Gayatri Vedanta US /Mahabraratha 1.7

SECTION CLXVII
(Chaitraratha Parva)
After this citizens returned to their respective houses and the Pandavascontinued to dwell at Ekachakra as before.
"Janamejaya said, 'O Brahmana, what did those tigers among men, thePandavas, do after they had slain the Rakshasa Vaka?'
"Vaisampayana said, 'The Pandavas, O king, after slaying the RakshasaVaka, continued to dwell in the abode of that Brahmana, employed in thestudy of the Vedas. Within a few days there came a Brahmana of rigid vowsunto the abode of their host to take up his quarters there. Their host,that bull among Brahmanas, ever hospitable unto all guests, worshippingthe newly-arrived Brahmana with due ceremonies, gave him quarters in hisown abode. Then those bulls among men, the Pandavas, with their motherKunti, solicited the new lodger to narrate to them his interestingexperiences. The Brahmana spake to them of various countries and shrinesand (holy) rivers, of kings and many wonderful provinces and cities. Andafter this narration was over, that Brahmana, O Janamejaya, also spoke ofthe wonderful self-choice of Yajnasena's daughter, the princes ofPanchala, and of the births of Dhrishtadyumna and Sikhandi, and of thebirth, without the intervention of a woman, of Krishna (Draupadi) at thegreat sacrifice of Drupada.
"Then those bulls among men, the Pandavas, hearing of these extraordinaryfacts regarding that illustrious monarch (Drupada), and desiring to knowthe details thereof, asked the Brahmana, after his narration wasconcluded, to satisfy their curiosity. The Pandavas said, 'How, OBrahmana, did the birth of Dhrishtadyumna the son of Drupada, take placefrom the (sacrificial) fire? How also did the extraordinary birth ofKrishna take place from the centre of the sacrificial platform? How alsodid Drupada's son learn all weapons from the great bowman Drona? And, OBrahmana, how and for whom and for what reason was the friendship betweenDrona and Drupada broken off?'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Thus questioned, O monarch, by those bullsamong men, the Brahmana narrated all the particulars about the birth ofDraupadi.'"

SECTION CLXVIII
(Chaitraratha Parva continued)
"The Brahmana said, 'At that region where the Ganga entered the plainsthere lived a great Rishi, devoted to the austerest of penances. Of rigidvows and great wisdom, he bore the name Bharadwaja. One day, on coming tothe Ganga to perform his ablutions, the Rishi saw the Apsara Ghritachi,who had come before, standing on the bank after her ablutions were over.And it so happened that a wind arose and disrobed the Apsara standingthere. And the Rishi beholding her thus disrobed, felt the influence ofdesire. Though practising the vow of continence from his very youth, assoon as he felt the influence of desire, the Rishi's vital fluid cameout. And as it came out, he held it in a pot (drana), and of that fluidthus preserved in a pot was born a son who came to be called Drona (thepot-born). And Drona studied all the Vedas and their several branches.And Bharadwaja had a friend named Prishata who was the king of Panchalas.And about the time that Drona was born, Prishata also obtained a sonnamed Drupada. And that bull amongst Kshatriyas, Prishata's son, goingevery day to that asylum of Bharadwaja, played and studied with Drona.And after Prishata's death, Drupada succeeded him on the throne. Dronaabout this time heard that (the great Brahmana hero) Rama (on the eve ofhis retiring into the weeds) was resolved to give away all his wealth.Hearing this, the son of Bharadwaja repaired unto Rama who was about toretire into the woods and addressing him, said, 'O best of Brahmanas,know me to be Drona who hath come to thee to obtain thy wealth.' Ramareplied, saying, 'I have given away everything. All that I now have isthis body of mine and my weapons. O Brahmana, thou mayest ask of me oneof these two, either my body or my weapons.' Then Drona said, 'Itbehoveth thee, sir, to give me all thy weapons together with (themysteries of) their use and withdrawal.'
"The Brahmana continued, 'Then Rama of Bhrigu's race, saying, 'So be it,'gave all his weapons unto Drona, who obtaining them regarded himself ascrowned with success. Drona obtaining from Rama the most exalted of allweapons, called the Brahma weapon, became exceedingly glad and acquired adecided superiority over all men. Then the son of Bharadwaja, endued withgreat prowess went to king Drupada, and approaching that monarch, thattiger among men, said, 'Know me for thy friend.' Hearing this Drupadasaid, 'One of low birth can never be the friend of one whose lineage ispure, nor can one who is not a car-warrior have a car-warrior for hisfriend. So also one who is not a king cannot have a king as his friend.Why dost thou, therefore, desire (to revive our) former friendship?'
"The Brahmana continued, 'Drona, gifted with great intelligence, wasextremely mortified at this, and settling in his mind some means ofhumiliating the king of the Panchala he went to the capital of the Kurus,called after the name of an elephant. Then Bhishma, taking with him hisgrandsons, presented them unto the wise son of Bharadwaja as his pupilsfor instruction, along with various kinds of wealth. Then Drona, desirousof humiliating king Drupada, called together his disciples and addressedthem, 'Ye sinless ones, it behoveth you, after you have been accomplishedin arms, to give me as preceptorial fee something that I cherish in myheart.' Then Arjuna and others said unto their preceptor, 'So beit.'--After a time when the Pandavas became skilled in arms and sureaims, demanding of them his fee, he again told them these words,'Drupada, the son of Prishata, is the king of Chhatravati. Take away fromhim his kingdom, and give it unto me.' Then the Pandavas, defeatingDrupada in battle and taking him prisoner along with his ministers,offered him unto Drona, who beholding the vanquished monarch, said, 'Oking, I again solicit thy friendship; and because none who is not a kingdeserveth to be the friend of a king, therefore, O Yajnasena, I amresolved to divide thy kingdom amongst ourselves. While thou art the kingof the country to the south of Bhagirathi (Ganga), I will rule thecountry to the north.'
"The Brahmana continued, 'The king of the Panchalas, thus addressed bythe wise son of Bharadwaja, told that best of Brahmanas and foremost ofall persons conversant with weapons, these words, 'O high-souled son ofBharadwaja, blest be thou, let it be so, let there be eternal friendshipbetween us as thou desirest!' Thus addressing each other and establishinga permanent bond between themselves, Drona and the king of Panchala, bothof them chastisers of foes, went away to the places they came from. Butthe thought of that humiliation did not leave the king's mind for asingle moment. Sad at heart, the king began to waste away.'"

SECTION CLXIX
(Chaitraratha Parva continued)
"The Brahmana continued, 'King Drupada (after this), distressed at heart,wandered among many asylums of Brahmanas in search of superior Brahmanaswell-skilled in sacrificial rites. Overwhelmed with grief and eagerlyyearning for children, the king always said, 'Oh, I have no offspringsurpassing all in accomplishments.' And the monarch, from greatdespondency, always said 'Oh, fie on those children that I have and on myrelatives!' And ever thinking of revenging himself on Drona, the monarchsighed incessantly. And that best of kings, O Bharata, even after muchdeliberation, saw no way of overcoming, by his Kshatriya might, theprowess and discipline and training and accomplishment of Drona.Wandering along the banks of the Yamuna and the Ganga, the monarch oncecame upon a sacred asylum of Brahmanas. There was in that asylum noBrahmana who was not a Snataka, no one who was not of rigid vows, andnone who was not virtuous to a high degree. And the king saw there twoBrahmana sages named Yaja and Upayaja, both of rigid vows and souls undercomplete control and belonging to the most superior order. They were bothdevoted to the study of the ancient institutes and sprung from the raceof Kasyapa. And those best of Brahmanas were well-able to help the kingin the attainment of his object. The king then, with great assiduity andsingleness of purpose, began to court this pair of excellent Brahmanas.Ascertaining the superior accomplishments of the younger of the two theking courted in private Upayaja of rigid vows, by the offer of everydesirable acquisition. Employed in paying homage to the feet of Upayaja,always addressing in sweet words and offering him every object of humandesire, Drupada, after worshipping that Brahmana, addressed him (oneday), saying, 'O Upayaja, O Brahmana, if thou, performest thosesacrificial rites by (virtue of) which I may obtain a son who may slayDrona, I promise thee ten thousand kine, or whatever else may beagreeable to thee, O first of Brahmanas, truly am I ready to make giftsto thee.' Thus addressed by the king, the Rishi replied, saying, 'Icannot (perform such rites).' But Drupada without accepting this reply asfinal, once more began to serve and pay homage unto that Brahmana. Then,after the expiration of a year, Upayaja, that first of Brahmanas, Omonarch, addressing Drupada in sweet tone, said, 'My elder brother(Yaja), one day, while wandering through the deep woods, took up a fruitthat had fallen upon a spot the purity of which he cared not to enquireabout. I was following him (at the time) and observed this unworthy actof his. Indeed, he entertains no scruples in accepting things impure. Inaccepting that (particular) fruit he saw not any impropriety of sinfulnature: Indeed, he who observeth not purity (in one instance) is not verylikely to observe it in the other instances. When he lived in the houseof his preceptor, employed in studying the institutes, he always used toeat (impure) remnants of other people's feasts. He always speaksapprovingly of food and entertains no dislike for anything. Arguing fromthese, I believe that my brother covets earthy acquisitions. Therefore, Oking, go unto him; he will perform spiritual offices for thee.' Hearingthese words of Upayaja, king Drupada, though entertaining a low opinionof Yaja, nevertheless went to his abode. Worshipping Yaja who was (still)worthy of homage, Drupada said unto him, 'O master, perform thouspiritual offices for me and I will give thee eighty thousand kine!Enmity with Drona burneth my heart; it behoveth thee therefore to coolthat heart of mine. Foremost of those conversant with the Vedas, Drona isalso skilled in the Brahma weapon and for this, Drona hath overcome me ina contest arising from (impaired) friendship. Gifted with greatintelligence, the son of Bharadwaja is (now) the chief preceptor of theKurus. There is no Kshatriya in this world superior to him. His bow isfull six cubits long and looks formidable, and his shafts are capable ofslaying every living being. That great bowman, the high-souled son ofBharadwaja, habited as a Brahmana, is destroying the Kshatriya power allover the earth. Indeed, he is like a second Jamadagnya intended for theextermination of the Kshatriya race. There is no man on earth who canovercome the terrible force of his weapons. Like a blazing fire fed withclarified butter, Drona, possessed of Brahma might and uniting it withKshatriya might, consumeth every antagonist in battle. But (thy) Brahmaforce is greater in itself than (Drona's) Brahma force united withKshatriya might. Therefore, as I am inferior (to Drona) in consequence ofmy possession of Kshatriya might alone, I solicit the aid of thy Brahmaforce, having obtained thee so superior to Drona in knowledge of Brahma.O Yaja, perform that sacrifice by means of which I may obtain a soninvincible in battle and capable of slaying Drona. Ready am I to givethee ten thousand kine.' Hearing these words of Drupada, Yaja said, 'Sobe it.' Yaja then began to recollect the various ceremonies appertainingto the particular sacrifice. And knowing the affair to be a very graveone, he asked the assistance of Upayaja who coveted nothing. Then Yajapromised to perform the sacrifice for the destruction of Drona. Then thegreat ascetic Upayaja spoke unto king Drupada of everything required forthe grand sacrifice (by aid of fire) from which the king was to obtainoffspring. And he said, 'O king, a child shall be born unto thee, endued,as thou desirest, with great prowess, great energy, and great strength.'
"The Brahmana continued, 'Then king Drupada, impelled by the desire ofobtaining a son who was to slay Drona, began, for the success of hiswish, to make the necessary preparations. (And when everything wascomplete) Yaja, after having poured libations of clarified butter on thesacrificial fire, commanded Drupada's queen, saying, 'Come hither, Oqueen, O daughter-in-law of Prishata! A son and a daughter have arrivedfor thee!' Hearing this, the queen said, 'O Brahmana, my mouth is yetfilled with saffron and other perfumed things. My body also beareth manysweet scents; I am hardly fit for accepting (the sanctified butter whichis to give me offspring). Wait for me a little, O Yaja! Wait for thathappy consummation.' Yaja, however, replied, 'O lady, whether thou comestor waitest, why should not the object of this sacrifice be accomplishedwhen the oblation hath already been prepared by me and sanctified byUpayaja's invocations?'
"The Brahmana continued, 'Having said this, Yaja poured the sanctifiedlibation on the fire, whereupon arose from those flames a childresembling a celestial who possessing the effulgence of fire, wasterrible to behold. With a crown on this head and his body encased inexcellent armour, sword in hand, and bearing a bow and arrows, hefrequently sent forth loud roars. And immediately after his birth, heascended an excellent chariot and went about in it for some time. Thenthe Panchalas in great joy shouted, 'Excellent, Excellent.' The veryearth seemed at that time unable to bear the weight of the Panchalas madwith joy. Then, marvellous to say, the voice of some invisible spirit inthe skies said, 'This prince hath been born for the destruction of Drona.He shall dispel all the fears of the Panchalas and spread their fame. Heshall also remove the sorrow of the king.' And there arose, after thisfrom the centre of the sacrificial platform, a daughter also, calledPanchali, who, blest with great good fortune, was exceedingly handsome.Her eyes were black, and large as lotus-petals, her complexion was dark,and her locks were blue and curly. Her nails were beautifully convex, andbright as burnished copper; her eye-brows were fair, and bosom was deep.Indeed, she resembled the veritable daughter of a celestial born amongmen. Her body gave out fragrance like that of a blue lotus, perceivablefrom a distance of full two miles. Her beauty was such that she had noequal on earth. Like a celestial herself, she could be desired (inmarriage) by a celestial, a Danava, or a: Yaksha. When this girl of fairhips was born an incorporeal voice said, 'This dark-complexioned girlwill be the first of all women, and she will be the cause of thedestruction of many Kshatriyas. This slender-waisted one will, in time,accomplish the purpose of the gods, and along with her many a danger willovertake the Kauravas.' On hearing these words, the Panchalas uttered aloud leonine roar, and the earth was unable to bear the weight of thatjoyous concourse. Then beholding the boy and the girl, thedaughter-in-law of Prishata, desiring to have them, approached Yaja andsaid, 'Let not these know any one else except myself as their mother.'Yaja, desiring to do good unto the king said, 'So be it!' Then theBrahmanas (present there), their expectations fully gratified, bestowednames upon the new-born pair, 'Let this son of king Drupada, they said,be called Dhrishtadyumna, because of his excessive audacity and becauseof his being born like Dyumna with a natural mail and weapon.' And theyalso said, 'Because this daughter is so dark in complexion, she should becalled Krishna (the dark).'
"The Brahmana continued, 'Thus were born those twins of the greatsacrifice of Drupada. And the great Drona, bringing the Panchala princeinto his own abode, taught him all weapons in requital of half thekingdom he had formerly taken from Drupada. The high-souled son ofBharadwaja, regarding destiny to be inevitable, did what would perpetuatehis own great deeds.'"

SECTION CLXX
(Chaitraratha Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana said, 'Hearing these words of the Brahmana, the sons ofKunti seemed to be, as it were, pierced with darts. Indeed, all thosemighty heroes lost their peace of mind. Then the truthful Kunti,beholding all her sons listless and inattentive, addressed Yudhishthiraand said, 'We have now lived many nights in the abode of this Brahmana.We have passed our time pleasantly in this town, living on the almsobtained from many honest and illustrious persons. O oppressor of foes,as we have now seen often and often all the agreeable woods and gardensthat are in this part of the country, seeing them again would no longergive any pleasure. O heroic scion of Kuru's race, alms also are not nowobtainable here as easily as before. If thou wishest it would be well forus now to go to Panchala; we have not seen that country, it will, nodoubt, O hero, prove delightful to us. O crusher of foes, it hath beenheard by us that alms are obtainable in the country of the Panchala, andthat Yajnasena, the king thereof, is devoted to Brahmanas. I am ofopinion that it is not good to live long in one place. Therefore, O son,if thou likest, it is good for us to go there.'
"Hearing these words, Yudhishthira said, 'It is our duty to obey thycommand, which, besides, must be for our good, I do not, however, knowwhether my younger brothers are willing to go.'"

