kissing peaks of Kailasa. The windows of those mansions were covered with net works of gold; the walls were set with diamonds and precious costly carpets and cloths. All those mansions adorned with wreaths and garlands of flowers and rendered fragrant with excellent aloes, were all white and spotless, like unto the necks of swans. And the fragrance therefrom could be perceived from the distance of a Yojana (eight miles). And they were each furnished with a hundred doors wide enough to admit a crowd of persons; they were adorned with costly beds and carpets, and beautified with various metals; they resembled the peaks of the Himavat. And in those seven-storied houses of various sizes dwelt the monarchs invited by Drupada whose persons were adorned with every ornament and who were possessed with the desire of excelling one another. And the inhabitants of the city and the country who had come to behold Krishna and taken their seats on the excellent platforms erected around, beheld seated within those mansions those lions among kings who were all endued with the energy of great souls. And those exalted sovereigns were all adorned with the fragrant paste of the black aloe. Of great liberality, they were all devoted to Brahma and they protected their kingdoms against all foes. And for their own good deeds they were loved by the whole world.
"The Pandavas, too, entering that amphitheatre, sat with the Brahmanas and beheld the unequalled affluence of the king of the Panchalas. And that concourse of princes, Brahmanas, and others, looking gay at the performances
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of actors and dancers (large presents of every kind of wealth being constantly made), began to swell day by day. And it lasted, O king, several days, till on the sixteenth day when it was at its full, the daughter of Drupada, O thou bull of the Bharata race, having washed herself clean entered the amphitheatre, richly attired and adorned with every ornament and bearing in her hand a dish of gold (whereon were the usual offerings of Arghya) and a garland of flowers. Then the priest of the lunar race--a holy Brahmana conversant with all mantras--ignited the sacrificial fire and poured on it with due rites libations of clarified butter. And gratifying Agni by these libations and making the Brahmanas utter the auspicious formula of benediction, stopped the musical instruments that were playing all around. And when that vast amphitheatre, O monarch, became perfectly still, Dhrishtadyumna possessed of a voice deep as the sound of the kettledrum or the clouds, taking hold of his sister's arm, stood in the midst of that concourse, and said, with a voice loud and deep as the roar of the clouds, these charming words of excellent import, 'Hear ye assembled kings, this is the bow, that is the mark, and these are the arrows. Shoot the mark through the orifice of the machine with these five sharpened arrows. Truly do I say that, possessed of lineage, beauty of persons, and strength whoever achieveth this great feat shall obtain today this my sister, Krishna for his wife.' Having thus spoken unto the assembled monarchs Drupada's son then addressed his sister, reciting unto her the names and lineages and achievements of those assembled lords of the earth.'"

Book 1
Chapter 188

 1 [vai]
      tatas te pāṇḍavāḥ sarve pāñcālyaś ca mahāyaśāḥ
      pratyutthāya mahātmānaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ dṛṣṭvābhyapūjayan
  2 pratinandya sa tān sarvan pṛṣṭvā kuśalam antataḥ
      āsane kāñcane śubhre niṣasāda mahāmanāḥ
  3 anujñātās tu te sarve kṛṣṇenāmita tejasā
      āsaneṣu mahārheṣu niṣedur dvipadāṃ varāḥ
  4 tato muhūrtān madhurāṃ vāṇīm uccārya pārṣataḥ
      papraccha taṃ mahātmānaṃ draupady arthe viśāṃ patiḥ
  5 katham ekā bahūnāṃ syān na ca syād dharmasaṃkaraḥ
      etan no bhagavān sarvaṃ prabravītu yathātatham
  6 [vyāsa]
      asmin dharme vipralambhe lokaveda virodhake
      yasya yasya mataṃ yad yac chrotum icchāmi tasya tat
  7 [drupada]
      adharmo 'yaṃ mama mato viruddho lokavedayoḥ
      na hy ekā vidyate patnī bahūnāṃ dvijasattama
  8 na cāpy ācaritaḥ pūrvair ayaṃ dharmo mahātmabhiḥ
      na ca dharmo 'py anekasthaś caritavyaḥ sanātanaḥ
  9 ato nāhaṃ karomy evaṃ vyavasāyaṃ kriyāṃ prati
      dharmasaṃdeha saṃdigdhaṃ pratibhāti hi mām idam
  10 [dhṛ]
     yavīyasaḥ kathaṃ bhāryāṃ jyeṣṭho bhrātā dvijarṣabha
     brahman samabhivarteta sadvṛttaḥ saṃs tapodhana
 11 na tu dharmasya sūkṣmatvād gatiṃ vidmaḥ kathaṃ cana
     adharmo dharma iti vā vyavasāyo na śakyate
 12 kartum asmadvidhair brahmaṃs tato na vyavasāmy aham
     pañcānāṃ mahiṣī kṛṣṇā bhavatv iti kathaṃ cana
 13 [y]
     na me vāg anṛtaṃ prāha nādharme dhīyate matiḥ
     vartate hi mano me 'tra naiṣo 'dharmaḥ kathaṃ cana
 14 śrūyate hi purāṇe 'pi jaṭilā nāma gautamī
     ṛṣīn adhyāsitavatī sapta dharmabhṛtāṃ vara
 15 guroś ca vacanaṃ prāhur dharmaṃ dharmajña sattama
     gurūṇāṃ caiva sarveṣāṃ janitrī paramo guruḥ
 16 sā cāpy uktavatī vācaṃ bhaikṣavad bhujyatām iti
     tasmād etad ahaṃ manye dharmaṃ dvija varottama
 17 [kuntī]
     evam etad yathāhāyaṃ dharmacārī yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
     anṛtān me bhayaṃ tīvraṃ mucyeyam anṛtāt katham
 18 [vyāsa]
     anṛtān mokṣyase bhadre dharmaś caiva sanātanaḥ
     na tu vakṣyāmi sarveṣāṃ pāñcāla śṛṇu me svayam
 19 yathāyaṃ vihito dharmo yataś cāyaṃ sanātanaḥ
     yathā ca prāha kaunteyas tathā dharmo na saṃśayaḥ
 20 [vai]
     tata utthāya bhagavān vyāso dvaipāyanaḥ prabhuḥ
     kare gṛhītvā rājānaṃ rājaveśma samāviśat
 21 pāṇḍavāś cāpi kuntī ca dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pārṣataḥ
     vicetasas te tatraiva pratīkṣante sma tāv ubhau
 22 tato dvaipāyanas tasmai narendrāya mahātmane
     ācakhyau tad yathā dharmo bahūnām ekapatnitā

SECTION CLXXXVIII

(Swayamvara Parva continued)

"Dhrishtadyumna said, 'Duryodhana, Durvisaha, Durmukha and Dushpradharshana, Vivinsati, Vikarna, Saha, and Duhsasana; Yuyutsu and Vayuvega and Bhimavegarava; Ugrayudha, Valaki, Kanakayu, and Virochana, Sukundala, Chitrasena, Suvarcha, and Kanakadhwaja; Nandaka, and Vahusali, and Tuhunda, and Vikata; these, O sister, and many other mighty sons of Dhritarashtra--all heroes--accompanied by Karna, have come for thy hand. Innumerable other illustrious monarchs all bulls among Kshatriyas--have also come for thee. Sakuni, Sauvala, Vrisaka, and Vrihadvala,--these sons of the king Gandhara--have also come. Foremost of all wielders of weapons--the illustrious Aswatthaman and Bhoja, adorned with every ornament have also come for thee. Vrihanta, Manimana, Dandadhara, Sahadeva, Jayatsena, Meghasandhi, Virata with his two sons Sankha and Uttara, Vardhakshemi, Susarma, Senavindu, Suketu with his two sons Sunama and Suvarcha, Suchitra, Sukumara, Vrika, Satyadhriti, Suryadhwaja, Rochamana, Nila, Chitrayudha, Agsuman, Chekitana, the mighty Sreniman, Chandrasena the mighty son of Samudrasena, Jarasandha, Vidanda, and Danda--the
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father and son, Paundraka, Vasudeva, Bhagadatta endued with great energy, Kalinga, Tamralipta, the king of Pattana, the mighty car-warrior Salya, the king of Madra, with his son, the heroic Rukmangada, Rukmaratha, Somadatta of the Kuru race with his three sons, all mighty chariot-fighters and heroes, viz., Bhuri, Bhurisrava, and Sala, Sudakshina, Kamvoja of the Puru race, Vrihadvala, Sushena, Sivi, the son of Usinara, Patcharanihanta, the king of Karusha, Sankarshana (Valadeva), Vasudeva (Krishna) the mighty son of Rukmini, Samva, Charudeshna, the son of Pradyumna with Gada, Akrura, Satyaki, the high-souled Uddhava, Kritavarman, the son of Hridika, Prithu, Viprithu, Viduratha, Kanka, Sanku with Gaveshana, Asavaha, Aniruddha, Samika, Sarimejaya, the heroic Vatapi Jhilli Pindaraka, the powerful Usinara, all these of the Vrishni race, Bhagiratha, Vrihatkshatra, Jayadratha the son of Sindhu, Vrihadratha, Valhika, the mighty charioteer Srutayu, Uluka, Kaitava, Chitrangada and Suvangada, the highly intelligent Vatsaraja, the king of Kosala, Sisupala and the powerful Jarasandha, these and many other great kings--all Kshatriyas celebrated throughout the world--have come, O blessed one, for thee. Endued with prowess, these will shoot the mark. And thou shalt choose him for thy husband who amongst these will shoot the mark.'"

