The Mahabharata by Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa.
Adi Parva, Section 186th, 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, 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.'"
Adi Parva, Section 187th, 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 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
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.'"
Adi Parva, Section 188th, 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 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.'"
Adi Parva, Section 189th, 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 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 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.'"
Adi Parva, Section 190th, 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 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.'"
Adi Parva, Section 191st, 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 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,
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)!'"
Adi Parva, Section 192nd, 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 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 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.'"
Adi Parva, Section 193rd, 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 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.'
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
by Valadeva, hastily went away from the potter's
abode.'"
Adi Parva, Section 194th, 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 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?'" ...