SECTION CLXXI
(Chaitraratha Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Then Kunti spoke unto Bhimasena and Arjuna andthe twins regarding the journey to Panchala. They all said, 'So be it.'Then, O king, Kunti with her sons saluted the Brahmana (in whose housethey had dwelt) and set out for the delightful town of the illustriousDrupada.'
"Vaisampayana said, 'While the illustrious Pandavas were living disguisedin the abode of the Brahmana, Vyasa, the son of Satyavati, once went tosee them. Those chastisers of foes, beholding him coming rose up andstepped onward to receive him. Saluting him reverentially and worshippinghim also the Pandavas stood in silence with joined hands. Thus worshippedby them the sage became gratified. He asked them to be seated, andcheerfully addressing them said, 'Ye slayers of foes, are ye living inthe path of virtue and according to the scriptures? Do ye worship theBrahmanas? Ye are not, I hope, backward in paying homage unto those thatdeserve your homage?' The illustrious Rishi, after this, spoke many wordsof virtuous import, and after discoursing upon many topics of greatinterest, he said, 'An illustrious Rishi, living in a certain hermitage,had a daughter of tender waist, fair lips, and fine eye-brows, andpossessing every accomplishment. As a consequence of her own acts (in apast life) the fair maid became very unfortunate. Though chaste andbeautiful, the damsel obtained not a husband. With a sorrowful heart shethereupon began to practise ascetic penances with the object of obtaininga husband. She soon gratified by her severe asceticism the god Sankara(Mahadeva), who became propitious unto her and said unto that illustriousdamsel, 'Ask thou the boon thou desirest! Blest be thou! I am Sankaraprepared to give thee what thou wilt ask.' Desirous of benefitingherself, the maid repeatedly said unto the supreme lord, 'O give me, ahusband endued with every accomplishment.' Then Isana (Mahadeva), thatforemost of all speakers, replied unto her, saying, 'O blessed one, thoushall have five husbands from among the Bharata princes.' Thus told, themaiden said unto the god who had given her that boon, 'O lord, I desireto have only one husband through thy grace.' The god then addressed heragain and said these excellent words, 'Thou hast, O girl, said full fivetimes, 'Give me (a) husband.' Thou shalt, therefore, in another life havefive husbands!' Ye princes of Bharata's line, that damsel of celestialbeauty hath been born in the line of Drupada. The faultless Krishna ofPrishata's line hath been appointed to be the wife of you all. Ye mightyones, go therefore, to the capital of the Panchalas and dwell ye there.There is no doubt that having obtained her as wife ye shall be veryhappy.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Having said so unto the Pandavas, theillustrious and blessed grandsire then bade them farewell. The greatascetic then left them and went to the place whence he had come.'"

SECTION CLXXII
(Chaitraratha Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana said, 'After Vyasa had gone away, those bulls among men,the Pandavas, saluted the Brahmana and bade him farewell, and proceeded(towards Panchala) with joyous hearts and with their mother walkingbefore them. Those slayers of all foes, in order to reach theirdestination, proceeded in a due northerly direction, walking day andnight till they reached a sacred shrine of Siva with the crescent mark onhis brow. Then those tigers among men, the sons of Pandu, arrived at thebanks of the Ganga. Dhananjaya, that mighty car-warrior, walking beforethem, torch in hand, for showing the way and guarding them (against wildanimals). And it so happened that at that time the proud king of theGandharvas, with his wives, was sporting in that solitary region in thedelightful waters of the Ganga. The king of the Gandharvas heard thetread of the Pandavas as they approached the river. On hearing the soundsof their foot-steps, the mighty Gandharvas were inflamed with wrath, andbeholding those chastisers of foes, the Pandavas, approach towards himwith their mother, he drew his frightful bow to a circle and said, 'It isknown that excepting the first forty seconds the grey twilight precedingnightfall hath been appointed for the wandering of the Yakshas, theGandharvas and the Rakshasas, all of whom are capable of going everywhereat will. The rest of the time hath been appointed for man to do his work.If therefore, men, wandering during those moments from greed of gain,come near us, both we and the Rakshasas slay those fools. Therefore,persons acquainted with the Vedas never applaud those men--not even kingsat the head of their troops--who approach any pools of water at such atime. Stay ye at a distance, and approach me not. Know ye not that I ambathing in the waters of the Bhagirathi? Know that I am Angaraparna theGandharva, ever relying on my own strength! I am proud and haughty and amthe friend of Kuvera. This my forest on the banks of the Ganga, where Isport to gratify all my senses, is called Angaraparna after my own name.Here neither gods, nor Kapalikas, nor Gandharvas nor Yakshas, can come.How dare ye approach me who am the brightest jewel on the diadem ofKuvera?'
"Hearing these words of the Gandharva, Arjuna said, 'Blockhead, whetherit be day, night, or twilight, who can bar others from the ocean, thesides of the Himalayas, and this river? O ranger of the skies, whetherthe stomach be empty or full, whether it is night or day, there is nospecial time for anybody to come to the Ganga--that foremost of allrivers. As regards ourselves endued with might, we care not when wedisturb thee. Wicked being, those who are weak in fighting worship thee.This Ganga, issuing out of the golden peaks of Himavat, falleth into thewaters of the ocean, being distributed into seven streams. They who drinkthe waters of these seven streams, viz., Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati,Vitashtha, Sarayu, Gomati, and Gandaki, are, cleansed of all their sins.O Gandharva, this sacred Ganga again, flowing through the celestialregion is called there the Alakananda, It hath again in the region of thePitris become the Vaitarani, difficult of being crossed by sinners, and,Krishna-Dwaipayana himself hath said so. The auspicious and celestialriver, capable of leading to heaven (them that touch its waters), is freefrom all dangers. Why dost thou then desire to bar us from it? This actof thine is not in consonance with eternal virtue. Disregarding thywords, why shall we not touch the sacred waters of the Bhagirathi freefrom all dangers and from which none can bar us?'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Hearing these words of Arjuna, Angaraparnabecame inflamed with wrath and drawing his bow to a circle began to shoothis arrows like venomous snakes at the Pandavas. Then Dhananjaya, the sonof Pandu, wielding a good shield and the torch he held in his hand,warded off all those arrows and addressing the Gandharva again said, 'OGandharva, seek not to terrify those that are skilled in weapons, forweapons hurled at them vanish like froth. I think, O Gandharva, that yeare superior (in prowess) to men; therefore shall I fight with thee,using celestial weapons and not with any crooked means. This fiery weapon(that I shall hurl at thee), Vrihaspati the revered preceptor of Indra,gave unto Bharadwaja, from whom it was obtained by Agnivesya, and fromAgnivesya by my preceptor, that foremost of Brahmanas, Drona, who gave itaway to me.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Saying these words, the Pandava wrathfullyhurled at the Gandharva that blazing weapon made of fire which burnt theGandharva's chariot in a trice. Deprived of consciousness by the force ofthat weapon, the mighty Gandharva was falling, head downward, from hischariot. Dhananjaya seized him by the hair of his head adorned withgarlands of flowers and thus dragged the unconscious Gandharva towardshis brothers. Beholding this, that Gandharva's wife Kumbhinasi, desirousof saving her husband, ran towards Yudhishthira and sought hisprotection. The Gandharvi said, 'O exalted one, extend to me thyprotection! O, set my husband free! O lord, I am Kumbhinasi by name, thewife of this Gandharva, who seeketh thy protection!' Beholding her (soafflicted), the mighty Yudhishthira addressed Arjuna and said, 'O slayerof foes, O child, who would slay a foe who hath been vanquished in fight,who hath been deprived of fame, who is protected by a woman, and who hathno prowess?' Arjuna replied, saying, 'Keep thou thy life, O Gandharva! Gohence, and grieve not I Yudhishthira, the king of the Kurus, commandethme to show thee mercy.'
"The Gandharva replied, 'I have been vanquished by thee, I shall,therefore, abandon my former name Angaraparna (the blazing vehicle). Inname alone, O friend, I should not be boastful when my pride in mystrength hath been overcome: I have been fortunate in that I haveobtained thee; O Arjuna, that wielder of celestial weapons! I like toimpart to thee the power of (producing) illusions which Gandharvas alonehave. My excellent and variegated chariot hath been burnt by means of thyfiery weapon. I who had formerly been called after my excellent chariotshould now be called after my burnt chariot. The science of producingillusions that I have spoken of was formerly obtained by me by asceticpenances. That science I will today impart to the giver of my life-thyillustrious self! What good luck doth he not deserve who, afterovercoming a foe by his might, giveth him life when that foe asketh forit? This science is called Chakshushi. It was communicated by Manu untoSoma and by Soma unto Viswavasu, and lastly by Viswavasu unto me.Communicated by my preceptor, that science, having come unto me who amwithout energy, is gradually becoming fruitless. I have spoken to theeabout its origin and transmission. Listen now to its power! One may see(by its aid) whatever one wisheth to see, and in whatever way he liketh(generally or particularly). One can acquire this science only afterstanding on one leg for six months. I shall however, communicate to theethis science without thyself being obliged to observe any rigid vow. Oking, it is for this knowledge that we are superior to men. And as we arecapable of seeing everything by spiritual sight, we are equal to thegods. O best of men, I intend to give thee and each of thy brothers ahundred steeds born in the country of the Gandharvas. Of celestial colourand endued with the speed of the mind, those horses are employed inbearing the celestial, and the Gandharvas. They may be lean-fleshed butthey tire not, nor doth their speed suffer on that account. In days ofyore the thunderbolt was created for the chief of the celestials in orderthat he might slay (the Asura) Vritra with it. But hurled at Vritra'shead it broke in a thousand pieces. The celestials worship with reverencethose fragments of the thunderbolt. That which is known in the threeworlds as glory is but a portion of the thunderbolt. The hand of theBrahmana with which he poureth libations on the sacrificial fire, thechariot upon which the Kshatriya fighteth, the charity of the Vaisya, andthe service of the Sudra rendered unto the three other classes, are allfragments of the thunderbolt. It hath been said that horses, forming asthey do a portion of the Kshatriya's chariot, are, on that account,unslayable. Again horses which form a portion of the Kshatriya's chariot,are the offspring of Vadava. Those amongst them that are born in theregion of the Gandharvas can go everywhere and assume any hue and speedat the will of their owners. These horses of mine that I give thee willalways gratify thy wishes."
"On hearing these words of the Gandharva, Arjuna said, 'O Gandharva, iffrom satisfaction for having obtained thy life at my hands in a situationof danger, thou givest me thy science, and these horses, I would notaccept thy gift.' The Gandharva replied, saying, 'A meeting with anillustrious person is ever a source of gratification; besides thou hastgiven me my life. Gratified with thee, I will give thee my science. Thatthe obligation, however, may not all be on one side, I will take fromthee, O Vibhatsu, O bull in Bharata's race, thy excellent and eternalweapon of fire!'
"Arjuna said, 'I would accept thy horses in exchange for my weapon. Letour friendship last for ever. O friend, tell us for what we human beingshave to stand in fear of the Gandharvas. Chastisers of foes that we areand virtuous and conversant with the Vedas, tell us, O Gandharva, why intravelling in the night-time we have been censured by thee.'
"The Gandharva said, 'Ye are without wives (though ye have completed theperiod of study). Ye are without a particular Asrama (mode of life).Lastly, ye are out without a Brahmana walking before, therefore, ye sonsof Pandu, ye have been censured by me. The Yakshas, Rakshasas,Gandharvas, Pisachas, Uragas and Danavas, are possessed of wisdom andintelligence, and acquainted with the history of the Kuru race. O hero, Ihave heard too from Narada and other celestial Rishis about the gooddeeds of your wise ancestors. I myself, too, while roaming over the wholeearth bounded by her belt of seas, have witnessed the prowess of thygreat race. O Arjuna, I have personal knowledge of thy preceptor, theillustrious son of Bharadwaja, celebrated throughout the three worlds forhis knowledge of the Vedas and the science of arms. O tiger in Kuru'srace, O son of Pritha, I also know Dharma, Vayu, Sakra, the twin Aswins,and Pandu,--these six perpetuators of Kuru race,--these excellentcelestials and human progenitors of you all. I also know that you fivebrothers are learned and high-souled, that ye are foremost of allwielders of weapons, that ye are brave and virtuous and observant ofvows. Knowing that your understanding and hearts are excellent and yourbehaviour faultless, I have yet censured you. For, O thou of Kuru's race,it behoveth no man endued with might of arms to bear with patience anyill usage in the sight of his wife. Especially as, O son of Kunti, ourmight increaseth during the hours of darkness, accompanied by my wife Iwas filled with wrath. O best of vow-observing men, I have, however, beenvanquished by thee in battle. Listen to me as I tell thee the reasonsthat have led to my discomfiture. The Brahmacharya is a very superiormode of life, and as thou art in that mode now, it is for this, O Partha,that I have been defeated by thee in battle. O chastiser of foes, if anymarried Kshatriya fight with us at night, he can never escape, with life.But, O Partha, a married Kshatriya, who is sanctified with Brahma, andwho hath assigned the cares of his State to a priest, might vanquish! allwanderers in the night. O child of Tapati, men should therefore, everemploy learned priests possessing self-command for the acquisition ofevery good luck they desire. That Brahmana is worthy of being the king'spriest who is learned in the Vedas and the six branches thereof, who ispure and truthful, who is of virtuous soul and possessed of self-command.The monarch becometh ever victorious and finally earneth heaven who hathfor his priest a Brahmana conversant with the rules of morality, who is amaster of words, and is pure and of good behaviour. The king shouldalways select an accomplished priest in order to acquire what he hath notand protect what he hath. He who desireth his own prosperity should everbe guided by his priest, for he may then obtain ever the whole earthsurrounded by her belt of seas. O son of Tapati, a king, who is without aBrahmana, can never acquire any land by his bravery or glory of birthalone. Know, therefore, O perpetuator of Kuru's race, that the kingdomlasteth for ever in which Brahmanas have power.'"