Book 1
Chapter 189

 1 [vyāsa]
      purā vai naimiṣāraṇye devāḥ satram upāsate
      tatra vaivasvato rājañ śāmitram akarot tadā
  2 tato yamo dīkṣitas tatra rājan; nāmārayat kiṃ cid api prajābhyaḥ
      tataḥ prajās tā bahulā babhūvuḥ; kālātipātān maraṇāt prahīṇāḥ
  3 tatas tu śakro varuṇaḥ kuberaḥ; sādhyā rudrā vasavaś cāśvinau ca
      praṇetāraṃ bhuvanasya prajāpatiṃ; samājagmus tatra devās tathānye
  4 tato 'bruvaṁl lokaguruṃ sametā; bhayaṃ nas tīvraṃ mānuṣāṇāṃ vivṛddhyā
      tasmād bhayād udvijantaḥ sukhepsavaḥ; prayāma sarve śaraṇaṃ bhavantam
  5 [brahmā]
      kiṃ vo bhayaṃ mānuṣebhyo yūyaṃ sarve yadāmarāḥ
      mā vo martyasakāśād vai bhayaṃ bhavatu karhi cit
  6 [devāh]
      martyā hy amartyāḥ saṃvṛttā na viśeṣo 'sti kaś cana
      aviśeṣād udvijanto viśeṣārtham ihāgatāḥ
  7 [brahmā]
      vaivasvato vyāpṛtaḥ satra hetos; tena tv ime na mriyante manuṣyāḥ
      tasminn ekāgre kṛtasarvakārye; tata eṣāṃ bhavitaivānta kālaḥ
  8 vaivasvatasyāpi tanur vibhūtā; vīryeṇa yuṣmākam uta prayuktā
      saiṣām anto bhavitā hy antakāle; tanur hi vīryaṃ bhavitā nareṣu
  9 [vyāsa]
      tatas tu te pūrvaja devavākyaṃ; śrutvā devā yatra devā yajante
      samāsīnās te sametā mahābalā; bhāgī rathyāṃ dadṛśuḥ puṇḍarīkam
  10 dṛṣṭvā ca tad vismitās te babhūvus; teṣām indras tatra śūro jagāma
     so 'paśyad yoṣām atha pāvakaprabhāṃ; yatra gaṅgā satataṃ saṃprasūtā
 11 sā tatra yoṣā rudatī jalārthinī; gaṅgāṃ devīṃ vyavagāhyāvatiṣṭhat
     tasyāśru binduḥ patito jale vai; tat padmam āsīd atha tatra kāñcanam
 12 tad adbhutaṃ prekṣya vajrī tadānīm; apṛcchat tāṃ yoṣitam antikād vai
     kā tvaṃ kathaṃ rodiṣi kasya hetor; vākyaṃ tathyaṃ kāmayeha bravīhi
 13 [strī]
     tvaṃ vetsyase mām iha yāsmi śakra; yadarthaṃ cāhaṃ rodimi mandabhāgyā
     āgaccha rājan purato 'haṃ gamiṣye; draṣṭāsi tad rodimi yatkṛte 'ham
 14 [vyāsa]
     tāṃ gacchantīm anvagacchat tadānīṃ; so 'paśyad ārāt taruṇaṃ darśanīyam
     siṃhāsanasthaṃ yuvatī sahāyaṃ krīḍantam; akṣair girirājamūrdhni
 15 tam abravīd devarājo mamedaṃ; tvaṃ viddhi viśvaṃ bhuvanaṃ vaśe sthitam
     īśo 'ham asmīti samanyur abravīd; dṛṣṭvā tam akṣaiḥ subhṛśaṃ pramattam
 16 kruddhaṃ tu śakraṃ prasamīkṣya devo; jahāsa śakraṃ ca śanair udaikṣata
     saṃstambhito 'bhūd atha devarājas; tenokṣitaḥ sthāṇur ivāvatasthe
 17 yadā tu paryāptam ihāsya krīḍayā; tadā devīṃ rudatīṃ tām uvāca
     ānīyatām eṣa yato 'ham ārān; mainaṃ darpaḥ punar apy āviśeta
 18 tataḥ śakraḥ spṛṣṭamātras tayā tu; srastair aṅgaiḥ patito 'bhūd dharaṇyām
     tam abravīd bhagavān ugratejā; maivaṃ punaḥ śakra kṛthāḥ kathaṃ cit
 19 vivartayainaṃ ca mahādrirājaṃ; balaṃ ca vīryaṃ ca tavāprameyam
     vivṛtya caivāviśa madhyam asya; yatrāsate tvadvidhāḥ sūryabhāsaḥ
 20 sa tad vivṛtya śikharaṃ mahāgires; tulyadyutīṃś caturo 'nyān dadarśa
     sa tān abhiprekṣya babhūva duḥkhitaḥ; kac cin nāhaṃ bhavitā vai yatheme
 21 tato devo giriśo vajrapāṇiṃ; vivṛtya netre kupito 'bhyuvāca
     darīm etāṃ praviśa tvaṃ śatakrato; yan māṃ bālyād avamaṃsthāḥ purastāt
 22 uktas tv evaṃ vibhunā devarājaḥ; pravepamāno bhṛśam evābhiṣaṅgāt
     srastair aṅgair anileneva nunnam; aśvattha pātraṃ girirājamūrdhni
 23 sa prāñjalir vinatenānanena; pravepamānaḥ sahasaivam uktaḥ
     uvāca cedaṃ bahurūpam ugraṃ; draṣṭā śeṣasya bhagavaṃs tvaṃ bhavādya
 24 tam abravīd ugradhanvā prahasya; naivaṃ śīlāḥ śeṣam ihāpnuvanti
     ete 'py evaṃ bhavitāraḥ purastāt; tasmād etāṃ darim āviśya śedhvam
 25 śeṣo 'py evaṃ bhavitā no na saṃśayo; yoniṃ sarve mānuṣīm āviśadhvam
     tatra yūyaṃ karmakṛtvāviṣahyaṃ; bahūn anyān nidhanaṃ prāpayitvā
 26 āgantāraḥ punar evendra lokaṃ; svakarmaṇā pūrvajitaṃ mahārham
     sarvaṃ mayā bhāṣitam etad evaṃ; kartavyam anyad vividhārthavac ca
 27 [pūrvaindrāh]
     gamiṣyāmo mānuṣaṃ devalokād; durādharo vihito yatra mokṣaḥ
     devās tv asmān ādadhīrañ jananyāṃ; dharmo vāyur maghavān aśvinau ca
 28 [vyāsa]
     etac chrutvā vajrapāṇir vacas tu; deva śreṣṭhaṃ punar evedam āha
     vīryeṇāhaṃ puruṣaṃ kāryahetor; dadyām eṣāṃ pañcamaṃ matprasūtam
 29 teṣāṃ kāmaṃ bhagavān ugradhanvā; prādād iṣṭaṃ sannisargād yathoktam
     tāṃ cāpy eṣāṃ yoṣitaṃ lokakāntāṃ; śriyaṃ bhāryāṃ vyadadhān mānuṣeṣu
 30 tair eva sārdhaṃ tu tataḥ sa devo; jagāma nārāyaṇam aprameyam
     sa cāpi tad vyadadhāt sarvam eva; tataḥ sarve saṃbabhūvur dharaṇyām
 31 sa cāpi keśau harir udbabarha; śuklam ekam aparaṃ cāpi kṛṣṇam
     tau cāpi keśau viśatāṃ yadūnāṃ; kule sthirau rohiṇīṃ devakīṃ ca
     tayor eko baladevo babhūva; kṛṣṇo dvitīyaḥ keśavaḥ saṃbabhūva
 32 ye te pūrvaṃ śakra rūpā niruddhās; tasyāṃ daryāṃ parvatasyottarasya
     ihaiva te pāṇḍavā vīryavantaḥ; śakrasyāṃśaḥ pāṇḍavaḥ savyasācī
 33 evam ete pāṇḍavāḥ saṃbabhūvur; ye te rājan pūrvam indrā babhūvuḥ
     lakṣmīś caiṣāṃ pūrvam evopadiṣṭā; bhāryāṃ yaiṣā draupadī divyarūpā
 34 kathaṃ hi strī karmaṇo 'nte mahītalāt; samutthiṣṭhed anyato daivayogāt
     yasyā rūpaṃ somasūryaprakāśaṃ; gandhaś cāgryaḥ krośamātrāt pravāti
 35 idaṃ cānyat prītipūrvaṃ narendra; dadāmi te varam atyadbhutaṃ ca
     divyaṃ cakṣuḥ paśya kuntīsutāṃs tvaṃ; puṇyair divyaiḥ pūrvadehair upetān
 36 [vai]
     tato vyāsaḥ paramodārakarmā; śucir vipras tapasā tasya rājñaḥ
     cakrur divyaṃ pradadau tān sa sarvān; rājāpaśyat pūrvadehair yathāvat
 37 tato divyān hemakirīṭa mālinaḥ; śakra prakhyān pāvakādityavarṇān
     baddhāpīḍhāṃś cārurūpāṃś ca yūno; vyūḍhoraskāṃs tālamātrān dadarśa
 38 divyair vastrair arajobhiḥ suvarṇair; mālyaiś cāgryaiḥ śobhamānān atīva
     sākṣāt tryakṣān vasavo vātha divyān; ādityān vā sarvaguṇopapannān
     tān pūrvendrān evam īkṣyābhirūpān; prīto rājā drupado vismitaś ca
 39 divyāṃ māyāṃ tām avāpyāprameyāṃ; tāṃ caivāgryāṃ śriyam iva rūpiṇīṃ ca
     yogyāṃ teṣāṃ rūpatejo yaśobhiḥ; patnīm ṛddhāṃ dṛṣṭavān pārthivendraḥ
 40 sa tad dṛṣṭvā mahad āścaryarūpaṃ; jagrāha pādau satyavatyāḥ sutasya
     naitac citraṃ paramarṣe tvayīti; prasannacetāḥ sa uvāca cainam
 41 [vyāsa]
     āsīt tapovane kā cid ṛṣeḥ kanyā mahātmanaḥ
     nādhyagacchat patiṃ sā tu kanyā rūpavatī satī
 42 toṣayām āsa tapasā sā kilogreṇa śaṃkaram
     tām uvāceśvaraḥ prīto vṛṇu kāmam iti svayam
 43 saivam uktābravīt kanyā devaṃ varadam īśvaram
     patiṃ sarvaguṇopetam icchāmīti punaḥ punaḥ
 44 dadau tasmai sa deveśas taṃ varaṃ prītimāṃs tadā
     pañca te patayaḥ śreṣṭhā bhaviṣyantīti śaṃkaraḥ
 45 sā prasādayatī devam idaṃ bhūyo 'bhyabhāṣata
     ekaṃ patiṃ guṇopetaṃ tvatto 'rhāmīti vai tadā
     tāṃ devadevaḥ prītātmā punaḥ prāha śubhaṃ vacaḥ
 46 pañca kṛtvas tvayā uktaḥ patiṃ dehīty ahaṃ punaḥ
     tat tathā bhavitā bhadre tava tad bhadram astu te
     deham anyaṃ gatāyās te yathoktaṃ tad bhaviṣyati
 47 drupadaiṣā hi sā jajñe sutā te devarūpiṇī
     pañcānāṃ vihitā patnī kṛṣṇā pārṣaty aninditā
 48 svargaśrīḥ pāṇḍavārthāya samutpannā mahāmakhe
     seha taptvā tapo ghoraṃ duhitṛtvaṃ tavāgatā
 49 saiṣā devī rucirā deva juṣṭā; pañcānām ekā svakṛtena karmaṇā
     sṛṣṭā svayaṃ devapatnī svayambhuvā; śrutvā rājan drupadeṣṭaṃ kuruṣva

SECTION CLXXXIX

(Swayamvara Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'Then those youthful princes adorned with ear-rings, vying with one another and each regarding himself accomplished in arms and gifted with might, stood up brandishing their weapons. And intoxicated with pride of beauty, prowess, lineage, knowledge, wealth, and youth, they were like Himalayan elephants in the season of rut with crowns split from excess of temporal juice. And beholding each other with jealousy and influenced by the god of desire, they suddenly rose up from their royal seats, exclaiming 'Krishna shall be mine.' And the Kshatriyas assembled in that amphitheatre, each desirous of winning the daughter of Drupada, looked like the celestial (of old) standing round Uma, the daughter of the King of mountains. Afflicted with the shafts of the god of the flowery bow and with hearts utterly lost in the contemplation of Krishna, those princes descended into the amphitheatre for winning the Panchala maiden and began to regard even their best friends with jealousy. And there came also the celestials on their cars, with the Rudras and the Adityas, the Vasus and the twin Aswins, the Swadhas and all the Marutas, and Kuvera with Yama walking ahead. And there came also the Daityas and the Suparnas, the great Nagas and the celestial Rishis, the Guhyakas and the Charanas and Viswavasu and Narada and Parvata, and the principal Gandharvas with Apsaras. And Halayudha (Valadeva) and Janardana (Krishna) and the chief of the
p. 374
[paragraph continues] Vrishni, Andhaka, and Yadava tribes who obeyed the leadership of Krishna were also there, viewing the scene. And beholding those elephants in rut--the five (Pandavas)--attracted towards Draupadi like mighty elephants towards a lake overgrown with lotuses, or like fire covered with ashes, Krishna the foremost of Yadu heroes began to reflect. And he said unto Rama (Valadeva), 'That is Yudhishthira; that is Bhima with Jishnu (Arjuna); and those are the twin heroes.' And Rama surveying them slowly cast a glance of satisfaction at Krishna. Biting their nether lips in wrath, the other heroes there--sons and grandsons of kings--with their eyes and hearts and thoughts set on Krishna, looked with expanded eyes on Draupadi alone without noticing the Pandavas. And the sons of Pritha also, of mighty arms, and the illustrious twin heroes, beholding Draupadi, were all likewise struck by the shafts of Kama. And crowded with celestial Rishis and Gandharvas and Suparnas and Nagas and Asuras and Siddhas, and filled with celestial perfumes and scattered over with celestial flowers, and resounding with the kettle-drum and the deep hum of infinite voices, and echoing with the softer music of the flute, the Vina, and the tabor, the cars of the celestials could scarcely find a passage through the firmament. Then those princes--Karna, Duryodhana, Salwa, Salya, Aswatthaman, Kratha, Sunitha, Vakra, the ruler of Kalinga and Banga, Pandya, Paundra, the ruler of Videha, the chief of the Yavanas, and many other sons and grandsons of kings,--sovereigns of territories with eyes like lotus-petals,--one after another began to exhibit prowess for (winning) that maiden of unrivalled beauty. Adorned with crowns, garlands, bracelets, and other ornaments, endued with mighty arms, possessed of prowess and vigour and bursting with strength and energy, those princes could not, even in imagination, string that bow of extraordinary stiffness.
"And (some amongst) those kings in exerting with swelling lips each according to his strength, education, skill, and energy,--to string that bow, were tossed on the ground and lay perfectly motionless for some time. Their strength spent and their crowns and garlands loosened from their persons, they began to pant for breath and their ambition of winning that fair maiden was cooled. Tossed by that tough bow, and their garlands and bracelets and other ornaments disordered, they began to utter exclamations of woe. And that assemblage of monarchs, their hope of obtaining Krishna gone, looked sad and woeful. And beholding the plight of those monarchs, Karna that foremost of all wielders of the bow went to where the bow was, and quickly raising it strung it and placed the arrows on the string. And beholding the son of Surya--Karna of the Suta tribe--like unto fire, or Soma, or Surya himself, resolved to shoot the mark, those foremost of bowmen--the sons of Pandu--regarded the mark as already shot and brought down upon the ground. But seeing Karna, Draupadi loudly said, 'I will not select a Suta for my lord.' Then Karna, laughing in vexation and casting glance at the Sun, threw aside the bow already drawn to a circle.
Then when all those Kshatriyas gave up the task, the heroic king of the
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[paragraph continues] Chedis--mighty as Yama (Pluto) himself--the illustrious and determined Sisupala, the son of Damaghosa, in endeavouring to string the bow, himself fell upon his knees on the ground. Then king Jarasandha endued with great strength and powers, approaching the bow stood there for some moment, fixed and motionless like a mountain. Tossed by the bow, he too fell upon his knees on the ground, and rising up, the monarch left the amphitheatre for (returning to) his kingdom. Then the great hero Salya, the king of Madra, endued with great strength, in endeavouring to string the bow fell upon his knees on the ground. At last when in that assemblage consisting of highly respectable people, all the monarchs had become subjects of derisive talk that foremost of heroes--Jishnu, the son of Kunti--desired to string the bow and placed the arrows on the bow-string.'"

Book 1
Chapter 190

 1 [drupada]
      aśrutvaivaṃ vacanaṃ te maharṣe; mayā pūrvaṃ yātitaṃ kāryam etat
      na vai śakyaṃ vihitasyāpayātuṃ; tad evedam upapannaṃ vidhānam
  2 diṣṭasya granthir anivartanīyaḥ; svakarmaṇā vihitaṃ neha kiṃ cit
      kṛtaṃ nimittaṃ hi varaika hetos; tad evedam upapannaṃ bahūnām
  3 yathaiva kṛṣṇoktavatī purastān; naikān patīn me bhagavān dadātu
      sa cāpy evaṃ varam ity abravīt tāṃ; devo hi veda paramaṃ yad atra
  4 yadi vāyaṃ vihitaḥ śaṃkareṇa; dharmo 'dharmo vā nātra mamāparādhaḥ
      gṛhṇantv ime vidhivat pāṇim asyā; yathopajoṣaṃ vihitaiṣāṃ hi kṛṣṇā
  5 [vai]
      tato 'bravīd bhagavān dharmarājam; adya puṇyāham uta pāṇḍaveya
      adya pauṣyaṃ yogam upaiti candramāḥ; pāṇiṃ kṛṣṇāyās tvaṃ gṛhāṇādya pūrvam
  6 tato rājo yajñasenaḥ saputro; janyārtha yuktaṃ bahu tat tadagryam
      samānayām āsa sutāṃ ca kṛṣṇām; āplāvya ratnair bahubhir vibhūṣya
  7 tataḥ sarve suhṛdas tatra tasya; samājagmuḥ sacivā mantriṇaś ca
      draṣṭuṃ vivāhaṃ paramapratītā; dvijāś ca paurāś ca yathā pradhānāḥ
  8 tat tasya veśmārthi janopaśobhitaṃ; vikīrṇapadmotpalabhūṣitājiram
      mahārharatnaughavicitram ābabhau; divaṃ yathā nirmalatārakācitam
  9 tatas tu te kauravarājaputrā; vibhūṣitāḥ kuṇḍalino yuvānaḥ
      mahārhavastrā varacandanokṣitāḥ; kṛtābhiṣekāḥ kṛtamaṅgala kriyāḥ
  10 purohitenāgnisamānavarcasā; sahaiva dhaumyena yathāvidhi prabho
     krameṇa sarve viviśuś ca tat sado; maharṣabhā goṣṭham ivābhinandinaḥ
 11 tataḥ samādhāya sa vedapārago; juhāva mantrair jvalitaṃ hutāśanam
     yudhiṣṭhiraṃ cāpy upanīya mantravin; niyojayām āsa sahaiva kṛṣṇayā
 12 pradakṣiṇaṃ tau pragṛhītapāṇī; samānayām āsa sa vedapāragaḥ
     tato 'bhyanujñāya tam ājiśobhinaṃ; purohito rājagṛhād viniryayau
 13 krameṇa cānena narādhipātmajā; varastriyās te jagṛhus tadā karam
     ahany ahany uttamarūpadhāriṇo; mahārathāḥ kauravavaṃśavardhanāḥ
 14 idaṃ ca tatrādbhuta rūpam uttamaṃ; jagāda viprarṣir atītamānuṣam
     mahānubhāvā kila sā sumadhyamā; babhūva kanyaiva gate gate 'hani
 15 kṛte vivāhe drupado dhanaṃ dadau; mahārathebhyo bahurūpam uttamam
     śataṃ rathānāṃ varahemabhūṣiṇāṃ; caturyujāṃ hemakhalīna mālinām
 16 śataṃ gajānām abhipadminīṃ tathā; śataṃ girīṇām iva hemaśṛṅgiṇām
     tathaiva dāsī śatam agryayauvanaṃ; mahārhaveṣābharaṇāmbara srajam
 17 pṛthak pṛthak caiva daśāyutānvitaṃ; dhanaṃ dadau saumakir agnisākṣikam
     tathaiva vastrāṇi ca bhūṣaṇāni; prabhāvayuktāni mahādhanāni
 18 kṛte vivāhe ca tataḥ sma pāṇḍavāḥ; prabhūtaratnām upalabhya tāṃ śriyam
     vijahrur indra pratimā mahābalāḥ; pure tu pāñcāla nṛpasya tasya ha