SECTION CLXXIII
(Chaitraratha Parva continued)
"Arjuna said, 'Thou hast addressed me (more than once) as Tapatya. Itherefore wish to know what the precise significance of this word is, Ovirtuous Gandharva, being sons of Kunti, we are, indeed, Kaunteyas. Butwho is Tapati that we should be called Tapatyas?'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Thus addressed, the Gandharva related toDhananjaya, the son of Kunti, the (following) story well-known in thethree worlds.'
"The Gandharva said, 'O son of Pritha, O foremost of all intelligent men,I will duly recite to you in full this charming narrative. O, listen withattention to what I say in explanation of why I have addressed thee asTapatya. That one in heaven who pervadeth by his light the wholefirmament had a daughter named Tapati equal unto himself. Tapati, thedaughter of the god Vivaswat, was the younger sister of Savitri, and shewas celebrated throughout the three worlds and devoted to asceticpenances. There was no woman amongst the celestials, the Asuras, theYakshas, the Rakshasas, the Apsaras, and the Gandharvas, who was equal toher in beauty. Of perfect, symmetrical and faultless features, of blackand large eyes, and in beautiful attire, the girl was chaste and ofperfect conduct. And, O Bharata, seeing her Savitri (the sun) thoughtthat there was none in the three worlds who, for his beauty,accomplishments, behaviour, and learning, deserved to be her husband.Beholding her attain the age of puberty and, therefore, worthy of beingbestowed on a husband, her father knew no peace of mind, always thinkingof the person he should select. At that time, O son of Kunti, Riksha'sson, that bull amongst the Kurus, the mighty king Samvarana, was dulyworshipping Surya with offerings of Arghya and flower-garlands andscents, and with vows and fasts and ascetic penances of various kinds.Indeed, Samvarana was worshipping Surya constantly in all his glory, withdevotion and humility and piety. And beholding Samvarana conversant withall rules of virtue and unequalled on earth for beauty, Surya regardedhim as the fit husband for his daughter, Tapati. And, O thou of Kuru'srace, Vivaswat then resolved to bestow his daughter on that best ofkings, viz., Samvarana, the scion of a race of world-wide fame. As Suryahimself in the heavens filleth the firmament with his splendour, so didking Samvarana on earth fill every region with the splendour of his goodachievements. And all men, O Partha, except Brahmanas, worshippedSamvarana. Blest with good luck, king Samvarana excelled Soma in soothingthe hearts of friends and Surya in scorching the hearts of foes. And, OKaurava, Tapana (Surya) himself was resolved upon bestowing his daughterTapati upon king Samvarana, who was possessed of such virtues andaccomplishments.
"Once on a time, O Partha, king Samvarana, endued with beauty (of person)and immeasurable prowess, went on a hunting expedition to the under-woodson the mountain-breast. While wandering in quest of deer, the excellentsteed the king rode, overcome, O Partha, with hunger, thirst and fatigue,died on the mountains. Abandoning the steed, the king, O Arjuna, began towander about upon the mountain-breast on foot and in course of hiswandering the monarch saw a maiden of large eyes and unrivalled beauty,That grinder of hostile host--that tiger among kings--himself without acompanion, beholding there that maiden without a companion, stoodmotionless gazing at her steadfastly. For her beauty, the monarch forsome moment believed her to be (the goddess) Sri herself. Next heregarded her to be the embodiment of the rays emanating from Surya. Insplendour of her person she resembled a flame of fire, though inbenignity and loveliness she resembled a spotless digit of the moon. Andstanding on the mountain-breast, the black-eyed maiden appeared like abright statue of gold. The mountain itself with its creepers and plants,because of the beauty and attire of that damsel, seemed to be convertedinto gold. The sight of that maiden inspired the monarch with a contemptfor all women that he had seen before. By beholding her, the kingregarded his eye-sight truly blessed. Nothing the king had seen from theday of his birth could equal, he thought, the beauty of that girl. Theking's heart and eyes were captivated by that damsel, as if they werebound with a cord and he remained rooted to that spot, deprived of hissenses. The monarch thought that the artificer of so much beauty hadcreated it only after churning the whole world of gods Asuras and humanbeings. Entertaining these various thoughts, king Samvarana regarded thatmaiden as unrivalled in the three worlds for wealth of beauty.
"And the monarch of pure descent, beholding the beautiful maiden, waspierced with Kama's (Cupid's) shafts and lost his peace of mind. Burntwith the strong flame of desire the king asked that charming maiden,still innocent, though in her full youth, saying, 'Who art thou andwhose? Why also dost thou stay here? O thou of sweet smiles, why dostthou wander alone in these solitary woods? Of every feature perfectlyfaultless, and decked with every ornament, thou seemest to be the covetedornament of these ornaments themselves! Thou seemest not to be ofcelestial or Asura or Yaksha or Rakshasa or Naga or Gandharva or humanorigin. O excellent lady, the best of women that I have ever seen orheard of would not compare with thee in beauty! O thou of handsome face,at sight of thee lovelier than the moon and graced with eyes likelotus-petals, the god of desire is grinding me.'
"King Samvarana thus addressed that damsel in the forest, who however,spoke not a word unto the monarch burning with desire. Instead, likelightning in the clouds, that large-eyed maiden quickly disappeared inthe very sight of the monarch. The king then wandered through the wholeforest, like one out of his senses, in search of that girl of eyes likelotus-petals. Failing to find her, that best of monarchs indulged incopious lamentations and for a time stood motionless with grief.'"

SECTION CLXXIV
(Chaitraratha Parva continued)
"The Gandharva continued, 'When that maiden disappeared, that feller ofhostile ranks deprived of his senses by Kama (concupiscence) himself felldown on the earth. And as the monarch fell down, that maiden of sweetsmiles and prominent and round hips appeared again before him, andsmiling sweetly, said unto that perpetuator of Kuru's race these honeyedwords, 'Rise, rise, O chastiser of foes! Blest be thou; it behoveth theenot, O tiger among kings, to lose thy reason, a celebrated man as thouart in the world.' Addressed in these honeyed words, the king opened hiseyes and saw before him that selfsame girl of swelling hips. The monarchwho was burning with the flame of desire then addressed that black-eyeddamsel in accents, weak with emotion, and said, 'Blest be thou Oexcellent woman of black eyes! As I am burning with desire and payingthee court, O, accept me! My life is ebbing away. O thou of large eyes,for thy sake it is, O thou of the splendour of the filaments of thelotus, that Kama is incessantly piercing me with his keen shafts withoutstopping for a moment! O amiable and cheerful girl, I have been bitten byKama who is even like a venomous viper. O thou of swelling and largehips, have mercy on me! O thou of handsome and faultless features, O thouof face like unto the lotus-petal or the moon, O thou of voice sweet asthat of singing Kinnaras, my life now depends on thee! Without thee, Otimid one, I am unable to live! O thou of eyes like lotus-petals, Kama ispiercing me incessantly! O large-eyed girl, be merciful unto me! Itbecometh thee not, O black-eyed maid, to cast me off; O handsome girl, itbehoveth thee to relieve me from such affliction by giving me thy love!At first sight thou hast attracted my heart. My mind wandereth! Beholdingthee I like not to cast my eyes on any other woman! Be merciful! I am thyobedient slave--thy adorer! O, accept me! O beautiful lady, O large-eyedgirl at the sight of thee, the god of desire hath entered my heart, andis piercing me with his shafts! O thou of lotus-eyes, the flame of desireburneth within me! O, extinguish that flame with the water of thy lovepoured on it! O beautiful lady, by becoming mine, pacify thou theirrepressible god of desire that hath appeared here armed with his deadlybow and arrows and that is piercing me incessantly with those keen shaftsof his! O thou of the fairest complexion, wed me according to theGandharva form, for, O thou of tapering hips, of all forms of marriagethe Gandharva hath been said to be the best.'
"The Gandharva continued, 'Hearing those words of the monarch, Tapatimade answer, 'O king, I am not the mistress of my own self! Be it knownthat I am a maiden under the control of my father. If thou reallyentertainest an affection for me, demand me of my father. Thou sayest, Oking, that thy heart hath been robbed by me. But thou also hast, at firstsight, robbed me of my heart; I am not the mistress of my body, andtherefore, O best of kings, I do not approach thee; women are neverindependent. What girl is there in the three worlds that would not desirethee for her husband, as thou art kind unto all thy dependents and asthou art born in a pure race? Therefore, when the opportunity comes, askmy father Aditya for my hand with worship, ascetic penances, and vows. Ifmy father bestoweth me upon thee, then, O king, I shall ever be thyobedient wife. My name is Tapati and I am the younger sister of Savitri,and the daughter, O bull amongst Kshatriyas of Savitri, of (Sun) theilluminator of the universe.'"

SECTION CLXXV
(Chaitraratha Parva continued)
"The Gandharva continued, 'Saying this, Tapati of faultless features,ascended the skies. The monarch thereupon again fell down on the earth.His ministers and followers searching for him throughout the forest atlength came upon him lying on that solitary spot, and beholding thatexcellent king, that mighty bowman, thus lying forsaken on the groundlike a rainbow dropped from the firmament, his minister-in-chief becamelike one burnt by a flame of fire. Advancing hastily with affection andrespect, the minister raised that best of monarchs lying prostrate on theground and deprived of his senses by desire. Old in wisdom as in age, oldin achievements as in policy, the minister, after having raised theprostrate monarch, became easy (in mind). Addressing the king in sweetwords that were also for his good, he said, 'Blest be thou, O sinlessone! Fear not, O tiger among kings!' The minister thought that themonarch, that great feller of hostile ranks in battle, had been lying onthe ground overcome with hunger, thirst, and fatigue. The old man thensprinkled over the crownless head of the monarch water that was cold andrendered fragrant with lotus-petals. Slowly regaining his consciousness,the mighty monarch sent away all his attendants with the exception of hisminister only. After those attendants had retired at his command, theking sat upon the mountain-breast. Having purified himself duly, the kingsat upon that chief of mountains, and began, with joined palms andupturned face, to worship Surya. King Samvarana, that smiter of all foes,thought also of his chief priest Vasishtha, that best of Rishis. The kingcontinued to sit there day and night without intermission. The Brahmanasage Vasishtha came there on the twelfth day: that great Rishi of soulunder perfect command knew at once by his ascetic power that the monarchhad lost his senses in consequence of Tapati. And that virtuous and bestof Munis, as soon as he knew this, desirous of benefiting the monarch whowas ever observant of vows, addressed him and gave him every assurance.The illustrious Rishi, in the very sight of that monarch, ascended upwardto interview Surya, himself possessed of the splendour of that luminary.The Brahmana then approached with joined hands the god of a thousand raysand introduced himself cheerfully unto him, saying, 'I am Vasishtha.'Then Vivaswat of great energy said unto that best of Rishis, 'Welcome artthou, O great Rishi! Tell me what is in thy mind. O thou of great goodfortune, whatever thou demandest of me, O foremost of eloquent men, Iwill confer on thee, however difficult it may be for me!' Thus addressedby Surya, the Rishi of great ascetic merit, bowing unto the god of light,replied, saying, 'O Vibhavasu, this thy daughter, Tapati, the youngersister of Savitri, I ask of thee for Samvarana! That monarch is of mightyachievements, conversant with virtue, and of high soul. Ofirmament-ranger, Samvarana will make a worthy husband for thy daughter.'Thus addressed by the Rishi Vibhakara, resolved upon bestowing hisdaughter upon Samvarana, saluted the Rishi, and replied unto him, saying,'Oh, Samvarana is the best of monarchs, thou art the best of Rishis,Tapati is the best of women. What should we do, therefore, but bestow heron Samvarana?' With these words, the god Tapana, made over his daughter,Tapati, of every feature perfectly faultless, unto the illustriousVasishtha to bestow her upon Samvarana. And the great Rishi then acceptedthe girl, Tapati, and taking leave of Surya, came back to the spot, wherethat bull amongst the Kurus, of celestial achievements, was. KingSamvarana, possessed by love and with his heart fixed on Tapati,beholding that celestial maiden of sweet smiles led by Vasishtha, becameexceedingly glad. And Tapati of fair eyebrows came down from thefirmament like lightning from the clouds, dazzling the ten points of theheavens. And the illustrious Rishi Vasishtha of pure soul approached themonarch after the latter's twelve nights' vow was over. It was thus thatking Samvarana obtained a wife after having worshipped with like the fullmoon. And that mighty bowman, that foremost one in Kuru's race having hiscuriosity greatly excited by what he heard of Vasishtha's ascetic power,asked the Gandharva, saying, 'I desire to hear of the Rishi whom thouhast mentioned as Vasishtha. O, tell me in full about him! O chief of theGandharvas, tell me who this illustrious Rishi was that was the priest ofour forefathers.' The Gandharva replied, 'Vasishtha is Brahma's spiritual(lit, mind-born) son and Arundhati's husband. Ever difficult of beingconquered by the very immortals, Desire and Wrath, conquered byVasishtha's ascetic penances, used to shampoo his feet. Though his wrathwas excited by Viswamitra's offence, that high-souled Rishi did not yetexterminate Kusikas (the tribe whose king Viswamitra was). Afflicted atthe loss of his sons, he did not, as though powerless, though reallyotherwise, do any dreadful act destructive of Viswamitra, Like the oceantransgressing not its continents, Vasishtha transgressed not (the lawsof) Yama by bringing back his children from the domains of the king ofthe dead. It was by obtaining that illustrious one who had conquered hisown self that Ikshvaku and other great monarchs acquired the whole earth.And, O prince of Kuru's race, it was by obtaining Vasishtha, that best ofRishis as their priest, that those monarchs performed many grandsacrifices. And, O best of the Pandavas, that regenerate Rishi assistedthese monarchs in the performance of their sacrifices like Vrihaspatiassisting the immortals. Therefore, look ye for some accomplished anddesirable Brahmana conversant with the Vedas and in whose heart virtueprevails, to appoint as your priest. A Kshatriya of good lineage,desirous of extending his dominions by conquering the earth, should, OPartha, first appoint a priest. He who is desirous of conquering theearth should have a Brahmana before him. Therefore, O Arjuna, let someaccomplished and learned Brahmana, who has his senses under completecontrol and who is conversant with religion, profit and pleasure, be yourpriest.'"

Section CLXXVII
(Chaitraratha Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Hearing this, Arjuna said, 'O Gandharva, whencearose the hostility between Viswamitra and Vasishtha both of whom dweltin a celestial hermitage? O, tell us all about it.'
"The Gandharva replied, 'O Partha, the story of Vasishtha is regarded asa Purana (legend) in all the three worlds. Listen to me as I recite itfully. There was, in Kanyakuvja, O bull of Bharata's race, a great kingof worldwide fame named Gadhi, the son of Kusika. The virtuous Gadhi hada son named Viswamitra, that grinder of foes, possessing a large army andmany animals and vehicles. And Viswamitra, accompanied by his ministers,used to roam in quest of deer through the deep woods and over picturesquemarascetic penances the propitious lord Vivaswat, by the help ofVasishtha's (ascetic power). And Samvarana, that bull among men with duerites took Tapati's hand on that mountain-breast which was resorted to bythe celestials and the Gandharvas. The royal sage, with the permission ofVasishtha, desired to sport with his wife on that mountain. And the kingcaused Vasishtha, to be proclaimed his regent in his capital and kingdom,in the woods and gardens. And bidding farewell unto the monarch,Vasishtha left him and went away. Samvarana, who sported on that mountainlike a celestial, sported with his wife in the woods and the under-woodson that mountain for twelve full years. And, O best of the Bharatas, thegod of a thousand eyes poured no rain for twelve years on the capital andon the kingdom of that monarch. Then, O chastiser of enemies, when thatseason of drought broke out, the people of that kingdom, as also thetrees and lower animals began to die fast. And during the continuance ofthat dreadful drought, not even a drop of dew fell from the skies and nocorn grew. And the inhabitants in despair, and afflicted with the fear ofhunger, left their homes and fled away in all directions. And thefamished people of the capital and the country began to abandon theirwives and children and grew reckless of one another. The people beingafflicted with hunger, without a morsel of food and reduced to skeletons,the capital looked very much like the city of the king of the dead, fullof only ghostly beings. On beholding the capital reduced to such a state,the illustrious and virtuous and best of Rishis, Vasishtha was resolvedupon applying a remedy and brought back unto the city that tiger amongkings, Samvarana, along with his wife, after the latter had passed solong a period in solitude and seclusion. After the king had entered hiscapital, things became as before, for, when that tiger among kings cameback to his own, the god of a thousand eyes, the slayer of Asuras, pouredrain in abundance and caused corn to grow. Revivified by the foremost ofvirtuous souls the capital and the country became animated with extremejoy. The monarch, with his wife, Tapati, once more performed sacrificesfor twelve years, like the lord Indra (god of rain) performing sacrificeswith his wife, Sachi.'
"The Gandharva continued, 'This, O Partha, is the history of Tapati ofold, the daughter of Vivaswat. It is for her that thou art (called)Tapatya. King Samvarana begot upon Tapati a son named Kuru, who was theforemost of ascetics. Born in the race of Kuru, thou art, O Arjuna, to becalled Tapatya.'"

SECTION CLXXVI
(Chaitraratha Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana said, 'That bull among the Bharatas, Arjuna, hearing thesewords of the Gandharva, was inspired with feelings of devotion and stoodshes (???--JBH), killing deer and wild boars. Once on a time, while outin quest of deer, the king became weak with exertion and thirst. Themonarch arrived in that state at the asylum of Vasishtha, and the blessedand illustrious Rishi beholding him arrive, reverenced with his homagethat best of men, king Viswamitra. And O Bharata, the Rishi saluted themonarch by offering him water to wash his face and feet with, and Arghya,and wild fruits, and clarified butter. For the illustrious Rishi had acow yielding anything that was desired of her. When she was addressed,saying, 'O give',--she always yielded the article that was sought. Andshe yielded various fruits and corn, wild or grown in gardens and fields,and milk, and many excellent nutritive viands full of six different kindsof juice (taste?) and like unto nectar itself, and various other kinds ofenjoyable things, O Arjuna, of ambrosial taste for drinking and eating,and for licking and sucking, and also many precious gems and robes ofvarious kinds. With these desirable objects in profusion the monarch wasworshipped. And the king with his minister and troops became highlypleased. And the monarch wondered much, beholding that cow with sixelevated limbs and the beautiful flanks and hips, and five limbs thatwere broad, and eyes prominent like those of the frog and beautiful insize, and high udders, and faultless make, and straight and upliftedears, and handsome horns, and well-developed head and neck.
"And, O prince, the son of Gadhi, gratified with everything andapplauding the cow named Nandini, addressed the Rishi, saying, 'OBrahmana, O great Muni, give me thy Naridini in exchange for ten thousandkine, or my kingdom. Enjoy thou my kingdom (giving me thy cow).'
"Hearing these words of Viswamitra, Vasishtha said, 'O sinless one, thiscow hath been kept by me for the sake of the gods, guests, and thePitris, as also for my sacrifices. I cannot give Nandini in exchange foreven thy kingdom.' Viswamitra replied, 'I am a Kshatriya, but thou art aBrahmana devoted to asceticism and study. Is there any energy inBrahmanas who are peaceful and who have their souls under perfectcommand? When thou givest me not what I desire in exchange even for tenthousand cows, I will not abandon the practice of my order; I will takethy cow even by force!'
"Vasishtha said, 'Thou art a Kshatriya endued with might of arms. Thouart a powerful monarch. O, do in haste what thou desirest; and stop notto consider its propriety.'
"The Gandharva continued, 'Thus addressed by Vasishtha, Viswamitra, OPartha, then forcibly seized Nandini, that cow (white) like the swan orthe moon, and attempted to take her away, afflicting her with stripes andpersecuting her otherwise. The innocent Nandini then began, O Partha, tolow piteously, and approaching the illustrious Vasishtha stood before himwith uplifted face. Though persecuted very cruelly, she refused to leavethe Rishi's asylum.'
"Beholding her in that plight, Vasishtha said, 'O amiable one, thou artlowing repeatedly and I am hearing thy cries. But, O Nandini, evenViswamitra is taking thee away by force, what can I do in this matter, asI am a forgiving Brahmana?'
"The Gandharva continued, 'Then, O bull in Bharata's race, Nandini,alarmed at the sight of Viswamitra's troops and terrified by Viswamitrahimself, approached the Rishi still closer, and said, 'O illustrious one,why art thou so indifferent to my poor self afflicted with the stripes ofthe cruel troops of Viswamitra and crying so piteously as if I weremasterless?' Hearing these words of the crying and persecuted Nandini,the great Rishi lost not his patience nor turned from his vow offorgiveness. He replied, 'The Kshatriya's might lies in physicalstrength, the Brahmana's in forgiveness. Because I cannot give upforgiveness, go thou, O Nandini, if thou choosest.' Nandini answered,'Castest thou me away, O illustrious one, that thou sayest so? If thoudost not cast me off, I cannot, O Brahmana, be taken away by force.'Vasishtha said, 'O blessed one, I do not cast thee off! Stay if thoucanst! O, yonder is thy calf, tied with a stout cord, and even now beingweakened by it!'
"The Gandharva continued, 'Then the cow of Vasishtha, hearing the wordstay, raised her head and neck upward, and became terrible to behold.With eyes red with rage and lowing repeatedly, she then attackedViswamitra's troops on all sides. Afflicted with their stripes andrunning hither and thither with those red eyes of hers, her wrathincreased. Blazing with rage, she soon became terrible to behold likeunto the sun in his midday glory. And from her tail she began to rainshowers of burning coals all around. And some moments after, from hertail she brought forth an army of Palhavas, and from her udders, an armyof Dravidas and Sakas; and from her womb, an army of Yavanas, and fromher dung, an army of Savaras; and from her urine, an army of Kanchis; andfrom her sides, an army of Savaras. And from the froth of her mouth cameout hosts of Paundras and Kiratas, Yavanas and Sinhalas, and thebarbarous tribes of Khasas and Chivukas and Pulindas and Chinas and Hunaswith Keralas, and numerous other Mlechchhas. And that vast army ofMlechchhas in various uniforms, and armed with various weapons, as soonas it sprang into life, deploying in the very sight of Viswamitra,attacked that monarch's soldiers. And so numerous was that Mlechchha hostthat each particular soldier of Viswamitra was attacked by a band of sixor seven of their enemies. Assailed with a mighty shower of weapons,Viswamitra's troops broke and fled, panic-stricken, in all directions,before his very eyes. But, O bull in Bharata's race, the troops ofVasishtha, though excited with wrath, took not the life of any ofViswamitra's troops. Nandini simply caused the monarch's army to berouted and driven off. And driven (from the asylum) twenty-seven fullmiles, panic-stricken, they shrieked aloud and beheld not anyone thatcould protect them. Viswamitra, beholding this wonderful feat thatresulted from Brahmana prowess, became disgusted with Kshatriya prowessand said, 'O, fie on Kshatriya prowess! Brahmana prowess is true prowess!In judging of strength and weakness, I see that asceticism is truestrength.' Saying this, the monarch, abandoning his large domains andregal splendour and turning his back upon all pleasures, set his mind onasceticism. Crowned with success in asceticism and filling the threeworlds with the heat of his ascetic penances, he afflicted all creaturesand finally became a Brahmana. The son of Kusika at last drank Soma withIndra himself (in Heaven).'"

SECTION CLXXVIII
(Chaitraratha Parva continued)
"The Gandharva continued, 'There was, O Partha, a king in this world,named Kalmashapada, who was of the race of Ikshvaku and was unequalled onearth for prowess. One day the king went from his capital into the woodsfor purposes of hunting, and this grinder of foes pierced (with hisarrows) many deer and wild boars. And in those deep woods the king alsoslew many rhinoceroses. Engaged in sport for some length of time, themonarch became very much fatigued and at last he gave up the chase,desiring to rest awhile.
"The great Viswamitra, endued with energy, had, a little while ago,desired to make that monarch his disciple. As the monarch, afflicted withhunger and thirst, was proceeding through the woods, he came across thatbest of Rishis, the illustrious son of Vasishtha, coming along the samepath. The king ever victorious in battle saw that Muni bearing the nameof Saktri, that illustrious propagator of Vasishtha's race, the eldest ofthe high-souled Vasishtha's hundred sons, coming along from oppositedirection. The king, beholding him said, 'Stand out of our way.' TheRishi, addressing the monarch in a conciliatory manner, said unto himsweetly, 'O king, this is my way. This is the eternal rule of moralityindicated in every treatise on duty and religion, viz., that a kingshould ever make way for Brahmanas.' Thus did they address each otherrespecting their right of way. 'Stand aside, stand aside', were the wordsthey said unto each other. The Rishi, who was in the right, did notyield, nor did the king yield to him from pride and anger. That best ofmonarchs, enraged at the Rishi, refusing to yield him the way, acted likea Rakshasa, striking him with his whip. Thus whipped by the monarch, thatbest of Rishis, the son of Vasishtha, was deprived of his senses byanger, and speedily cursed that first of monarchs, saying, 'O worst ofkings, since thou persecutest like a Rakshasa an ascetic, thou shalt fromthis day, became a Rakshasa subsisting on human flesh! Hence, thou worstof kings! thou shalt wander over the earth, affecting human form!' Thusdid the Rishi Sakti, endued with great prowess, speak unto kingKalmashapada. At this time Viswamitra, between whom and Vasishtha therewas a dispute about the discipleship of Kalmashapada, approached theplace where that monarch and Vasishtha's son were. And, O Partha, thatRishi of severe ascetic penances, viz., Viswamitra of great energy,approached the pair (knowing by his spiritual insight that they had beenthus quarrelling with each other). After the curse had been pronounced,that best of monarchs knew that Rishi to be Vasishtha's son and equalunto Vasishtha himself in energy. And, O Bharata, Viswamitra, desirous ofbenefiting himself, remained on that spot, concealed from the sight ofboth by making himself invisible. Then that best of monarchs, thus cursedby Saktri, desiring to propitiate the Rishi began to humbly beseech him.And, O chief of the Kurus, Viswamitra, ascertaining the disposition ofthe king (and fearing that the difference might be made up), ordered aRakshasa to enter the body of the king. And a Rakshasa of the name ofKinkara then entered the monarch's body in obedience to Saktri's curseand Viswamitra's command. And knowing, O chastiser of foes, that theRakshasa had possessed himself of the monarch, that best of Rishis,Viswamitra, then left the spot and went away.
"Shortly after, O Partha, the monarch, possessed by the Rakshasa andterribly afflicted by him, lost all his senses. At this time a Brahmanabeheld the king in the woods. Afflicted with hunger, that Brahmana beggedof the king some food with meat. The royal sage, Kalmashapada, thatcherisher of friends, answered the Brahmana, saying, 'Stay thou here, OBrahmana for a moment. On my return, I will give thee whatever food thoudesirest.' Having said this, the monarch went away, but the Brahmanastayed on there. The high-minded king having roved for some time atpleasure and according to his will, at last entered his inner apartment.Thus waking at midnight and remembering his promise, he summoned his cookand told him of his promise unto the Brahmana staying in the forest. Andhe commanded him, saying, 'Hie thee to that forest. A Brahmana waitethfor me in the hope of food. Go and entertain him with food and meat.'
"The Gandharva continued, 'Thus commanded, the cook went out in search ofmeat. Distressed at not having found any, he informed the king of hisfailure. The monarch, however, possessed as he was by the Rakshasa,repeatedly said, without scruple of any kind, 'Feed him with humanflesh.' The cook, saying, 'So be it,' went to the place where the(king's) executioners were, and thence taking human flesh and washing andcooking it duly and covering it with boiled rice offered it unto thathungry Brahmana devoted to ascetic penances. But that best of Brahmanas,seeing with his spiritual sight that the food was unholy and, therefore,unworthy of being eaten, said these words with eyes red with anger,'Because that worst of kings offereth me food that is unholy and unworthyof being taken, therefore that wretch shall have himself a fondness forsuch food. And becoming fond of human flesh as cursed by Saktri of old,the wretch shall wander over the earth, alarming and otherwise troublingall creatures.' The curse, therefore, on that king, thus repeated asecond time, became very strong, and the king, possessed by a Rakshasadisposition, soon lost all his senses.
"A little while after, O Bharata, that best of monarchs, deprived of allhis senses by the Rakshasa within him, beholding Saktri who had cursedhim, said, 'Because thou hast pronounced on me this extraordinary curse,therefore, I shall begin my life of cannibalism by devouring thee.'Having said this, the king immediately slew Saktri and ate him up, like atiger eating the animal it was fond of. Beholding Saktri thus slain anddevoured, Viswamitra repeatedly urged that Rakshasa (who was within themonarch) against the other sons of Vasishtha. Like a wrathful liondevouring small animals, that Rakshasa soon devoured the other sons ofthe illustrious Vasishtha that were junior to Saktri in age. ButVasishtha, learning that all his sons had been caused to be slain byViswamitra, patiently bore his grief like the great mountain that bearsthe earth. That best of Munis, that foremost of intelligent men, wasresolved rather to sacrifice his own life than exterminate (in anger) therace of Kusikas. The illustrious Rishi threw himself down from the summitof Meru, but he descended on the stony ground as though on a heap ofcotton. And, O son of Pandu, when the illustrious one found that deathdid not result from that fall, he kindled a huge fire in the forest andentered it with alacrity. But that fire, though burning brightly,consumed him not. O slayer of foes, that blazing fire seemed to him cool.Then the great Muni under the influence of grief, beholding the sea, tieda stony weight to his neck and threw himself into its waters. But thewaves soon cast him ashore. At last when that Brahmana of rigid vowssucceeded not in killing himself by any means, he returned, in distressof heart, to his asylum.'"

SECTION CLXXIX
(Chaitraratha Parva continued)
"The Gandharva continued, 'Beholding his asylum bereft of his children,the Muni afflicted with great grief left it again. And in course of hiswandering he saw, O Partha, a river swollen with the waters of the rainyseason, sweeping away numberless trees and plants that had grown on itsmargin. Beholding this, O thou of Kuru's race, the distressed Munithinking that he would certainly be drowned if he fell into the waters ofthat river, he tied himself strongly with several cords and flunghimself, under the influence of grief, into the current of that mightystream. But, O slayer of foes, that stream soon cut those cords and castthe Rishi ashore. And the Rishi rose from the bank, freed from the cordswith which he had tied himself. And because his cords were thus brokenoff by the violence of the current, the Rishi called the stream by thename of Vipasa (the cord-breaker). For his grief the Muni could not, fromthat time, stay in one place; he began to wander over mountains and alongrivers and lakes. And beholding once again a river named Haimavati(flowing from Himavat) of terrible aspect and full of fierce crocodilesand other (aquatic) monsters, the Rishi threw himself into it, but theriver mistaking the Brahmana for a mass of (unquenchable) fire,immediately flew in a hundred different directions, and hath been knownever since by the name of the Satadru (the river of a hundred courses).Seeing himself on the dry land even there he exclaimed, 'O, I cannot dieby my own hands!' Saying this, the Rishi once more bent his steps towardshis asylum. Crossing numberless mountains and countries, as he was aboutto re-enter his asylum, he was followed by his daughter-in-law namedAdrisyanti. As she neared him, he heard the sound from behind of a veryintelligent recitation of the Vedas with the six graces of elocution.Hearing that sound, the Rishi asked, 'Who is it that followeth me?' Hisdaughter-in-law then answered, 'I am Adrisyanti, the wife of Saktri. I amhelpless, though devoted to asceticism.' Hearing her, Vasishtha said, 'Odaughter, whose is this voice that I heard, repeating the Vedas alongwith the Angas like unto the voice of Saktri reciting the Vedas with theAngas?' Adrisyanti answered, 'I bear in my womb a child by thy sonSaktri. He hath been here full twelve years. The voice thou hearest isthat of the Muni, who is reciting the Vedas.'
"The Gandharva continued, 'Thus addressed by her the illustriousVasishtha became exceedingly glad. And saying, 'O, there is a child (ofmy race)!'--he refrained, O Partha, from self-destruction. The sinlessone accompanied by his daughter-in-law, then returned to his asylum. Andthe Rishi saw one day in the solitary woods (the Rakshasa) Kalmashapada.The king, O Bharata, possessed by fierce Rakshasa, as he saw the Rishi,became filled with wrath and rose up, desiring to devour him. AndAdrisyanti beholding before her that the Rakshasa of cruel deeds,addressed Vasishtha in these words, full of anxiety and fear, 'Oillustrious one, the cruel Rakshasa, like unto Death himself armed with(his) fierce club, cometh towards us with a wooden club in hand! There isnone else on earth, except thee, O illustrious one, and, O foremost ofall that are conversant with the Vedas to restrain him today. Protect me,O illustrious one, from this cruel wretch of terrible mien. Surely, theRakshasa cometh hither to devour us' Vasishtha, hearing this, said, 'Fearnot, O daughter, there is no need of any fear from any Rakshasa. This oneis no Rakshasa from whom thou apprehendest such imminent danger. This isking Kalmashapada endued with great energy and celebrated on earth. Thatterrible man dwelleth in these woods.'
"The Gandharva continued, 'Beholding him advancing, the illustrious RishiVasishtha, endued with great energy, restrained him, O Bharata, byuttering the sound Hum. Sprinkling him again with water sanctified withincantations the Rishi freed the monarch from that terrible curse. Fortwelve years the monarch had been overwhelmed by the energy ofVasishtha's son like Surya seized by the planet (Rahu) during the seasonof an eclipse. Freed from the Rakshasa the monarch illumined that largeforest by his splendour like the sun illumining the evening clouds.Recovering his power of reason, the king saluted that best of Rishis withjoined palms and said, 'O illustrious one, I am the son of Sudasa and thydisciple, O best of Munis! O, tell me what is thy pleasure and what I amto do.' Vasishtha replied, saying, 'My desire hath already beenaccomplished. Return now to thy kingdom and rule thy subjects. And, Ochief of men, never insult Brahmanas any more.' The monarch replied, 'Oillustrious one, I shall never more insult superior Brahmanas. Inobedience to thy command I shall always worship Brahmanas. But, O best ofBrahmanas, I desire to obtain from thee that by which, O foremost of allthat are conversant with the Vedas, I may be freed from the debt I owe tothe race of Ikshvaku! O best of men, it behoveth thee to grant me, forthe perpetuation of Ikshvaku's race, a desirable son possessing beautyand accomplishments and good behaviour.'
"The Gandharva continued, 'Thus addressed, Vasishtha, that best ofBrahmanas devoted to truth replied unto that mighty bowman of a monarch,saying, 'I will give you.' After some time, O prince of men, Vasishtha,accompanied by the monarch, went to the latter's capital known all overthe earth by the name of Ayodhya. The citizens in great joy came out toreceive the sinless and illustrious one, like the dwellers in heavencoming out to receive their chief. The monarch, accompanied by Vasishtha,re-entered his auspicious capital after a long time. The citizens ofAyodhya beheld their king accompanied by his priest, as if he were therising sun. The monarch who was superior to everyone in beauty filled byhis splendour the whole town of Ayodhya, like the autumnal moon fillingby his splendour the whole firmament. And the excellent city itself, inconsequence of its streets having been watered and swept, and of the rowsof banners and pendants beautifying it all around, gladdened themonarch's heart. And, O prince of Kuru's race, the city filled as it waswith joyous and healthy souls, in consequence of his presence, looked gaylike Amaravati with the presence of the chief of the celestials. Afterthe royal sage had entered his capital, the queen, at the king's command,approached Vasishtha. The great Rishi, making a covenant with her, unitedhimself with her according to the high ordinance. And after a littlewhile, when the queen conceived, that best of Rishis, receiving thereverential salutations of the king, went back to his asylum. The queenbore the embryo in her womb for a long time. When she saw that she didnot bring forth anything, she tore open her womb by a piece of stone. Itwas then that at the twelfth year (of the conception) was born Asmaka,that bull amongst men, that royal sage who founded (the city of)Paudanya.'"