SECTION CLXL

(Swayamvara Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana continued, 'When all the monarchs had desisted from stringing that bow, the high-souled Jishnu arose from among the crowd of Brahmanas seated in that assembly. And beholding Partha possessing the complexion of Indra's banner, advancing towards the bow, the principal Brahmanas shaking their deer-skins raised a loud clamour. And while some were displeased, there were others that were well-pleased. And some there were, possessed of intelligence and foresight, who addressing one another said, 'Ye Brahmanas, how can a Brahmana stripling unpractised in arms and weak in strength, string that bow which such celebrated Kshatriyas as Salya and others endued with might and accomplished in the science and practice of arms could not? If he doth not achieve success in this untried task which he hath undertaken from a spirit of boyish unsteadiness, the entire body of Brahmanas here will be rendered ridiculous in the eyes of the assembled monarchs. Therefore, forbid this Brahmana that he may not go to string the bow which he is even now desirous of doing from vanity, childish daring, or mere unsteadiness.' Others replied, 'We shall not be made ridiculous, nor shall we incur the disrespect of anybody or the displeasure of the sovereigns. Some remarked, 'This handsome youth is even like the trunk of a mighty elephant, whose shoulders and arms and thighs are so well-built, who in patience looks like the Himavat, whose gait is even like that of the lion, and whose prowess seems to be like that of an elephant in rut, and who is so resolute, that it is probable that he will accomplish this feat. He has strength and resolution. If he had none, he would never go of his own accord. Besides, there is nothing in the three worlds that Brahmanas of all mortal men cannot accomplish. Abstaining from all food or living upon air or eating of fruits, persevering in their vows, and emaciated and weak, Brahmanas are ever strong in their own energy. One should never disregard a
p. 376
[paragraph continues] Brahmana whether his acts be right or wrong, by supposing him incapable of achieving any task that is great or little, or that is fraught with bliss or woe. Rama the son of Jamadagni defeated in battle, all the Kshatriyas. Agastya by his Brahma energy drank off the fathomless ocean. Therefore, say ye, 'Let this youth bend the bow and string it with ease' (and many said), 'So be it.' And the Brahmanas continued speaking unto one another these and other words. Then Arjuna approached the bow and stood there like a mountain. And walking round that bow, and bending his head unto that giver of boons--the lord Isana--and remembering Krishna also, he took it up. And that bow which Rukma, Sunitha, Vakra, Radha's son, Duryodhana, Salya, and many other kings accomplished in the science and practice of arms, could not even with great exertion, string, Arjuna, the son of Indra, that foremost of all persons endued with energy and like unto the younger brother of Indra (Vishnu) in might, strung in the twinkling of an eye. And taking up the five arrows he shot the mark and caused it to fall down on the ground through the hole in the machine above which it had been placed. Then there arose a loud uproar in the firmament, and the amphitheatre also resounded with a loud clamour. And the gods showered celestial flowers on the head of Partha the slayer of foes. And thousands of Brahmanas began to wave their upper garments in joy. And all around, the monarchs who had been unsuccessful, uttered exclamations of grief and despair. And flowers were rained from the skies all over the amphitheatre. And the musicians struck up in concert. Bards and heralds began to chant in sweet tones the praises (of the hero who accomplished the feat). And beholding Arjuna, Drupada--that slayer of foes,--was filled with joy. And the monarch desired to assist with his forces the hero if the occasion arose. And when the uproar was at its height, Yudhishthira, the foremost of all virtuous men, accompanied by those first of men the twins, hastily left the amphitheatre for returning to his temporary home. And Krishna beholding the mark shot and beholding Partha also like unto Indra himself, who had shot the mark, was filled with joy, and approached the son of Kunti with a white robe and a garland of flowers. And Arjuna the accomplisher of inconceivable feats, having won Draupadi by his success in the amphitheatre, was saluted with reverence by all the Brahmanas. And he soon after left the lists followed close by her who thus became his wife.'"

The Sacred  Scripture of  great Epic Sree Mahabharatam:

The Mahabharata in Sanskrit

                                      Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
                                                        translated by
                                  Sreemaan Brahmasri  Kisari Mohan Ganguli

 

Book 1 (Adiparva)

Book 1
Chapter 191

 1 [vai]
      pāṇḍavaiḥ saha saṃyogaṃ gatasya drupadasya tu
      na babhūva bhayaṃ kiṃ cid devebhyo 'pi kathaṃ cana
  2 kuntīm āsādya tā nāryo drupadasya mahātmanaḥ
      nāma saṃkīrtayantyas tāḥ pādau jagmuḥ svamūrdhabhiḥ
  3 kṛṣṇā ca kṣaumasaṃvītā kṛtakautuka maṅgalā
      kṛtābhivādanā śvaśrvās tasthau prahvā kṛtāñjaliḥ
  4 rūpalakṣaṇasaṃpannāṃ śīlācāra samanvitām
      draupadīm avadat premṇā pṛthāśīr vacanaṃ snuṣām
  5 yathendrāṇī harihaye svāhā caiva vibhāvasau
      rohiṇī ca yathā some damayantī yathā nale
  6 yathā vaiśravaṇe bhadrā vasiṣṭhe cāpy arundhatī
      yathā nārāyaṇe lakṣmīs tathā tvaṃ bhava bhartṛṣu
  7 jīvasūr vīrasūr bhadre bahu saukhya samanvitā
      subhagā bhogasaṃpannā yajñapatnī svanuvratā
  8 atithīn āgatān sādhūn bālān vṛddhān gurūṃs tathā
      pūjayantyā yathānyāyaṃ śaśvad gacchantu te samāḥ
  9 kurujāṅgala mukhyeṣu rāṣṭreṣu nagareṣu ca
      anu tvam abhiṣicyasva nṛpatiṃ dharmavatsalam
  10 patibhir nirjitām urvīṃ vikrameṇa mahābalaiḥ
     kuru brāhmaṇasāt sarvām aśvamedhe mahākratau
 11 pṛthivyāṃ yāni ratnāni guṇavanti gunānvite
     tāny āpnuhi tvaṃ kalyāṇi sukhinī śaradāṃ śatam
 12 yathā ca tvābhinandāmi vadhv adya kṣaumasaṃvṛtām
     tathā bhūyo 'bhinandiṣye sūtaputrāṃ guṇānvitām
 13 tatas tu kṛtadārebhyaḥ pāṇḍubhyaḥ prāhiṇod dhariḥ
     muktā vaiḍūrya citrāṇi haimāny ābharaṇāni ca
 14 vāsāṃsi ca mahārhāṇi nānādeśyāni mādhavaḥ
     kambalājina ratnāni sparśavanti śubhāni ca
 15 śayanāsanayānāni vividhāni mahānti ca
     vaiḍūrya vajracitrāṇi śataśo bhājanāni ca
 16 rūpayauvana dākṣiṇyair upetāś ca svalaṃkṛtāḥ
     preṣyāḥ saṃpradadau kṛṣṇo nānādeśyāḥ sahasraśaḥ
 17 gajān vinītān bhadrāṃś ca sadaśvāṃś ca svalaṃkṛtān
     rathāṃś ca dāntān sauvarṇaiḥ śubhaiḥ paṭṭair alaṃkṛtān
 18 koṭiśaś ca suvarṇaṃ sa teṣām akṛtakaṃ tathā
     vītī kṛtam ameyātmā prāhiṇon madhusūdanaḥ
 19 tat sarvaṃ pratijagrāha dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
     mudā paramayā yukto govinda priyakāmyayā

chapter 191

Section CLXLI

(Swayamvara Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'When the king (Drupada) expressed his desire of bestowing his daughter on that Brahmana (who had shot the mark), all those monarchs who had been invited to the Swayamvara, looking at one another, were suddenly filled with wrath. And they said, 'Passing us by and
p. 377
treating the assembled monarchs as straw this Drupada desireth to bestow his daughter--that first of women,--on a Brahmana! Having planted the tree he cutteth it down when it is about to bear fruit. The wretch regardeth us not: therefore let us slay him. He deserveth not our respect nor the veneration due to age. Owing to such qualities of his, we shall, therefore, slay this wretch that insulteth all kings, along with his son. Inviting all the monarchs and entertaining them with excellent food, he disregardeth us at last. In this assemblage of monarchs like unto a conclave of the celestials, doth he not see a single monarch equal unto himself? The Vedic declaration is well-known that the Swayamvara is for the Kshatriyas. The Brahmanas have no claim in respect of a selection of husband by a Kshatriya damsel. Or, ye kings, if this damsel desireth not to select any one of us as her lord, let us cast her into the fire and return to our kingdoms. As regards this Brahmana, although he hath, from officiousness or avarice, done this injury to the monarchs, he should not yet be slain; for our kingdoms, lives, treasures, sons, grandsons, and whatever other wealth we have, all exist for Brahmanas. Something must be done here (even unto him), so that from fear of disgrace and the desire of maintaining what properly belongeth unto each order, other Swayamvaras may not terminate in this way.'
"Having addressed one another thus, those tigers among monarchs endued with arms like unto spiked iron maces, took up their weapons and rushed at Drupada to slay him then and there. And Drupada beholding those monarchs all at once rushing towards him in anger with bows and arrows, sought, from fear, the protection of the Brahmanas. But those mighty bowmen (Bhima and Arjuna) of the Pandavas, capable of chastising all foes, advanced to oppose those monarchs rushing towards them impetuously like elephants in the season of rut. Then the monarchs with gloved fingers and upraised weapons rushed in anger at the Kuru princes, Bhima and Arjuna, to slay them. Then the mighty Bhima of extraordinary achievements, endued with the strength of thunder, tore up like an elephant a large tree and divested it of its leaves. And with that tree, the strong-armed Bhima, the son of Pritha, that grinder of foes, stood, like unto the mace-bearing king of the dead (Yama) armed with his fierce mace, near Arjuna that bull amongst men. And beholding that feat of his brother, Jishnu of extraordinary intelligence, himself also of inconceivable feats, wondered much. And equal unto Indra himself in achievements, shaking off all fear he stood with his bow ready to receive those assailants. And beholding those feats of both Jishnu and his brother, Damodara (Krishna) of superhuman intelligence and inconceivable feats, addressing his brother, Halayudha (Valadeva) of fierce energy, said, 'That hero there, of tread like that of a mighty lion, who draweth the large bow in his hand four full cubits in length, is Arjuna! There is no doubt, O Sankarshana, about this, if I am Vasudeva. That other hero who having speedily torn up the tree hath suddenly become ready to drive off the monarchs is Vrikodara! For no one in the world, except Vrikodara,
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could today perform such a feat in the field of battle. And that other youth of eyes like unto lotus-petals, of full four cubits height, of gait like that of a mighty lion, and humble withal, of fair complexion and prominent and shining nose, who had, a little before, left the amphitheatre, is Dharma's son (Yudhishthira). The two other youths, like unto Kartikeya, are, I suspect, the sons of the twin Aswins. I heard that the sons of Pandu along with their mother Pritha had all escaped from the conflagration of the house of lac.' Then Halayudha of complexion like unto that of clouds uncharged with rain, addressing his younger brother (Krishna), said with great satisfaction, 'O, I am happy to hear, as I do from sheer good fortune, that our father's sister Pritha with the foremost of the Kaurava princes have all escaped (from death)!'"

Book 1
Chapter 192

 1 [vai]
      tato rājñāṃ carair āptaiś cāraḥ samupanīyata
      pāṇḍavair upasaṃpannā draupadī patibhiḥ śubhā
  2 yena tad dhanur āyamya lakṣyaṃ viddhaṃ mahātmanā
      so 'rjuno jayatāṃ śreṣṭho mahābāṇadhanurdharaḥ
  3 yaḥ śalyaṃ madrarājānam utkṣipyābhrāmayad balī
      trāsayaṃś cāpi saṃkruddho vṛkṣeṇa puruṣān raṇe
  4 na cāpi saṃbhramaḥ kaś cid āsīt tatra mahātmanaḥ
      sa bhīmo bhīma saṃsparśaḥ śatrusenāṅgapātanaḥ
  5 brahmarūpadharāñ śrutvā pāṇḍurāja sutāṃs tadā
      kaunteyān manujendrāṇāṃ vismayaḥ samajāyata
  6 saputrā hi purā kuntī dagdhā jatu gṛhe śrutā
      punarjātān iti smaitān manyante sarvapārthivāḥ
  7 dhik kurvantas tadā bhīṣmaṃ dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ ca kauravam
      karmaṇā sunṛśaṃsena purocana kṛtena vai
  8 vṛtte svayaṃvare caiva rājānaḥ sarva eva te
      yathāgataṃ viprajagmur viditvā pāṇḍavān vṛtān
  9 atha duryodhano rājā vimanā bhrātṛbhiḥ saha
      aśvatthāmnā mātulena karṇena ca kṛpeṇa ca
  10 vinivṛtto vṛtaṃ dṛṣṭvā draupadyā śvetavāhanam
     taṃ tu duḥśāsano vrīḍan mandaṃ mandam ivābravīt
 11 yady asau brāhmaṇo na syād vindeta draupadīṃ na saḥ
     na hi taṃ tattvato rājan veda kaś cid dhanaṃjayam
 12 daivaṃ tu paramaṃ manye pauruṣaṃ tu nirarthakam
     dhig asmat pauruṣaṃ tāta yad dharantīha pāṇḍavāḥ
 13 evaṃ saṃbhāṣamāṇās te nindantaś ca purocanam
     viviśur hāstinapuraṃ dīnā vigatacetasaḥ
 14 trastā vigatasaṃkalpā dṛṣṭvā pārthān mahaujasaḥ
     muktān havyavahāc cainān saṃyuktān drupadena ca
 15 dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ ca saṃcintya tathaiva ca śikhaṇḍinam
     drupadasyātmajāṃś cānyān sarvayuddhaviśāradān
 16 viduras tv atha tāñ śrutvā draupadyā pāṇḍavān vṛtān
     vrīḍitān dhārtarāṣṭrāṃś ca bhagnadarpān upāgatān
 17 tataḥ prītamanāḥ kṣattā dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ viśāṃ pate
     uvāca diṣṭyā kuravo vardhanta iti vismitaḥ
 18 vaicitra vīryas tu nṛpo niśamya vidurasya tat
     abravīt paramaprīto diṣṭyā diṣṭyeti bhārata
 19 manyate hi vṛtaṃ putraṃ jyeṣṭhaṃ drupada kanyayā
     duryodhanam avijñānāt prajñā cakṣur nareśvaraḥ
 20 atha tv ājñāpayām āsa draupadyā bhūṣaṇaṃ bahu
     ānīyatāṃ vai kṛṣṇeti putraṃ duryodhanaṃ tadā
 21 athāsya paścād vidura ācakhyau pāṇḍavān vṛtān
     sarvān kuśalino vīrān pūjitān drupadena ca
     teṣāṃ saṃbandhinaś cānyān bahūn balasamanvitān
 22 [dhṛ]
     yathaiva pāṇḍoḥ putrās te tathaivābhyadhikā mama
     seyam abhyadhikā prītir vṛddhir vidura me matā
     yat te kuśalino vīrā mitravantaś ca pāṇḍavāḥ
 23 ko hi drupadam āsādya mitraṃ kṣattaḥ sabāndhavam
     na bubhūṣed bhavenārthī gataśrīr api pārthivaḥ
 24 [vai]
     taṃ tathā bhāṣamāṇaṃ tu viduraḥ pratyabhāṣata
     nityaṃ bhavatu te buddhir eṣā rājañ śataṃ samāḥ
 25 tato duryodhanaś caiva rādheyaś ca viśāṃ pate
     dhṛtarāṣṭram upāgamya vaco 'brūtām idaṃ tadā
 26 saṃnidhau vidurasya tvāṃ vaktuṃ nṛpa na śaknuvaḥ
     viviktam iti vakṣyāvaḥ kiṃ tavedaṃ cikīrṣitam
 27 sapatnavṛddhiṃ yat tāta manyase vṛddhim ātmanaḥ
     abhiṣṭauṣi ca yat kṣattuḥ samīpe dvipadāṃ vara
 28 anyasmin nṛpa kartavye tvam anyat kuruṣe 'nagha
     teṣāṃ balavighāto hi kartavyas tāta nityaśaḥ
 29 te vayaṃ prāptakālasya cikīrṣāṃ mantrayāmahe
     yathā no na graseyus te saputrabalabāndhavān