SECTION CLXXX
(Chaitraratha Parva continued)
"The Gandharva continued, 'Then, O Partha, Adrisyanti, who had beenresiding in Vasishtha's asylum, brought forth (when the time came) a sonwho was the perpetuator of Saktri's race and who was a second Saktri ineverything. O foremost of Bharatas, that best of Munis, the illustriousVasishtha himself performed the usual after-birth ceremonies of hisgrandson. And, because the Rishi Vasishtha had resolved onself-destruction but had abstained therefrom as soon as he knew of theexistence of that child, that child, when born, was called Parasara (thevivifier of the dead). The virtuous Parasara, from the day of his birth,knew Vasishtha for his father and behaved towards the Muni as such. Oneday, O son of Kunti, the child addressed Vasishtha, that first ofBrahmana sages, as father, in the presence of his mother Adrisyanti.Adrisyanti, hearing the very intelligible sound father sweetly uttered byher son, addressed him with tearful eyes and said, 'O child, do notaddress this thy grandfather as father? Thy father, O son, has beendevoured by a Rakshasa in a different forest. O innocent one, he is notthy father whom thou regardest so. The revered one is the father of thatcelebrated father of thine.' Thus addressed by his mother that best ofRishis of truthful speech, gave way to sorrow, but soon fired up andresolved to destroy the whole creation. Then that illustrious and greatascetic Vasishtha, that foremost of all persons conversant with Brahma,that son of Mitravaruna, that Rishi acquainted with positive truth,addressed his grandson who had set his heart upon the destruction of theworld. Hear, O Arjuna, the arguments by which Vasishtha succeeded indriving out that resolution from his grandson's mind.'
"The Gandharva continued, 'Then Vasishtha said, 'There was a celebratedking of the name of Kritavirya. That bull among the kings of the earthwas the disciple of the Veda-knowing Bhrigus. That king, O child, afterperforming the Soma sacrifice, gratified the Brahmanas with greatpresents of rice and wealth. After that monarch had ascended to heaven,an occasion came when his descendants were in want of wealth. And knowingthat the Bhrigus were rich, those princes went unto those best ofBrahmanas, in the guise of beggars. Some amongst the Bhrigus, to protecttheir wealth, buried it under earth; and some from fear of theKshatriyas, began to give away their wealth unto (other) Brahmanas; whilesome amongst them duly gave unto the Kshatriyas whatever they wanted. Ithappened, however, that some Kshatriyas, in digging as they pleased atthe house of particular Bhargava, came upon a large treasure. And thetreasure was seen by all those bulls among Kshatriyas who had been there.Enraged at what they regarded as the deceitful behaviour of the Bhrigus,the Kshatriyas insulted the Brahmanas, though the latter asked for mercy.And those mighty bowmen began to slaughter the Bhrigus with their sharparrows. And the Kshatriyas wandered over the earth, slaughtering even theembryos that were in the wombs of the women of the Bhrigu race. And whilethe Bhrigu race was thus being exterminated, the women of that tribe fledfrom fear to the inaccessible mountains of Himavat. And one amongst thesewomen, of tapering thighs, desiring to perpetuate her husband's race,held in one of her thighs an embryo endued with great energy. A certainBrahmana woman, however, who came to know this fact, went from fear untothe Kshatriyas and reported the matter unto them. And the Kshatriyas thenwent to destroy that embryo. Arrived at the place, they beheld thewould-be mother blazing with inborn energy, and the child that was in herthigh came out tearing up the thigh and dazzling the eyes of thoseKshatriyas like the midday sun. Thus deprived of their eyes, theKshatriyas began to wander over those inaccessible mountains. Anddistressed at the loss of sight, the princes were afflicted with woe, anddesirous of regaining the use of their eyes they resolved to seek theprotection of that faultless woman. Then those Kshatriyas, afflicted withsorrow, and from loss of sight like unto a fire that hath gone out,addressed with anxious hearts that illustrious lady, saying, 'By thygrace. O lady, we wish to be restored to sight. We shall then return toour homes all together and abstain for ever from our sinful practice. Ohandsome one, it behoveth thee with thy child to show us mercy. Itbehoveth thee to favour these kings by granting them their eye-sight.'"

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 angrywith you. This child, however, of the Bhrigu race hath certainly beenangry with you. There is little doubt, ye children, that ye have beenrobbed of your sight by that illustrious child whose wrath hath beenkindled at the remembrance of the slaughter of his race. Ye children,while ye were destroying even the embryos of the Bhrigu race, this childwas held by me in my thigh for a hundred years! And in order that theprosperity of Bhrigu's race might be restored, the entire Vedas withtheir branches came unto this one even while he was in the womb. It isplain that this scion of the Bhrigu race, enraged at the slaughter of hisfathers, desireth to slay you! It is by his celestial energy that youreyes have been scorched. Therefore, ye children, pray ye unto this myexcellent child born of my thigh. Propitiated by your homage he mayrestore your eye-sight.'
"Vasishtha continued, 'Hearing those words of the Brahmana lady, allthese princes addressed the thigh-born child, saying, 'Be propitious!'And the child became propitious unto them. And that best of BrahmanaRishis, in consequence of his having been born after tearing open hismother's thigh, came to be known throughout the three worlds by the nameof Aurva (thigh-born). And those princes regaining their eye-sight wentaway. But the Muni Aurva of the Bhrigu race resolved upon overcoming thewhole world. And the high-souled Rishi set his heart, O child, upon thedestruction of every creature in the world. And that scion of the Bhrigurace, for paying homage (as he regarded) unto his slaughtered ancestors,devoted himself to the austerest of penances with the object ofdestroying the whole world. And desirous of gratifying his ancestors, theRishi afflicted by his severe asceticism the three worlds with thecelestials, the Asuras and human beings. The Pitris, then, learning whatthe child of their race was about, all came from their own region untothe Rishi and addressing him said:
'Aurva, O son, fierce thou hast been in thy asceticism. Thy power hathbeen witnessed by us. Be propitious unto the three worlds. O, control thywrath. O child, it was not from incapacity that the Bhrigus of soulsunder complete control were, all of them, indifferent to their owndestruction at the hands of the murderous Kshatriyas. O child, when wegrew weary of the long periods of life alloted to us, it was then that wedesired our own destruction through the instrumentality of theKshatriyas. The wealth that the Bhrigus had placed in their houseunderground had been placed only with the object of enraging theKshatriyas and picking a quarrel with them. O thou best of Brahmanas, aswe were desirous of heaven, of what use could wealth be to us? Thetreasurer of heaven (Kuvera) had kept a large treasure for us. When wefound that death could not, by any means, overtake us all, it was then, Ochild, that we regarded this as the best means (of compassing ourdesire). They who commit suicide never attain to regions that areblessed. Reflecting upon this, we abstained from self-destruction. Thatwhich, therefore thou desirest to do is not agreeable to us. Restrain thymind, therefore, from the sinful act of destroying the whole world. Ochild, destroy not the Kshatriyas nor the seven worlds. O, kill thiswrath of thine that staineth thy ascetic energy.'"

SECTION CLXXXII
(Chaitraratha Parva continued)
"The Gandharva said, 'Vasishtha after this, continued the narrationsaying, 'Hearing these words of the Pitris, Aurva, O child, replied untothem to this effect:
'Ye Pitris, the vow I have made from anger for the destruction of all theworlds, must not go in vain. I cannot consent to be one whose anger andvows are futile. Like fire consuming dry woods, this rage of mine willcertainly consume me if I do not accomplish my vow. The man thatrepresseth his wrath that hath been excited by (adequate) cause, becomethincapable of duly compassing the three ends of life (viz., religion,profit and pleasure). The wrath that kings desirous of subjugating thewhole earth exhibit, is not without its uses. It serveth to restrain thewicked and to protect the honest. While lying unborn within my mother'sthigh, I heard the doleful cries of my mother and other women of theBhrigu race who were then being exterminated by the Kshatriyas. YePitris, when those wretches of Kshatriyas began to exterminate theBhrigus together with unborn children of their race, it was then thatwrath filled my soul. My mother and the other women of our race, each inan advanced state of pregnancy, and my father, while terribly alarmed,found not in all the worlds a single protector. Then when the Bhriguwomen found not a single protector, my mother held me in one of herthighs. If there be a punisher of crimes in the worlds no one in all theworlds would dare commit a crime; if he findeth not a punisher, thenumber of sinners becometh large. The man who having the power to preventor punish sin doth not do so knowing that a sin hath been committed, ishimself defiled by that sin. When kings and others, capable of protectingmy fathers, protect them not, postponing that duty preferring thepleasures of life, I have just cause to be enraged with them. I am thelord of the creation, capable of punishing its iniquity. I am incapableof obeying your command. Capable of punishing this crime, if I abstainfrom 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, ifrepressed, will certainly consume by its own energy my own self. Yemasters, 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 thatis born of thy wrath and that desireth to consume the worlds, into thewaters. That will do thee good. The worlds, indeed, are all dependent onwater (as their elementary cause). Every juicy substance containethwater, indeed the whole universe is made of water. Therefore, O thou bestof Brahmanas, cast thou this fire of thy wrath into the waters. If,therefore, thou desirest it, O Brahmana, let this fire born of thy wrathabide in the great ocean, consuming the waters thereof, for it hath beensaid 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 bedestroyed.'
"Vasishtha continued, 'Then, O child, Aurva cast the fire of his wrathinto the abode of Varuna. And that fire which consumeth the waters of thegreat ocean, became like unto a large horse's head which personsconversant with the Vedas call by the name of Vadavamukha. And emittingitself from that mouth it consumeth the waters of the mighty ocean. Blestbe thou! It behoveth not thee, therefore, to destroy the worlds. O thouParasara, who art acquainted with the higher regions, thou foremost ofwise men!'"

SECTION CLXXXIII
(Chaitraratha Parva continued)
"The Gandharva continued, 'The Brahmana sage (Parasara) thus addressed bythe illustrious Vasishtha restrained his wrath from destroying theworlds. But the Rishi Parasara endued with great energy--the son ofSaktri--the foremost of all persons acquainted with the Vedas--performeda grand Rakshasa sacrifice. And remembering the slaughter of (his father)Saktri, the great Muni began to consume the Rakshasas, young and old, inthe sacrifice he performed. And Vasishtha did not restrain him from thisslaughter of the Rakshasa, from the determination of not obstructing thissecond vow (of his grandson). And in that sacrifice the great MuniParasara 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 intowhich large were the libations poured of clarified butter. Then Vasishthaand the other Rishis regarded that Muni blazing with his own energy as ifhe were the second Sun. Then the great Rishi Atri of liberal souldesirous of ending that sacrifice, an achievement highly difficult forothers,--came to that place. And there also came, O thou slayer of allfoes, Pulastya and Pulaha, and Kratu the performer of many greatsacrifices, all influenced by the desire of saving the Rakshasas. And, Othou bull of the Bharata race, Pulastya then, seeing that many Rakshasashad already been slain, told these words unto Parasara that oppressor ofall 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 thoseinnocent Rakshasas that know nothing of thy father's death. It behoveththee not to destroy any creatures thus. This, O child, is not theoccupation of a Brahmana devoted to asceticism. Peace is the highestvirtue. Therefore, O Parasara, establish thou peace. How hast thou, OParasara, being so superior, engaged thyself in such a sinful practice?It behoveth not thee to transgress against Saktri himself who waswell-acquainted with all rules of morality. It behoveth not thee toextirpate any creatures. O descendant of Vasishtha's race, that whichbefell thy father was brought about by his own curse. It was for his ownfault that Saktri was taken hence unto heaven. O Muni, no Rakshasa wascapable of devouring Saktri; he himself provided for his own death. And,O Parasara, Viswamitra was only a blind instrument in that matter. BothSaktri and Kalmashapada, having ascended to heaven are enjoying greathappiness. And, the other sons also of the great Rishi Vasishtha who wereyounger than Saktri, are even now enjoying themselves with thecelestials. And, O child, O offspring of Vasishtha's son, thou hast alsobeen, in this sacrifice, only an instrument in the destruction of theseinnocent Rakshasas. O, blest be thou! Abandon this sacrifice of thine.Let it come to an end.'
"The Gandharva continued, 'Thus addressed by Pulastya, as also by theintelligent Vasishtha, that mighty Muni--the son of Saktri then broughtthat sacrifice to an end. And the Rishi cast the fire that he had ignitedfor the purpose of the Rakshasas' sacrifice into the deep woods on thenorth of the Himavat. And that fire may be seen to this day consumingRakshasas and trees and stones in all seasons.'"

SECTION CLXXXIV
(Chaitraratha Parva continued)
"Arjuna asked, 'What for, O Gandharva, did king Kalmashapada command hisqueen to go unto that foremost of all persons conversant with theVedas--the master Vasishtha? Why also did that illustrious and greatRishi Vasishtha himself who was acquainted with every rule of moralityknow a woman he should not have known? O friend, was this an act of sinon the part of Vasishtha? It behoveth thee to remove the doubts Ientertain and refer to thee for solution.'
"The Gandharva replied, saying, 'O irrepressible Dhananjaya, listen to meas I answer the question thou hast asked in respect of Vasishtha and kingKalmashapada that cherisher of friends. O thou best of the Bharatas, Ihave told thee all about the curse of king Kalmashapada by Saktri, theillustrious son of Vasishtha. Brought under the influence of the curse,that smiter of all foes--king Kalmashapada--with eyes whirling in angerwent out of his capital accompanied by his wife. And entering with hiswife the solitary woods the king began to wander about. And one day whilethe king under the influence of the curse was wandering through thatforest abounding in several kinds of deer and various other animals andovergrown with numerous large trees and shrubs and creepers andresounding with terrible cries, he became exceedingly hungry. And themonarch thereupon began to search for some food. Pinched with hunger, theking at last saw, in a very solitary part of the woods, a Brahmana andhis wife enjoying each other. Alarmed at beholding the monarch the coupleran away, their desire ungratified. Pursuing the retreating pair, theking forcibly seized the Brahmana. Then the Brahmani, beholding her lordseized, addressed the monarch, saying, 'Listen to what I say, O monarchof excellent vows! It is known all over the world that thou art born inthe solar race, and that thou art ever vigilant in the practice ofmorality and devoted to the service of thy superiors. It behoveth theenot to commit sin, O thou irrepressible one, deprived though thou hastbeen of thy senses by (the Rishi's) curse. My season hath come, andwishful of my husband's company I was connected with him. I have not beengratified yet. Be propitious unto us, O thou best of kings! Liberate myhusband.' The monarch, however, without listening to her cries cruellydevoured her husband like a tiger devouring its desirable prey. Possessedwith wrath at this sight, the tears that that woman shed blazed up likefire and consumed everything in that place. Afflicted with grief at thecalamity that overtook her lord, the Brahmani in anger cursed the royalsage Kalmashapada, 'Vile wretch, since thou hast today cruelly devouredunder my very nose my illustrious husband dear unto me, even before mydesires have been gratified, therefore shall thou, O wicked one afflictedby my curse, meet with instant death when thou goest in for thy wife inseason. And thy wife, O wretch, shall bring forth a son uniting herselfwith that Rishi Vasishtha whose children have been devoured by thee. Andthat child, O worst of kings, shall be the perpetuator of thy race.' Andcursing the monarch thus, that lady of Angira's house bearing everyauspicious mark, entered the blazing fire in the very sight of themonarch. And, O thou oppressor of all foes, the illustrious and exaltedVasishtha by his ascetic power and spiritual insight immediately knewall. And long after this, when the king became freed from his curse, heapproached his wife Madayanati when her season came. But Madayanatisoftly sent him away. Under the influence of passion the monarch had norecollection of that curse. Hearing, however, the words of his wife, thebest of kings became terribly alarmed. And recollecting the curse herepented bitterly of what he had done. It was for this reason, O thoubest of men, that the monarch infected with the Brahmani's curse,appointed Vasishtha to beget a son upon his queen.'"

SECTION CLXXXV
(Chaitraratha Parva continued)
"Arjuna asked, 'O Gandharva, thou art acquainted with everything. Tellus, therefore, which Veda-knowing Brahmana is worthy to be appointed asour priest.'
"The Gandharva replied, 'There is in these woods a shrine of the name ofUtkochaka. Dhaumya, the younger brother of Devala is engaged there inascetic penances. Appoint him, if ye desire, your priest."
"Vaisampayana said, 'Then Arjuna, highly pleased with everything that hadhappened, gave unto that Gandharva, his weapon of fire with befittingceremonies. And addressing him, the Pandava also said, 'O thou best ofGandharvas, 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 theydesired. Then, O Bharata, the Pandavas going to Utkochaka, the sacredasylum of Dhaumya installed Dhaumya as their priest. And Dhaumya, theforemost of all conversant with the Vedas, receiving them with presentsof wild fruits and (edible) roots, consented to become their priest. Andthe Pandavas with their mother forming the sixth of the company, havingobtained that Brahmana as their priest regarded their sovereignty andkingdom as already regained and the daughter of the Panchala king asalready obtained in the Swayamavara. And those bulls of the Bharata race,having obtained the master Dhaumya as their priest, also regardedthemselves as placed under a powerful protector. And the high-souledDhaumya, acquainted with the true meaning of the Vedas and every rule ofmorality, becoming the spiritual preceptor of the virtuous Pandavas, madethem his Yajamanas (spiritual disciples). And that Brahmana, beholdingthose heroes endued with intelligence and strength and perseverance likeunto the celestials, regarded them as already restored, by virtue oftheir own accomplishments to their sovereignty and kingdom. Then thosekings of men, having had benedictions uttered upon them by that Brahmana,resolved to go, accompanied by him, to the Swayamvara of the Princess ofPanchala.'"

SECTION CLXXXVI
(Swayamvara Parva)
"Vaisampayana said, 'Then those tigers among men--those brothers--thefive Pandavas, set out for Panchala to behold that country and Draupadiand the festivities (in view of her marriage). And those tigers amongmen--those oppressors of all enemies--in going along with their mother,saw on the way numerous Brahmanas proceeding together. And thoseBrahmanas who were all Brahmacharis beholding the Pandavas, O king, askedthem, 'Where are ye going to? Whence also are ye come?' And Yudhishthirareplied unto them, saying, 'Ye bulls among Brahmanas, know ye that we areuterine brothers proceeding together with our mother. We are coming evenfrom Ekachakra.' The Brahmanas then said, 'Go ye this very day to theabode of Drupada in the country of the Panchalas. A great Swayamvaratakes place there, on which a large sum of money will be spent. We alsoare proceeding thither. Let us all go together. Extraordinary festivitieswill take place (in Drupada's abode). The illustrious Yajnasena,otherwise called Drupada, had a daughter risen from the centre of thesacrificial altar. Of eyes like lotus-petals and of faultless featuresendued with youth and intelligence, she is extremely beautiful. And theslender-waisted Draupadi of every feature perfectly faultless, and whosebody emitteth a fragrance like unto that of the blue lotus for two fullmiles around, is the sister of the strong-armed Dhrishtadyumna giftedwith great prowess--the (would-be) slayer of Drona--who was born withnatural mail and sword and bow and arrows from the blazing fire, himselflike unto the second Fire. And that daughter of Yajnasena will select ahusband from among the invited princes. And we are repairing thither tobehold her and the festivities on the occasion, like unto the festivitiesof heaven. And to that Swayamvara will come from various lands kings andprinces who are performers of sacrifices in which the presents to theBrahmanas are large: who are devoted to study, are holy, illustrious, andof rigid vows; who are young and handsome; and who are mightycar-warriors and accomplished in arms. Desirous of winning (the hand of)the maiden those monarchs will all give away much wealth and kine andfood and other articles of enjoyment. And taking all they will give awayand witnessing the Swayamvara, and enjoying the festivities, we shall gowheresoever we like. And there will also come unto that Swayamvara, fromvarious countries, actors, and bards singing the panegyrics of kings, anddancers, and reciters of Puranas, and heralds, and powerful athletes. Andbeholding all these sights and taking what will be given away toillustrious ones, ye will return with us. Ye are all handsome and likeunto the celestials! Beholding you, Krishna may, by chance, choose someone amongst you superior to the rest. This thy brother of mighty arms andhandsome and endued with beauty also, engaged in (athletic) encounters,may, by chance, earn great wealth.'
"On hearing these words of the Brahmanas, Yudhishthira replied, 'YeBrahmanas, we will all go with you to witness that maiden'sSwayamvara--that excellent jubilee.'"

SECTION CLXXXVII
(Swayamvara Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana said, 'Thus addressed by the Brahmanas, the Pandavas, OJanamejaya, proceeded towards the country of the southern Panchalas ruledover by the king Drupada. And on their way those heroes beheld theillustrious Dwaipayana--that Muni of pure soul, and perfectly sinless.And duly saluting the Rishi and saluted by him, after their conversationwas over, commanded by him they proceeded to Drupada's abode. And thosemighty chariot-fighters proceeded by slow stages staying for some timewithin those beautiful woods and by fine lakes that they beheld alongtheir way. Devoted to study, pure in their practices, amiable, andsweet-speeched, the Pandavas at last entered the country of thePanchalas. And beholding the capital, as also the fort, they took uptheir quarters in the house of a potter, Adopting the Brahmanicalprofession, they began to lead an eleemosynary life. And no menrecognised those heroes during their stay in Drupada's capital.
"Yajnasena always cherished the desire of bestowing his daughter onKiriti (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 verystiff bow to be made that was incapable of being bent by any exceptArjuna. Causing some machinery to be erected in the sky, the king set upa mark attached to that machinery. And Drupada said, 'He that will stringthis bow and with these well-adorned arrows shoot the mark above themachine shall obtain my daughter.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'With these words king Drupada proclaimed theSwayamvara. On hearing of them, O Bharata, the kings of other lands cameto his capital. And there came also many illustrious Rishis desirous ofbeholding the Swayamvara. And there came also, O king, Duryodhana and theKurus accompanied by Kama. There also came many superior Brahmanas fromevery country. And the monarchs who came there were all received withreverence by the illustrious Drupada. Desirous of beholding theSwayamvara, the citizens, roaring like the sea, all took their seats onthe platforms that were erected around the amphitheatre. The monarchentered the grand amphitheatre by the north-eastern gate. And theamphitheatre which itself had been erected on an auspicious and levelplain to the north-east of Drupada's capital, was surrounded by beautifulmansions. And it was enclosed on all sides with high walls and a moatwith arched doorways here and there. The vast amphitheatre was alsoshaded by a canopy of various colours. And resounding with the notes ofthousands of trumpets, it was scented with black aloes and sprinkled allover with water mixed with sandal-paste and decorated with garlands offlowers. It was surrounded with high mansions perfectly white andresembling the cloud-kissing peaks of Kailasa. The windows of thosemansions were covered with net works of gold; the walls were set withdiamonds and precious costly carpets and cloths. All those mansionsadorned with wreaths and garlands of flowers and rendered fragrant withexcellent aloes, were all white and spotless, like unto the necks ofswans. And the fragrance therefrom could be perceived from the distanceof a Yojana (eight miles). And they were each furnished with a hundreddoors wide enough to admit a crowd of persons; they were adorned withcostly beds and carpets, and beautified with various metals; theyresembled the peaks of the Himavat. And in those seven-storied houses ofvarious sizes dwelt the monarchs invited by Drupada whose persons wereadorned with every ornament and who were possessed with the desire ofexcelling one another. And the inhabitants of the city and the countrywho had come to behold Krishna and taken their seats on the excellentplatforms erected around, beheld seated within those mansions those lionsamong kings who were all endued with the energy of great souls. And thoseexalted sovereigns were all adorned with the fragrant paste of the blackaloe. Of great liberality, they were all devoted to Brahma and theyprotected their kingdoms against all foes. And for their own good deedsthey were loved by the whole world.
"The Pandavas, too, entering that amphitheatre, sat with the Brahmanasand beheld the unequalled affluence of the king of the Panchalas. Andthat concourse of princes, Brahmanas, and others, looking gay at theperformances of actors and dancers (large presents of every kind ofwealth 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 washedherself clean entered the amphitheatre, richly attired and adorned withevery ornament and bearing in her hand a dish of gold (whereon were theusual offerings of Arghya) and a garland of flowers. Then the priest ofthe lunar race--a holy Brahmana conversant with all mantras--ignited thesacrificial fire and poured on it with due rites libations of clarifiedbutter. And gratifying Agni by these libations and making the Brahmanasutter the auspicious formula of benediction, stopped the musicalinstruments that were playing all around. And when that vastamphitheatre, O monarch, became perfectly still, Dhrishtadyumna possessedof a voice deep as the sound of the kettledrum or the clouds, taking holdof his sister's arm, stood in the midst of that concourse, and said, witha voice loud and deep as the roar of the clouds, these charming words ofexcellent import, 'Hear ye assembled kings, this is the bow, that is themark, and these are the arrows. Shoot the mark through the orifice of themachine with these five sharpened arrows. Truly do I say that, possessedof lineage, beauty of persons, and strength whoever achieveth this greatfeat shall obtain today this my sister, Krishna for his wife.' Havingthus spoken unto the assembled monarchs Drupada's son then addressed hissister, reciting unto her the names and lineages and achievements ofthose assembled lords of the earth.'"

SECTION CLXXXVIII
(Swayamvara Parva continued)
"Dhrishtadyumna said, 'Duryodhana, Durvisaha, Durmukha andDushpradharshana, Vivinsati, Vikarna, Saha, and Duhsasana; Yuyutsu andVayuvega 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 ofDhritarashtra--all heroes--accompanied by Karna, have come for thy hand.Innumerable other illustrious monarchs all bulls among Kshatriyas--havealso come for thee. Sakuni, Sauvala, Vrisaka, and Vrihadvala,--these sonsof the king Gandhara--have also come. Foremost of all wielders ofweapons--the illustrious Aswatthaman and Bhoja, adorned with everyornament have also come for thee. Vrihanta, Manimana, Dandadhara,Sahadeva, Jayatsena, Meghasandhi, Virata with his two sons Sankha andUttara, Vardhakshemi, Susarma, Senavindu, Suketu with his two sons Sunamaand Suvarcha, Suchitra, Sukumara, Vrika, Satyadhriti, Suryadhwaja,Rochamana, Nila, Chitrayudha, Agsuman, Chekitana, the mighty Sreniman,Chandrasena the mighty son of Samudrasena, Jarasandha, Vidanda, andDanda--the father and son, Paundraka, Vasudeva, Bhagadatta endued withgreat energy, Kalinga, Tamralipta, the king of Pattana, the mightycar-warrior Salya, the king of Madra, with his son, the heroicRukmangada, Rukmaratha, Somadatta of the Kuru race with his three sons,all mighty chariot-fighters and heroes, viz., Bhuri, Bhurisrava, andSala, 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, thehigh-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, allthese of the Vrishni race, Bhagiratha, Vrihatkshatra, Jayadratha the sonof Sindhu, Vrihadratha, Valhika, the mighty charioteer Srutayu, Uluka,Kaitava, Chitrangada and Suvangada, the highly intelligent Vatsaraja, theking of Kosala, Sisupala and the powerful Jarasandha, these and manyother great kings--all Kshatriyas celebrated throughout the world--havecome, O blessed one, for thee. Endued with prowess, these will shoot themark. And thou shalt choose him for thy husband who amongst these willshoot the mark.'"