Section CLXLII

(Swayamvara Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'Then those bulls among Brahmanas shaking their deer-skins and water-pots made of cocoanut-shells exclaimed, 'Fear not, we will fight the foe!' Arjuna smilingly addressing those Brahmanas exclaiming thus, said, 'Stand ye aside as spectators (of the fray) Showering hundreds of arrows furnished with straight points even I shall check, like snakes with mantras, all those angry monarchs.' Having said this, the mighty Arjuna taking up the bow he had obtained as dower accompanied by his brother Bhima stood immovable as a mountain. And beholding those Kshatriyas who were ever furious in battle with Karna ahead, the heroic brothers rushed fearlessly at them like two elephants rushing against a hostile elephant. Then those monarchs eager for the fight fiercely exclaimed, 'The slaughter in battle of one desiring to fight is permitted.' And saying this, the monarchs suddenly rushed against the Brahmanas. And Karna endued with great energy rushed against Jishnu for fight. And Salya the mighty king of Madra rushed against Bhima like an elephant rushing against another for the sake of a she-elephant in heat; while Duryodhana and others engaged with the Brahmanas, skirmished with them lightly and carelessly. Then the illustrious Arjuna beholding Karna, the son of Vikartana (Surya), advancing towards him, drew his tough bow and pieced him with his sharp arrows. And the impetus of those whetted arrows furnished with fierce energy made Radheya (Karna) faint. Recovering consciousness Karna attacked Arjuna with greater care than before. Then Karna and Arjuna, both foremost of victorious warriors, desirous of vanquishing each other, fought madly on. And such was the lightness of hand they both displayed that (each enveloped by the other's shower of arrows) they both became invisible (unto the spectators of their encounter). 'Behold the strength of my arms.'--'Mark, how I have counteracted that feat,'--those were the words--intelligible to
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heroes alone--in which they addressed each other. And incensed at finding the strength and energy of Arjuna's arms unequalled on the earth, Karna, the son of Surya, fought with greater vigour. And parrying all those impetuous arrows shot at him by Arjuna, Karna sent up a loud shout. And this feat of his was applauded by all the warriors. Then addressing his antagonist, Karna said, 'O thou foremost of Brahmanas, I am gratified to observe the energy of thy arms that knoweth no relaxation in battle and thy weapons themselves fit for achieving victory. Art thou the embodiment of the science of weapons, or art thou Rama that best of Brahmanas, or Indra himself, or Indra's younger brother Vishnu called also Achyuta, who for disguising himself hath assumed the form of a Brahmana and mustering such energy of arms fighteth with me? No other person except the husband himself of Sachi or Kiriti, the son of Pandu, is capable of fighting with me when I am angry on the field of battle.' Then hearing those words of his, Phalguna replied, saying, 'O Karna, I am neither the science of arms (personified), nor Rama endued with superhuman powers. I am only a Brahmana who is the foremost of all warriors and all wielders of weapons. By the grace of my preceptor I have become accomplished in the Brahma and the Paurandara weapons. I am here to vanquish thee in battle. Therefore, O hero, wait a little.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Thus addressed (by Arjuna), Karna the adopted son of Radha desisted from the fight, for that mighty chariot-fighter thought that Brahma energy is ever invincible. Meanwhile on another part of the field, the mighty heroes Salya and Vrikodara, well-skilled in battle and possessed of great strength and proficiency, challenging each other, engaged in fight like two elephants in rut. And they struck each other with their clenched fists and knees. And sometimes pushing each other forward and sometimes dragging each other near, sometimes throwing each other down; face downward, and sometimes on the sides, they fought on, striking, each other at times with their clenched fists. And encountering each other with blows hard as the clash of two masses of granite, the lists rang with the sounds of their combat. Fighting with each other thus for a few seconds, Bhima the foremost of the Kuru heroes taking up Salya on his arms hurled him to a distance. And Bhimasena, that bull amongst men, surprised all (by the dexterity of his feat) for though he threw Salya on the ground he did it without hurting him much. And when Salya was thus thrown down and Karna was struck with fear, the other monarchs were all alarmed. And they hastily surrounded Bhima and exclaimed, 'Surely these bulls amongst Brahmanas are excellent (warriors)! Ascertain in what race they have been born and where they abide. Who can encounter Karna, the son of Radha, in fight, except Rama or Drona, or Kiriti, the son of Pandu? Who also can encounter Duryodhana in battle except Krishna, the son of Devaki, and Kripa, the son of Saradwan? Who also can overthrow in battle Salya, that first of mighty warriors, except the hero Valadeva or Vrikodara, the
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son of Pandu, or the heroic Duryodhana? Let us, therefore, desist from this fight with the Brahmanas. Indeed, Brahmanas, however offending, should yet be ever protected. And first let us ascertain who these are; for after we have done that we may cheerfully fight with them.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'And Krishna, having beheld that feat of Bhima, believed them both to be the son of Kunti. And gently addressing the assembled monarchs, saying, 'This maiden hath been justly acquired (by the Brahmana),' he induced them to abandon the fight. Accomplished in battle, those monarchs then desisted from the fight. And those best of monarchs then returned to their respective kingdoms, wondering much. And those who had come there went away saying. 'The festive scene hath terminated in the victory of the Brahmanas. The princess of Panchala hath become the bride of a Brahmana.' And surrounded by Brahmanas dressed in skins of deer and other wild animals, Bhima and Dhananjaya passed with difficulty out of the throng. And those heroes among men, mangled by the enemy and followed by Krishna, on coming at last out of that throng, looked like the full moon and the sun emerging from the clouds.
"Meanwhile Kunti seeing that her sons were late in returning from their eleemosynary round, was filled with anxiety. She began to think of various evils having overtaken her sons. At one time she thought that the sons of Dhritarashtra having recognised her sons had slain them. Next she feared that some cruel and strong Rakshasas endued with powers of deception had slain them. And she asked herself, 'Could the illustrious Vyasa himself (who had directed my sons to come to Panchala) have been guided by perverse intelligence?' Thus reflected Pritha in consequence of her affection for her offspring. Then in the stillness of the late afternoon, Jishnu, accompanied by a body of Brahmanas, entered the abode of the potter, like the cloud-covered sun appearing on a cloudy day.'"

Book 1
Chapter 193

1 [dhṛ]
      aham apy evam evaitac cintayāmi yathā yuvām
      vivektuṃ nāham icchāmi tv ākaraṃ viduraṃ prati
  2 atas teṣāṃ guṇān eva kīrtayāmi viśeṣataḥ
      nāvabudhyeta viduro mamābhiprāyam iṅgitaiḥ
  3 yac ca tvaṃ manyase prāptaṃ tad brūhi tvaṃ suyodhana
      rādheya manyase tvaṃ ca yat prāptaṃ tad bravīhi me
  4 [dur]
      adya tān kuśalair vipraiḥ sukṛtair āptakāribhiḥ
      kuntīputrān bhedayāmo mādrīputrau ca pāṇḍavau
  5 atha vā drupado rājā mahadbhir vittasaṃcayaiḥ
      putrāś cāsya pralobhyantām amātyāś caiva sarvaśaḥ
  6 parityajadhvaṃ rājānaṃ kuntīputraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram
      atha tatraiva vā teṣāṃ nivāsaṃ rocayantu te
  7 ihaiṣāṃ doṣavad vāsaṃ varṇayantu pṛthak pṛthak
      te bhidyamānās tatraiva manaḥ kurvantu pāṇḍavāḥ
  8 atha vā kuśalāḥ ke cid upāyanipuṇā narāḥ
      itaretarataḥ pārthān bhedayantv anurāgataḥ
  9 vyutthāpayantu vā kṛṣṇāṃ bahutvāt sukaraṃ hi tat
      atha vā pāṇḍavāṃs tasyāṃ bhedayantu tataś ca tām
  10 bhīmasenasya vā rājann upāyakuśalair naraiḥ
     mṛtyur vidhīyatāṃ channaiḥ sa hi teṣāṃ balādhikaḥ
 11 tasmiṃs tu nihate rājan hatotsāhā hataujasaḥ
     yatiṣyante na rājyāya sa hi teṣāṃ vyapāśrayaḥ
 12 ajeyo hy arjunaḥ saṃkhye pṛṣṭhagope vṛkodare
     tam ṛte phalguno yuddhe rādheyasya na pādabhāk
 13 te jānamānā daurbalyaṃ bhīmasenam ṛte mahat
     asmān balavato jñātvā naśiṣyanty abalīyasaḥ
 14 ihāgateṣu pārtheṣu nideśavaśavartiṣu
     pravartiṣyāmahe rājan yathāśraddhaṃ nibarhaṇe
 15 atha vā darśanīyābhiḥ pramadābhir vilobhyatām
     ekaikas tatra kaunteyas tataḥ kṛṣṇā virajyatām
 16 preṣyatāṃ vāpi rādheyas teṣām āgamanāya vai
     te loptra hāraiḥ saṃdhāya vadhyantām āptakāribhiḥ
 17 eteṣām abhyupāyānāṃ yas te nirdoṣavān mataḥ
     tasya prayogam ātiṣṭha purā kālo 'tivartate
 18 yāvac cākṛta viśvāsā drupade pārthivarṣabhe
     tāvad evādya te śakyā na śakyās tu tataḥ param
 19 eṣā mama matis tāta nigrahāya pravartate
     sādhu vā yadi vāsādhu kiṃ vā rādheya manyase