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 armsand gifted with might, stood up brandishing their weapons. Andintoxicated with pride of beauty, prowess, lineage, knowledge, wealth,and youth, they were like Himalayan elephants in the season of rut withcrowns split from excess of temporal juice. And beholding each other withjealousy and influenced by the god of desire, they suddenly rose up fromtheir royal seats, exclaiming 'Krishna shall be mine.' And the Kshatriyasassembled in that amphitheatre, each desirous of winning the daughter ofDrupada, looked like the celestial (of old) standing round Uma, thedaughter of the King of mountains. Afflicted with the shafts of the godof the flowery bow and with hearts utterly lost in the contemplation ofKrishna, those princes descended into the amphitheatre for winning thePanchala maiden and began to regard even their best friends withjealousy. And there came also the celestials on their cars, with theRudras and the Adityas, the Vasus and the twin Aswins, the Swadhas andall the Marutas, and Kuvera with Yama walking ahead. And there came alsothe Daityas and the Suparnas, the great Nagas and the celestial Rishis,the Guhyakas and the Charanas and Viswavasu and Narada and Parvata, andthe principal Gandharvas with Apsaras. And Halayudha (Valadeva) andJanardana (Krishna) and the chief of the Vrishni, Andhaka, and Yadavatribes who obeyed the leadership of Krishna were also there, viewing thescene. And beholding those elephants in rut--the five(Pandavas)--attracted towards Draupadi like mighty elephants towards alake overgrown with lotuses, or like fire covered with ashes, Krishna theforemost 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 aglance of satisfaction at Krishna. Biting their nether lips in wrath, theother heroes there--sons and grandsons of kings--with their eyes andhearts and thoughts set on Krishna, looked with expanded eyes on Draupadialone without noticing the Pandavas. And the sons of Pritha also, ofmighty arms, and the illustrious twin heroes, beholding Draupadi, wereall likewise struck by the shafts of Kama. And crowded with celestialRishis and Gandharvas and Suparnas and Nagas and Asuras and Siddhas, andfilled 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 thefirmament. 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 manyother sons and grandsons of kings,--sovereigns of territories with eyeslike 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 ofextraordinary stiffness.
"And (some amongst) those kings in exerting with swelling lips eachaccording to his strength, education, skill, and energy,--to string thatbow, were tossed on the ground and lay perfectly motionless for sometime. Their strength spent and their crowns and garlands loosened fromtheir persons, they began to pant for breath and their ambition ofwinning that fair maiden was cooled. Tossed by that tough bow, and theirgarlands and bracelets and other ornaments disordered, they began toutter exclamations of woe. And that assemblage of monarchs, their hope ofobtaining Krishna gone, looked sad and woeful. And beholding the plightof those monarchs, Karna that foremost of all wielders of the bow went towhere the bow was, and quickly raising it strung it and placed the arrowson the string. And beholding the son of Surya--Karna of the Sutatribe--like unto fire, or Soma, or Surya himself, resolved to shoot themark, those foremost of bowmen--the sons of Pandu--regarded the mark asalready shot and brought down upon the ground. But seeing Karna, Draupadiloudly said, 'I will not select a Suta for my lord.' Then Karna, laughingin vexation and casting glance at the Sun, threw aside the bow alreadydrawn to a circle.
Then when all those Kshatriyas gave up the task, the heroic king of theChedis--mighty as Yama (Pluto) himself--the illustrious and determinedSisupala, the son of Damaghosa, in endeavouring to string the bow,himself fell upon his knees on the ground. Then king Jarasandha enduedwith great strength and powers, approaching the bow stood there for somemoment, fixed and motionless like a mountain. Tossed by the bow, he toofell upon his knees on the ground, and rising up, the monarch left theamphitheatre for (returning to) his kingdom. Then the great hero Salya,the king of Madra, endued with great strength, in endeavouring to stringthe bow fell upon his knees on the ground. At last when in thatassemblage consisting of highly respectable people, all the monarchs hadbecome subjects of derisive talk that foremost of heroes--Jishnu, the sonof Kunti--desired to string the bow and placed the arrows on thebow-string.'"

SECTION CLXL
(Swayamvara Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana continued, 'When all the monarchs had desisted fromstringing that bow, the high-souled Jishnu arose from among the crowd ofBrahmanas seated in that assembly. And beholding Partha possessing thecomplexion of Indra's banner, advancing towards the bow, the principalBrahmanas shaking their deer-skins raised a loud clamour. And while somewere displeased, there were others that were well-pleased. And some therewere, possessed of intelligence and foresight, who addressing one anothersaid, 'Ye Brahmanas, how can a Brahmana stripling unpractised in arms andweak in strength, string that bow which such celebrated Kshatriyas asSalya and others endued with might and accomplished in the science andpractice of arms could not? If he doth not achieve success in thisuntried task which he hath undertaken from a spirit of boyishunsteadiness, the entire body of Brahmanas here will be renderedridiculous in the eyes of the assembled monarchs. Therefore, forbid thisBrahmana that he may not go to string the bow which he is even nowdesirous of doing from vanity, childish daring, or mere unsteadiness.'Others replied, 'We shall not be made ridiculous, nor shall we incur thedisrespect of anybody or the displeasure of the sovereigns. Someremarked, 'This handsome youth is even like the trunk of a mightyelephant, whose shoulders and arms and thighs are so well-built, who inpatience looks like the Himavat, whose gait is even like that of thelion, and whose prowess seems to be like that of an elephant in rut, andwho is so resolute, that it is probable that he will accomplish thisfeat. He has strength and resolution. If he had none, he would never goof his own accord. Besides, there is nothing in the three worlds thatBrahmanas of all mortal men cannot accomplish. Abstaining from all foodor living upon air or eating of fruits, persevering in their vows, andemaciated and weak, Brahmanas are ever strong in their own energy. Oneshould never disregard a Brahmana whether his acts be right or wrong, bysupposing him incapable of achieving any task that is great or little, orthat is fraught with bliss or woe. Rama the son of Jamadagni defeated inbattle, all the Kshatriyas. Agastya by his Brahma energy drank off thefathomless ocean. Therefore, say ye, 'Let this youth bend the bow andstring it with ease' (and many said), 'So be it.' And the Brahmanascontinued speaking unto one another these and other words. Then Arjunaapproached the bow and stood there like a mountain. And walking roundthat bow, and bending his head unto that giver of boons--the lordIsana--and remembering Krishna also, he took it up. And that bow whichRukma, Sunitha, Vakra, Radha's son, Duryodhana, Salya, and many otherkings accomplished in the science and practice of arms, could not evenwith great exertion, string, Arjuna, the son of Indra, that foremost ofall 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 thefive arrows he shot the mark and caused it to fall down on the groundthrough the hole in the machine above which it had been placed. Thenthere arose a loud uproar in the firmament, and the amphitheatre alsoresounded with a loud clamour. And the gods showered celestial flowers onthe head of Partha the slayer of foes. And thousands of Brahmanas beganto wave their upper garments in joy. And all around, the monarchs who hadbeen unsuccessful, uttered exclamations of grief and despair. And flowerswere rained from the skies all over the amphitheatre. And the musiciansstruck up in concert. Bards and heralds began to chant in sweet tones thepraises (of the hero who accomplished the feat). And beholding Arjuna,Drupada--that slayer of foes,--was filled with joy. And the monarchdesired to assist with his forces the hero if the occasion arose. Andwhen the uproar was at its height, Yudhishthira, the foremost of allvirtuous men, accompanied by those first of men the twins, hastily leftthe amphitheatre for returning to his temporary home. And Krishnabeholding the mark shot and beholding Partha also like unto Indrahimself, who had shot the mark, was filled with joy, and approached theson of Kunti with a white robe and a garland of flowers. And Arjuna theaccomplisher of inconceivable feats, having won Draupadi by his successin the amphitheatre, was saluted with reverence by all the Brahmanas. Andhe soon after left the lists followed close by her who thus became hiswife.'"

SECTION CLXLI
(Swayamvara Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana said, 'When the king (Drupada) expressed his desire ofbestowing his daughter on that Brahmana (who had shot the mark), allthose monarchs who had been invited to the Swayamvara, looking at oneanother, were suddenly filled with wrath. And they said, 'Passing us byand treating the assembled monarchs as straw this Drupada desireth tobestow his daughter--that first of women,--on a Brahmana! Having plantedthe tree he cutteth it down when it is about to bear fruit. The wretchregardeth us not: therefore let us slay him. He deserveth not our respectnor 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, hedisregardeth us at last. In this assemblage of monarchs like unto aconclave of the celestials, doth he not see a single monarch equal untohimself? The Vedic declaration is well-known that the Swayamvara is forthe Kshatriyas. The Brahmanas have no claim in respect of a selection ofhusband by a Kshatriya damsel. Or, ye kings, if this damsel desireth notto select any one of us as her lord, let us cast her into the fire andreturn to our kingdoms. As regards this Brahmana, although he hath, fromofficiousness or avarice, done this injury to the monarchs, he should notyet be slain; for our kingdoms, lives, treasures, sons, grandsons, andwhatever other wealth we have, all exist for Brahmanas. Something must bedone here (even unto him), so that from fear of disgrace and the desireof maintaining what properly belongeth unto each order, other Swayamvarasmay not terminate in this way.'
"Having addressed one another thus, those tigers among monarchs enduedwith arms like unto spiked iron maces, took up their weapons and rushedat Drupada to slay him then and there. And Drupada beholding thosemonarchs all at once rushing towards him in anger with bows and arrows,sought, from fear, the protection of the Brahmanas. But those mightybowmen (Bhima and Arjuna) of the Pandavas, capable of chastising allfoes, advanced to oppose those monarchs rushing towards them impetuouslylike elephants in the season of rut. Then the monarchs with glovedfingers and upraised weapons rushed in anger at the Kuru princes, Bhimaand Arjuna, to slay them. Then the mighty Bhima of extraordinaryachievements, endued with the strength of thunder, tore up like anelephant 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 fiercemace, near Arjuna that bull amongst men. And beholding that feat of hisbrother, Jishnu of extraordinary intelligence, himself also ofinconceivable feats, wondered much. And equal unto Indra himself inachievements, shaking off all fear he stood with his bow ready to receivethose assailants. And beholding those feats of both Jishnu and hisbrother, Damodara (Krishna) of superhuman intelligence and inconceivablefeats, addressing his brother, Halayudha (Valadeva) of fierce energy,said, 'That hero there, of tread like that of a mighty lion, who draweththe large bow in his hand four full cubits in length, is Arjuna! There isno doubt, O Sankarshana, about this, if I am Vasudeva. That other herowho having speedily torn up the tree hath suddenly become ready to driveoff 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 otheryouth of eyes like unto lotus-petals, of full four cubits height, of gaitlike that of a mighty lion, and humble withal, of fair complexion andprominent and shining nose, who had, a little before, left theamphitheatre, is Dharma's son (Yudhishthira). The two other youths, likeunto Kartikeya, are, I suspect, the sons of the twin Aswins. I heard thatthe sons of Pandu along with their mother Pritha had all escaped from theconflagration of the house of lac.' Then Halayudha of complexion likeunto that of clouds uncharged with rain, addressing his younger brother(Krishna), said with great satisfaction, 'O, I am happy to hear, as I dofrom sheer good fortune, that our father's sister Pritha with theforemost of the Kaurava princes have all escaped (from death)!'"

SECTION CLXLII
(Swayamvara Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana said, 'Then those bulls among Brahmanas shaking theirdeer-skins and water-pots made of cocoanut-shells exclaimed, 'Fear not,we will fight the foe!' Arjuna smilingly addressing those Brahmanasexclaiming thus, said, 'Stand ye aside as spectators (of the fray)Showering hundreds of arrows furnished with straight points even I shallcheck, like snakes with mantras, all those angry monarchs.' Having saidthis, the mighty Arjuna taking up the bow he had obtained as doweraccompanied by his brother Bhima stood immovable as a mountain. Andbeholding those Kshatriyas who were ever furious in battle with Karnaahead, the heroic brothers rushed fearlessly at them like two elephantsrushing against a hostile elephant. Then those monarchs eager for thefight fiercely exclaimed, 'The slaughter in battle of one desiring tofight is permitted.' And saying this, the monarchs suddenly rushedagainst the Brahmanas. And Karna endued with great energy rushed againstJishnu for fight. And Salya the mighty king of Madra rushed against Bhimalike an elephant rushing against another for the sake of a she-elephantin heat; while Duryodhana and others engaged with the Brahmanas,skirmished with them lightly and carelessly. Then the illustrious Arjunabeholding Karna, the son of Vikartana (Surya), advancing towards him,drew his tough bow and pieced him with his sharp arrows. And the impetusof those whetted arrows furnished with fierce energy made Radheya (Karna)faint. Recovering consciousness Karna attacked Arjuna with greater carethan before. Then Karna and Arjuna, both foremost of victorious warriors,desirous of vanquishing each other, fought madly on. And such was thelightness of hand they both displayed that (each enveloped by the other'sshower of arrows) they both became invisible (unto the spectators oftheir encounter). 'Behold the strength of my arms.'--'Mark, how I havecounteracted that feat,'--those were the words--intelligible to heroesalone--in which they addressed each other. And incensed at finding thestrength and energy of Arjuna's arms unequalled on the earth, Karna, theson of Surya, fought with greater vigour. And parrying all thoseimpetuous arrows shot at him by Arjuna, Karna sent up a loud shout. Andthis feat of his was applauded by all the warriors. Then addressing hisantagonist, Karna said, 'O thou foremost of Brahmanas, I am gratified toobserve the energy of thy arms that knoweth no relaxation in battle andthy weapons themselves fit for achieving victory. Art thou the embodimentof the science of weapons, or art thou Rama that best of Brahmanas, orIndra himself, or Indra's younger brother Vishnu called also Achyuta, whofor disguising himself hath assumed the form of a Brahmana and musteringsuch energy of arms fighteth with me? No other person except the husbandhimself of Sachi or Kiriti, the son of Pandu, is capable of fighting withme when I am angry on the field of battle.' Then hearing those words ofhis, Phalguna replied, saying, 'O Karna, I am neither the science of arms(personified), nor Rama endued with superhuman powers. I am only aBrahmana 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 andthe Paurandara weapons. I am here to vanquish thee in battle. Therefore,O hero, wait a little.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Thus addressed (by Arjuna), Karna the adoptedson of Radha desisted from the fight, for that mighty chariot-fighterthought that Brahma energy is ever invincible. Meanwhile on another partof the field, the mighty heroes Salya and Vrikodara, well-skilled inbattle and possessed of great strength and proficiency, challenging eachother, engaged in fight like two elephants in rut. And they struck eachother with their clenched fists and knees. And sometimes pushing eachother forward and sometimes dragging each other near, sometimes throwingeach other down; face downward, and sometimes on the sides, they foughton, striking, each other at times with their clenched fists. Andencountering each other with blows hard as the clash of two masses ofgranite, the lists rang with the sounds of their combat. Fighting witheach other thus for a few seconds, Bhima the foremost of the Kuru heroestaking up Salya on his arms hurled him to a distance. And Bhimasena, thatbull amongst men, surprised all (by the dexterity of his feat) for thoughhe threw Salya on the ground he did it without hurting him much. And whenSalya was thus thrown down and Karna was struck with fear, the othermonarchs were all alarmed. And they hastily surrounded Bhima andexclaimed, 'Surely these bulls amongst Brahmanas are excellent(warriors)! Ascertain in what race they have been born and where theyabide. Who can encounter Karna, the son of Radha, in fight, except Ramaor Drona, or Kiriti, the son of Pandu? Who also can encounter Duryodhanain battle except Krishna, the son of Devaki, and Kripa, the son ofSaradwan? Who also can overthrow in battle Salya, that first of mightywarriors, except the hero Valadeva or Vrikodara, the son of Pandu, or theheroic Duryodhana? Let us, therefore, desist from this fight with theBrahmanas. Indeed, Brahmanas, however offending, should yet be everprotected. And first let us ascertain who these are; for after we havedone 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 theassembled monarchs, saying, 'This maiden hath been justly acquired (bythe Brahmana),' he induced them to abandon the fight. Accomplished inbattle, those monarchs then desisted from the fight. And those best ofmonarchs then returned to their respective kingdoms, wondering much. Andthose who had come there went away saying. 'The festive scene hathterminated in the victory of the Brahmanas. The princess of Panchala hathbecome the bride of a Brahmana.' And surrounded by Brahmanas dressed inskins of deer and other wild animals, Bhima and Dhananjaya passed withdifficulty out of the throng. And those heroes among men, mangled by theenemy 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 theireleemosynary round, was filled with anxiety. She began to think ofvarious evils having overtaken her sons. At one time she thought that thesons of Dhritarashtra having recognised her sons had slain them. Next shefeared that some cruel and strong Rakshasas endued with powers ofdeception had slain them. And she asked herself, 'Could the illustriousVyasa himself (who had directed my sons to come to Panchala) have beenguided by perverse intelligence?' Thus reflected Pritha in consequence ofher affection for her offspring. Then in the stillness of the lateafternoon, Jishnu, accompanied by a body of Brahmanas, entered the abodeof the potter, like the cloud-covered sun appearing on a cloudy day.'"