Section CLXLIII

(Swayamvara Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'Then those illustrious sons of Pritha, on returning to the potter's abode, approached their mother. And those first of men represented Yajnaseni unto their mother as the alms they had obtained that day. And Kunti who was there within the room and saw not her sons, replied, saying, 'Enjoy ye all (what ye have obtained).' The moment after, she beheld Krishna and then she said, 'Oh, what have I said?' And anxious from fear of sin, and reflecting how every one could be extricated from the situation, she took the cheerful Yajnaseni by the hand, and approaching Yudhishthira said, 'The daughter of king Yajnasena upon being represented to me by thy younger brothers as the alms they had obtained, from ignorance, O king, I said what was proper, viz., 'Enjoy ye all what hath been obtained. O
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thou bull of the Kuru race, tell me how my speech may not become untrue; how sin may not touch the daughter of the king of Panchala, and how also she may not become uneasy.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Thus addressed by his mother that hero among men, that foremost scion of the Kuru race, the intelligent king (Yudhishthira), reflecting for a moment, consoled Kunti, and addressing Dhananjaya, said, 'By thee, O Phalguna, hath Yajnaseni been won. It is proper, therefore, that thou shouldst wed her. O thou withstander of all foes, igniting the sacred fire, take thou her hand with due rites.'
"Arjuna, hearing this, replied, 'O king, do not make me a participator in sin. Thy behest is not conformable to virtue. That is the path followed by the sinful. Thou shouldst wed first, then the strong-armed Bhima of inconceivable feats, then myself, then Nakula, and last of all, Sahadeva endued with great activity. Both Vrikodara and myself, and the twins and this maiden also, all await, O monarch, thy commands. When such is the state of things, do that, after reflection, which would be proper, and conformable virtue, and productive of fame, and beneficial unto the king of Panchala. All of us are obedient to thee. O, command us as thou likest.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Hearing these words of Jishnu, so full of respect and affection, the Pandavas all cast their eyes upon the princess of Panchala. And the princess of Panchala also looked at them all. And casting their glances on the illustrious Krishna, those princes looked at one another. And taking their seats, they began to think of Draupadi alone. Indeed, after those princes of immeasurable energy had looked at Draupadi, the God of Desire invaded their hearts and continued to crush all their senses. As the lavishing beauty of Panchali who had been modelled by the Creator himself, was superior to that of all other women on earth, it could captivate the heart of every creature. And Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, beholding his younger brothers, understood what was passing in their minds. And that bull among men immediately recollected the words of Krishna-Dwaipayana. And the king, then, from fear of a division amongst the brothers, addressing all of them, said, 'The auspicious Draupadi shall be the common wife of us all.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'The sons of Pandu, then, hearing those words of their eldest brother, began to revolve them in their minds in great cheerfulness. The hero of the Vrishni race (Krishna suspecting the five persons he had seen at the Swayamvara to be none else than the heroes of the Kuru race), came accompanied by the son of Rohini (Valadeva), to the house of the potter where those foremost of men had taken up their quarters. On arriving there, Krishna and Valadeva beheld seated in that potter's house Ajatasanu (Yudhishthira) of well developed and long arms, and his younger brothers passing the splendour of fire sitting around him. Then Vasudeva approaching that foremost of virtuous men--the son of Kunti--and touching the feet of that prince of the Ajamida race, said, 'I am Krishna.'
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[paragraph continues] And the son of Rohini (Valadeva) also approaching Yudhishthira, did the same. And the Pandavas, beholding Krishna and Valadeva, began to express great delight. And, O thou foremost of the Bharata race, those heroes of the Yadu race thereafter touched also the feet of Kunti, their father's sister. And Ajatasatru, that foremost of the Kuru race, beholding Krishna, enquired after his well-being and asked, 'How, O Vasudeva, hast thou been able to trace us, as we are living in disguise?' And Vasudeva, smilingly answered, 'O king, fire, even if it is covered, can be known. Who else among men than the Pandavas could exhibit such might? Ye resisters of all foes, ye sons of Pandu, by sheer good fortune have ye escaped from that fierce fire. And it is by sheer good fortune alone that the wicked son of Dhritarashtra and his counsellors have not succeeded in accomplishing their wishes. Blest be ye! And grow ye in prosperity like a fire in a cave gradually growing and spreading itself all around. And lest any of the monarchs recognise ye, let us return to our tent.' Then, obtaining Yudhishthira's leave, Krishna of prosperity knowing no decrease, accompanied b

Book 1
Chapter 194

 1 [karṇa]
      duryodhana tava prajñā na samyag iti me matiḥ
      na hy upāyena te śakyāḥ pāṇḍavāḥ kurunandana
  2 pūrvam eva hite sūkṣmair upāyair yatitās tvayā
      nigrahītuṃ yadā vīra śakitā na tadā tvayā
  3 ihaiva vartamānās te samīpe tava pārthiva
      ajātapakṣāḥ śiśavaḥ śakitā naiva bādhitum
  4 jātapakṣā videśasthā vivṛddhāḥ sarvaśo 'dya te
      nopāya sādhyāḥ kaunteyā mamaiṣā matir acyuta
  5 na ca te vyasanair yoktuṃ śakyā diṣṭa kṛtā hi te
      śaṅkitāś cepsavaś caiva pitṛpaitāmahaṃ padam
  6 paraspareṇa bhedaś ca nādhātuṃ teṣu śakyate
      ekasyāṃ ye ratāḥ patnyāṃ na bhidyante parasparam
  7 na cāpi kṛṣṇā śakyeta tebhyo bhedayituṃ paraiḥ
      paridyūnān vṛtavatī kim utādya mṛjāvataḥ
  8 īpsitaś ca guṇaḥ strīṇām ekasyā bahu bhartṛtā
      taṃ ca prāptavatī kṛṣṇā na sā bhedayituṃ sukham
  9 ārya vṛttaś ca pāñcālyo na sa rājā dhanapriyaḥ
      na saṃtyakṣyati kaunteyān rājyadānair api dhruvam
  10 tathāsya putro guṇavān anuraktaś ca pāṇḍavān
     tasmān nopāya sādhyāṃs tān ahaṃ manye kathaṃ cana
 11 idaṃ tv adya kṣamaṃ kartum asmākaṃ puruṣarṣabha
     yāvan na kṛtamūlās te pāṇḍaveyā viśāṃ pate
     tavat praharaṇīyās te rocatāṃ tava vikramaḥ
 12 asmat pakṣo mahān yāvad yāvat pāñcālako laghuḥ
     tāvat praharaṇaṃ teṣāṃ kriyatāṃ mā vicāraya
 13 vāhanāni prabhūtāni mitrāṇi bahulāni ca
     yācan na teṣāṃ gāndhāre tāvad evāśu vikrama
 14 yāvac ca rājā pāñcālyo nodyame kurute manaḥ
     saha putrair mahāvīryais tāvad evāśu vikrama
 15 yāvann āyāti vārṣṇeyaḥ karṣan yāvad avāhinīm
     rājyārthe pāṇḍaveyānāṃ tāvad evāśu vikrama
 16 vasūni vividhān bhogān rājyam eva ca kevalam
     nātyājyam asti kṛṣṇasya pāṇḍavārthe mahīpate
 17 vikrameṇa mahī prāptā bharatena mahātmanā
     vikrameṇa ca lokāṃs trīñ jitavān pākaśāsanaḥ
 18 vikramaṃ ca praśaṃsanti kṣatriyasya viśāṃ pate
     svako hi dharmaḥ śūrāṇāṃ vikramaḥ pārthivarṣabha
 19 te balena vayaṃ rājan mahatā caturaṅgiṇā
     pramathya drupadaṃ śīghram ānayāmeha pāṇḍavān
 20 na hi sāmnā na dānena na bhedena ca pāṇḍavāḥ
     śakyāḥ sādhayituṃ tasmād vikrameṇaiva tāñ jahi
 21 tān vikrameṇa jitvemām akhilāṃ bhuṅkṣva medinīm
     nānyam atra prapaśyāmi kāryopāyaṃ janādhipa
 22 [vai]
     śrutvā tu rādheya vaco dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ pratāpavān
     abhipūjya tataḥ paścād idaṃ vacanam abravīt
 23 upapannaṃ mahāprājñe kṛtāstre sūtanandane
     tvayi vikramasaṃpannam idaṃ vacanam īdṛśam
 24 bhūya eva tu bhīṣmaś ca droṇo vidura eva ca
     yuvāṃ ca kurutāṃ buddhiṃ bhaved yā naḥ sukhodayā
 25 tata ānāyya tān sarvān mantriṇaḥ sumahāyaśāḥ
     dhṛtarāṣṭro mahārāja mantrayām āsa vai tadā

Section CLXLIV

(Swayamvara Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'When the Kuru princes (Bhima and Arjuna) were wending towards the abode of the potter, Dhrishtadyumna, the Panchala prince followed them. And sending away all his attendants, he concealed himself in some part of the potter's house, unknown to the Pandavas. Then Bhima, that grinder of all foes, and Jishnu, and the illustrious twins, on returning from their eleemosynary round in the evening, cheerfully gave everything unto Yudhishthira. Then the kind-hearted Kunti addressing the daughter of Drupada said, 'O amiable one, take thou first a portion from this and devote it to the gods and give it away to Brahmanas, and feed those that desire to eat and give unto those who have become our guests. Divide the rest into two halves. Give one of these unto Bhima, O amiable one, for this strong youth of fair complexion--equal unto a king of elephants--this hero always eateth much. And divide the other half into six parts, four for these youths, one for myself, and one for thee.' Then the princess hearing those instructive words of her mother-in-law cheerfully did all that she had been directed to do. And those heroes then all ate of the food prepared by Krishna. Then Sahadeva, the son of Madri, endued with great activity, spread on the ground a bed of kusa grass. Then those heroes, each spreading thereon his deer-skin, laid themselves down to sleep. And those foremost of the Kuru princes lay down with heads towards the south. And Kunti laid herself down along the line of their heads, and Krishna along that of their feet. And Krishna though she lay with the sons of Pandu on that
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bed of kusa grass along the line of their feet as if she were their nether pillow, grieved not in her heart nor thought disrespectfully of those bulls amongst the Kurus. Then those heroes began to converse with one another. And the conversations of those princes, each worthy to lead an army, was exceedingly interesting they being upon celestial cars and weapons and elephants, and swords and arrows, and battle-axes. And the son of the Panchala king listened (from his place of concealment) unto all they said. And all those who were with him beheld Krishna in that state.
"When morning came, the prince Dhristadyumna set out from his place of concealment with great haste in order to report to Drupada in detail all that had happened at the potter's abode and all that he had heard those heroes speak amongst themselves during the night. The king of Panchala had been sad because he knew not the Pandavas as those who had taken away his daughter. And the illustrious monarch asked Dhristadyumna on his return, 'Oh, where hath Krishna gone? Who hath taken her away? Hath any Sudra or anybody of mean descent, or hath a tribute-paying Vaisya by taking my daughter away, placed his dirty foot on my head? O son, hath that wreath of flowers been thrown away on a grave-yard? Hath any Kshatriya of high birth, or any one of the superior order (Brahmana) obtained my daughter? Hath any one of mean descent, by having won Krishna, placed his left foot on my head? I would not, O son, grieve but feel greatly happy, if my daughter hath been united with Partha that foremost of men! O thou exalted one, tell me truly who hath won my daughter today? O, are the sons of that foremost of Kurus, Vichitravirya's son alive? Was it Partha (Arjuna) that took up the bow and shot the mark?'"

Book 1
Chapter 195

  1 [bhs]
      na rocate vigraho me pāṇḍuputraiḥ kathaṃ cana
      yathaiva dhṛtarāṣṭro me tathā pāṇḍur asaṃśayam
  2 gāndhāryāś ca yathā putrās tathā kuntīsutā matāḥ
      yathā ca mama te rakṣyā dhṛtarāṣṭra tathā tava
  3 yathā ca mama rājñaś ca tathā duryodhanasya te
      tathā kurūṇāṃ sarveṣām anyeṣām api bhārata
  4 evaṃgate vigrahaṃ tair na rocaye; saṃdhāya vīrair dīyatām adya bhūmiḥ
      teṣām apīdaṃ prapitāmahānāṃ; rājyaṃ pituś caiva kurūttamānām
  5 duryodhana yathā rājyaṃ tvam idaṃ tāta paśyasi
      mama paitṛkam ity evaṃ te 'pi paśyanti pāṇḍavāḥ
  6 yadi rājyaṃ na te prāptāḥ pāṇḍaveyās tapasvinaḥ
      kuta eva tavāpīdaṃ bhāratasya ca kasya cit
  7 atha dharmeṇa rājyaṃ tvaṃ prāptavān bharatarṣabha
      te 'pi rājyam anuprāptāḥ pūrvam eveti me matiḥ
  8 madhureṇaiva rājyasya teṣām ardhaṃ pradīyatām
      etad dhi puruṣavyāghra hitaṃ sarvajanasya ca
  9 ato 'nyathā cet kriyate na hitaṃ no bhaviṣyati
      tavāpy akīrtiḥ sakalā bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ
  10 kīrtirakṣaṇam ātiṣṭha kīrtir hi paramaṃ balam
     naṣṭakīrter manuṣyasya jīvitaṃ hy aphalaṃ smṛtam
 11 yāvat kīrtir manuṣyasya na praṇaśyati kaurava
     tāvaj jīvati gāndhāre naṣṭakīrtis tu naśyati
 12 tam imaṃ samupātiṣṭha dharmaṃ kuru kulocitam
     anurūpaṃ mahābāho pūrveṣām ātmanaḥ kuru
 13 diṣṭyā dharanti te vīrā diṣṭyā jīvati sā pṛthā
     diṣṭyā purocanaḥ pāpo nasakāmo 'tyayaṃ gataḥ
 14 tadā prabhṛti gāndhāre na śaknomy abhivīkṣitum
     loke prāṇabhṛtāṃ kaṃ cic chrutvā kuntīṃ tathāgatām
 15 na cāpi doṣeṇa tathā loko vaiti purocanam
     yathā tvāṃ puruṣavyāghra loko doṣeṇa gacchati
 16 tad idaṃ jīvitaṃ teṣāṃ tava kalmaṣa nāśanam
     saṃmantavyaṃ mahārāja pāṇḍavānāṃ ca darśanam
 17 na cāpi teṣāṃ vīrāṇāṃ jīvatāṃ kurunandana
     pitryo 'ṃśaḥ śakya ādātum api vajrabhṛtā svayam
 18 te hi sarve sthitā dharme sarve caivaika cetasaḥ
     adharmeṇa nirastāś ca tulye rājye viśeṣataḥ
 19 yadi dharmas tvayā kāryo yadi kāryaṃ priyaṃ ca me
     kṣemaṃ ca yadi kartavyaṃ teṣām ardhaṃ pradīyatām

Section CLXLV

(Vaivahika Parva)

"Vaisampayana said, 'Thus addressed Dhrishtadyumna, that foremost of the Lunar princes, cheerfully said unto his father all that had happened and by whom Krishna had been won. And the prince said, 'With large, red eyes, attired in deer-skin, and resembling a celestial in beauty, the youth who strung that foremost of bows and brought down to the ground the mark set on high, was soon surrounded by the foremost of Brahmanas who also offered him their homage for the feat he had achieved. Incapable of bearing the sight of a foe and endued with great activity, he began to exert his prowess. And surrounded by the Brahmanas he resembled the thunder-wielding Indra standing in the midst of the celestials, and the Rishis. And like a she-elephant following the leader of a herd, Krishna cheerfully followed that youth catching hold of his deer-skin. Then when the assembled monarchs incapable of bearing that sight lose up in wrath and advanced for fight, there rose up another hero who tearing up a large tree rushed at
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that concourse of kings, felling them right and left like Yama himself smiting down creatures endued with life. Then, O monarch, the assembled kings stood motionless and looked at that couple of heroes, while they, resembling the Sun and the Moon, taking Krishna with them, left the amphitheatre and went into the abode of a potter in the suburbs of the town, and there at the potter's abode sat a lady like unto a flame of fire who, I think, is their mother. And around her also sat three other foremost of men each of whom was like unto fire. And the couple of heroes having approached her paid homage unto her feet, and they said unto Krishna also to do the same. And keeping Krishna with her, those foremost of men all went the round of eleemosynary visits. Some time after when they returned, Krishna taking from them what they had obtained as alms, devoted a portion thereof to the gods, and gave another portion away (in gift) to Brahmanas. And of what remained after this, she gave a portion to that venerable lady, and distributed the rest amongst those five foremost of men. And she took a little for herself and ate it last of all. Then, O monarch, they all laid themselves down for sleep, Krishna lying along the line of their feet as their nether pillow. And the bed on which they lay was made of kusa grass upon which was spread their deer-skins. And before going to sleep they talked on diverse subjects in voices deep as of black clouds. The talk of those heroes indicated them to be neither Vaisyas nor Sudras, nor Brahmanas. Without doubt, O monarch, they are bulls amongst Kshatriyas, their discourse having been on military subjects. It seems, O father, that our hope hath been fructified, for we have heard that the sons of Kunti all escaped from the conflagration of the house of lac. From the way in which the mark was shot down by that youth, and the strength with which the bow was strung by him, and the manner in which I have heard them talk with one another proves conclusively, O monarch, that they are the sons of Pritha wandering in disguise.'
"Hearing these words of his son, king Drupada became exceedingly glad, and he sent unto them his priest directing him to ascertain who they were and whether they were the sons of the illustrious Pandu. Thus directed, the king's priest went unto them and applauding them all, delivered the king's message duly, saying, 'Ye who are worthy of preference in everything, the boon-giving king of the earth--Drupada--is desirous of ascertaining who ye are. Beholding this one who hath shot down the mark, his joy knoweth no bounds. Giving us all particulars of your family and tribe, place ye your feet on the heads of your foes and gladden the hearts of the king of Panchala mid his men and mine also. King Pandu was the dear friend of Drupada and was regarded by him as his counterself. And Drupada had all along cherished the desire of bestowing this daughter of his upon Pandu as his daughter-in-law. Ye heroes of features perfectly faultless, king Drupada hath all along cherished this desire in his heart that Arjuna of strong and long arms might wed this daughter of his according to the ordinance. If that hath become possible, nothing could be better; nothing more beneficial;
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nothing more conducive to fame and virtue, so far as Drupada is concerned.'
"Having said this, the priest remained silent and humbly waited for an answer. Beholding him sitting thus, the king Yudhishthira commanded Bhima who sat near, saying, 'Let water to wash his feet with and the Arghya be offered unto this Brahmana. He is king Drupada's priest and, therefore, worthy of great respect. We should worship him with more than ordinary reverence.' Then, O monarch, Bhima did as directed. Accepting the worship thus offered unto him, the Brahmana with a joyous heart sat at his ease. Then Yudhishthira addressed him and said, 'The king of the Panchalas hath, by fixing a special kind of dower, given away his daughter according to the practice of his order and not freely. This hero hath, by satisfying that demand, won the princess. King Drupada, therefore, hath nothing now to say in regard to the race, tribe, family and disposition of him who hath performed that feat. Indeed, all his queries have been answered by the stringing of the bow and the shooting down of the mark. It is by doing what he had directed that this illustrious hero hath brought away Krishna from among the assembled monarchs. In these circumstances, the king of the Lunar race should not indulge in any regrets which can only make him unhappy without mending matters in the least. The desire that king Drupada hath all along cherished will be accomplished for his handsome princess who beareth, I think, every auspicious mark. None that is weak in strength could string that bow, and none of mean birth and unaccomplished in arms could have shot down the mark. It behoveth not, therefore, the king of the Panchalas to grieve for his daughter today. Nor can anybody in the world undo that act of shooting down the mark. Therefore the king should not grieve for what must take its course.'
"While Yudhishthira was saying all this, another messenger from the king of the Panchalas, coming thither in haste, said, 'The (nuptial), feast is ready.'"


( I humbly bow to Sreeman Brahmasri K M Ganguli ji for the collection)