SECTION CLXLIII
(Swayamvara Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana said, 'Then those illustrious sons of Pritha, on returningto the potter's abode, approached their mother. And those first of menrepresented Yajnaseni unto their mother as the alms they had obtainedthat day. And Kunti who was there within the room and saw not her sons,replied, saying, 'Enjoy ye all (what ye have obtained).' The momentafter, she beheld Krishna and then she said, 'Oh, what have I said?' Andanxious from fear of sin, and reflecting how every one could beextricated from the situation, she took the cheerful Yajnaseni by thehand, and approaching Yudhishthira said, 'The daughter of king Yajnasenaupon being represented to me by thy younger brothers as the alms they hadobtained, from ignorance, O king, I said what was proper, viz., 'Enjoy yeall what hath been obtained. O thou bull of the Kuru race, tell me how myspeech may not become untrue; how sin may not touch the daughter of theking of Panchala, and how also she may not become uneasy.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Thus addressed by his mother that hero amongmen, that foremost scion of the Kuru race, the intelligent king(Yudhishthira), reflecting for a moment, consoled Kunti, and addressingDhananjaya, said, 'By thee, O Phalguna, hath Yajnaseni been won. It isproper, therefore, that thou shouldst wed her. O thou withstander of allfoes, igniting the sacred fire, take thou her hand with due rites.'
"Arjuna, hearing this, replied, 'O king, do not make me a participator insin. Thy behest is not conformable to virtue. That is the path followedby the sinful. Thou shouldst wed first, then the strong-armed Bhima ofinconceivable feats, then myself, then Nakula, and last of all, Sahadevaendued with great activity. Both Vrikodara and myself, and the twins andthis maiden also, all await, O monarch, thy commands. When such is thestate of things, do that, after reflection, which would be proper, andconformable virtue, and productive of fame, and beneficial unto the kingof Panchala. All of us are obedient to thee. O, command us as thoulikest.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Hearing these words of Jishnu, so full ofrespect and affection, the Pandavas all cast their eyes upon the princessof Panchala. And the princess of Panchala also looked at them all. Andcasting their glances on the illustrious Krishna, those princes looked atone another. And taking their seats, they began to think of Draupadialone. Indeed, after those princes of immeasurable energy had looked atDraupadi, the God of Desire invaded their hearts and continued to crushall their senses. As the lavishing beauty of Panchali who had beenmodelled by the Creator himself, was superior to that of all other womenon earth, it could captivate the heart of every creature. AndYudhishthira, the son of Kunti, beholding his younger brothers,understood what was passing in their minds. And that bull among menimmediately recollected the words of Krishna-Dwaipayana. And the king,then, from fear of a division amongst the brothers, addressing all ofthem, said, 'The auspicious Draupadi shall be the common wife of us all.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'The sons of Pandu, then, hearing those words oftheir eldest brother, began to revolve them in their minds in greatcheerfulness. The hero of the Vrishni race (Krishna suspecting the fivepersons he had seen at the Swayamvara to be none else than the heroes ofthe Kuru race), came accompanied by the son of Rohini (Valadeva), to thehouse of the potter where those foremost of men had taken up theirquarters. On arriving there, Krishna and Valadeva beheld seated in thatpotter's house Ajatasanu (Yudhishthira) of well developed and long arms,and his younger brothers passing the splendour of fire sitting aroundhim. Then Vasudeva approaching that foremost of virtuous men--the son ofKunti--and touching the feet of that prince of the Ajamida race, said, 'Iam Krishna.' And the son of Rohini (Valadeva) also approachingYudhishthira, did the same. And the Pandavas, beholding Krishna andValadeva, began to express great delight. And, O thou foremost of theBharata race, those heroes of the Yadu race thereafter touched also thefeet of Kunti, their father's sister. And Ajatasatru, that foremost ofthe Kuru race, beholding Krishna, enquired after his well-being andasked, 'How, O Vasudeva, hast thou been able to trace us, as we areliving in disguise?' And Vasudeva, smilingly answered, 'O king, fire,even if it is covered, can be known. Who else among men than the Pandavascould exhibit such might? Ye resisters of all foes, ye sons of Pandu, bysheer good fortune have ye escaped from that fierce fire. And it is bysheer good fortune alone that the wicked son of Dhritarashtra and hiscounsellors have not succeeded in accomplishing their wishes. Blest beye! And grow ye in prosperity like a fire in a cave gradually growing andspreading itself all around. And lest any of the monarchs recognise ye,let us return to our tent.' Then, obtaining Yudhishthira's leave, Krishnaof prosperity knowing no decrease, accompanied by Valadeva, hastily wentaway from the potter's abode.'"

SECTION CLXLIV
(Swayamvara Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana said, 'When the Kuru princes (Bhima and Arjuna) werewending towards the abode of the potter, Dhrishtadyumna, the Panchalaprince followed them. And sending away all his attendants, he concealedhimself in some part of the potter's house, unknown to the Pandavas. ThenBhima, that grinder of all foes, and Jishnu, and the illustrious twins,on returning from their eleemosynary round in the evening, cheerfullygave everything unto Yudhishthira. Then the kind-hearted Kunti addressingthe daughter of Drupada said, 'O amiable one, take thou first a portionfrom this and devote it to the gods and give it away to Brahmanas, andfeed those that desire to eat and give unto those who have become ourguests. Divide the rest into two halves. Give one of these unto Bhima, Oamiable one, for this strong youth of fair complexion--equal unto a kingof elephants--this hero always eateth much. And divide the other halfinto six parts, four for these youths, one for myself, and one for thee.'Then the princess hearing those instructive words of her mother-in-lawcheerfully did all that she had been directed to do. And those heroesthen all ate of the food prepared by Krishna. Then Sahadeva, the son ofMadri, endued with great activity, spread on the ground a bed of kusagrass. Then those heroes, each spreading thereon his deer-skin, laidthemselves down to sleep. And those foremost of the Kuru princes lay downwith heads towards the south. And Kunti laid herself down along the lineof their heads, and Krishna along that of their feet. And Krishna thoughshe lay with the sons of Pandu on that bed of kusa grass along the lineof their feet as if she were their nether pillow, grieved not in herheart nor thought disrespectfully of those bulls amongst the Kurus. Thenthose heroes began to converse with one another. And the conversations ofthose princes, each worthy to lead an army, was exceedingly interestingthey being upon celestial cars and weapons and elephants, and swords andarrows, and battle-axes. And the son of the Panchala king listened (fromhis place of concealment) unto all they said. And all those who were withhim beheld Krishna in that state.
"When morning came, the prince Dhristadyumna set out from his place ofconcealment with great haste in order to report to Drupada in detail allthat had happened at the potter's abode and all that he had heard thoseheroes speak amongst themselves during the night. The king of Panchalahad been sad because he knew not the Pandavas as those who had taken awayhis daughter. And the illustrious monarch asked Dhristadyumna on hisreturn, 'Oh, where hath Krishna gone? Who hath taken her away? Hath anySudra or anybody of mean descent, or hath a tribute-paying Vaisya bytaking my daughter away, placed his dirty foot on my head? O son, haththat wreath of flowers been thrown away on a grave-yard? Hath anyKshatriya of high birth, or any one of the superior order (Brahmana)obtained my daughter? Hath any one of mean descent, by having wonKrishna, placed his left foot on my head? I would not, O son, grieve butfeel greatly happy, if my daughter hath been united with Partha thatforemost of men! O thou exalted one, tell me truly who hath won mydaughter today? O, are the sons of that foremost of Kurus,Vichitravirya's son alive? Was it Partha (Arjuna) that took up the bowand shot the mark?'"

SECTION CLXLV
(Vaivahika Parva)
"Vaisampayana said, 'Thus addressed Dhrishtadyumna, that foremost of theLunar princes, cheerfully said unto his father all that had happened andby 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 whostrung that foremost of bows and brought down to the ground the mark seton high, was soon surrounded by the foremost of Brahmanas who alsooffered him their homage for the feat he had achieved. Incapable ofbearing the sight of a foe and endued with great activity, he began toexert his prowess. And surrounded by the Brahmanas he resembled thethunder-wielding Indra standing in the midst of the celestials, and theRishis. And like a she-elephant following the leader of a herd, Krishnacheerfully followed that youth catching hold of his deer-skin. Then whenthe assembled monarchs incapable of bearing that sight lose up in wrathand advanced for fight, there rose up another hero who tearing up a largetree rushed at that concourse of kings, felling them right and left likeYama 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 suburbsof the town, and there at the potter's abode sat a lady like unto a flameof fire who, I think, is their mother. And around her also sat threeother foremost of men each of whom was like unto fire. And the couple ofheroes having approached her paid homage unto her feet, and they saidunto Krishna also to do the same. And keeping Krishna with her, thoseforemost of men all went the round of eleemosynary visits. Some timeafter when they returned, Krishna taking from them what they had obtainedas alms, devoted a portion thereof to the gods, and gave another portionaway (in gift) to Brahmanas. And of what remained after this, she gave aportion to that venerable lady, and distributed the rest amongst thosefive foremost of men. And she took a little for herself and ate it lastof all. Then, O monarch, they all laid themselves down for sleep, Krishnalying along the line of their feet as their nether pillow. And the bed onwhich they lay was made of kusa grass upon which was spread theirdeer-skins. And before going to sleep they talked on diverse subjects invoices deep as of black clouds. The talk of those heroes indicated themto be neither Vaisyas nor Sudras, nor Brahmanas. Without doubt, Omonarch, they are bulls amongst Kshatriyas, their discourse having beenon military subjects. It seems, O father, that our hope hath beenfructified, for we have heard that the sons of Kunti all escaped from theconflagration of the house of lac. From the way in which the mark wasshot down by that youth, and the strength with which the bow was strungby him, and the manner in which I have heard them talk with one anotherproves conclusively, O monarch, that they are the sons of Prithawandering 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 wereand whether they were the sons of the illustrious Pandu. Thus directed,the king's priest went unto them and applauding them all, delivered theking's message duly, saying, 'Ye who are worthy of preference ineverything, the boon-giving king of the earth--Drupada--is desirous ofascertaining who ye are. Beholding this one who hath shot down the mark,his joy knoweth no bounds. Giving us all particulars of your family andtribe, place ye your feet on the heads of your foes and gladden thehearts of the king of Panchala mid his men and mine also. King Pandu wasthe dear friend of Drupada and was regarded by him as his counterself.And Drupada had all along cherished the desire of bestowing this daughterof his upon Pandu as his daughter-in-law. Ye heroes of features perfectlyfaultless, king Drupada hath all along cherished this desire in his heartthat Arjuna of strong and long arms might wed this daughter of hisaccording to the ordinance. If that hath become possible, nothing couldbe better; nothing more beneficial; nothing more conducive to fame andvirtue, so far as Drupada is concerned.'
"Having said this, the priest remained silent and humbly waited for ananswer. Beholding him sitting thus, the king Yudhishthira commanded Bhimawho sat near, saying, 'Let water to wash his feet with and the Arghya beoffered unto this Brahmana. He is king Drupada's priest and, therefore,worthy of great respect. We should worship him with more than ordinaryreverence.' Then, O monarch, Bhima did as directed. Accepting the worshipthus offered unto him, the Brahmana with a joyous heart sat at his ease.Then Yudhishthira addressed him and said, 'The king of the Panchalashath, by fixing a special kind of dower, given away his daughteraccording to the practice of his order and not freely. This hero hath, bysatisfying that demand, won the princess. King Drupada, therefore, hathnothing now to say in regard to the race, tribe, family and dispositionof him who hath performed that feat. Indeed, all his queries have beenanswered 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 hathbrought away Krishna from among the assembled monarchs. In thesecircumstances, the king of the Lunar race should not indulge in anyregrets which can only make him unhappy without mending matters in theleast. The desire that king Drupada hath all along cherished will beaccomplished for his handsome princess who beareth, I think, everyauspicious mark. None that is weak in strength could string that bow, andnone of mean birth and unaccomplished in arms could have shot down themark. It behoveth not, therefore, the king of the Panchalas to grieve forhis daughter today. Nor can anybody in the world undo that act ofshooting down the mark. Therefore the king should not grieve for whatmust take its course.'
"While Yudhishthira was saying all this, another messenger from the kingof the Panchalas, coming thither in haste, said, 'The (nuptial), feast isready.'"

SECTION CLXLVI
(Vaivahika Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana continued, 'The messenger said, 'King Drupada hath, in viewof his daughter's nuptials prepared a good feast for the bride-groom'sparty. Come ye thither after finishing your daily rites. Krishna'swedding will take place there. Delay ye not. These cars adorned withgolden lotuses drawn by excellent horses are worthy of kings. Riding onthem, come ye into the abode of the king of the Panchalas.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Then those bulls among the Kurus, dismissingthe priest and causing Kunti and Krishna to ride together on one of thosecars, themselves ascended those splendid vehicles and proceeded towardsDrupada's place. Meanwhile, O Bharata, hearing from his priest the wordsthat Yudhishthira had said, king Drupada, in order to ascertain the orderto which those heroes belonged, kept ready a large collection of articles(required by the ordinance for the wedding of each of the four orders).And he kept ready fruits, sanctified garlands, and coats of mail, andshields, and carpets, and kine, and seeds, and various other articles andimplements of agriculture. And the king also collected, O monarch, everyarticle appertaining to other arts, and various implements and apparatusof every kind of sport. And he also collected excellent coats of mail andshining shields, and swords and scimitars, of fine temper, and beautifulchariots and horses, and first-class bows and well-adorned arrows, andvarious kinds of missiles ornamented with gold. And he also kept readydarts and rockets and battle-axes and various utensils of war. And therewere in that collection beds and carpets and various fine things, andcloths of various sorts. When the party went to Drupada's abode, Kuntitaking with her the virtuous Krishna entered the inner apartments of theking. The ladies of the king's household with joyous hearts worshippedthe queen of the Kurus. Beholding, O monarch, those foremost of men, eachpossessing the sportive gait of the lion, with deer-skins for their uppergarments, eyes like unto those of mighty bulls, broad shoulders, andlong-hanging arms like unto the bodies of mighty snakes, the king, andthe king's ministers, and the king's son, and the king's friends andattendants, all became exceedingly glad. Those heroes sat on excellentseats, furnished with footstools without any awkwardness and hesitation.And those foremost of men sat with perfect fearlessness on those costlyseats one after another according to the order of their ages. After thoseheroes were seated, well-dressed servants male and female, and skilfulcooks brought excellent and costly viands worthy of kings on gold andsilver plates. Then those foremost of men dined on those dishes andbecame well-pleased. And after the dinner was over, those heroes amongmen, passing over all other articles, began to observe with interest thevarious utensils of war. Beholding this, Drupada's son and Drupadahimself, along with all his chief ministers of state, understanding thesons of Kunti to be all of royal blood became exceedingly glad.'"

SECTION CLXLVII
(Vaivahika Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana said, 'Then the illustrious king of Panchala, addressingprince Yudhishthira in the form applicable to Brahmanas, cheerfullyenquired of that illustrious son of Kunti, saying, 'Are we to know you asKshatriyas, or Brahamanas, or are we to know you as celestials whodisguising themselves as Brahmanas are ranging the earth and come hitherfor the hand of Krishna? O tell us truly, for we have great doubts! Shallwe not be glad when our doubts have been removed? O chastiser of enemies,have the fates been propitious unto us? Tell us the truth willingly!Truth becometh monarchs better than sacrifices and dedications of tanks.Therefore, tell us not what is untrue. O thou of the beauty of acelestial, O chastiser of foes, hearing thy reply I shall makearrangements for my daughter's wedding according to the order to which yebelong.'
"Hearing these words of Drupada, Yudhishthira answered, saying 'Be notcheerless, O king; let joy fill thy heart! The desire cherished by theehath certainly been accomplished. We are Kshatriyas, O king, and sons ofthe illustrious Pandu. Know me to be the eldest of the sons of Kunti andthese to be Bhima and Arjuna. By these, O king, was thy daughter won amidthe concourse of monarchs. The twins (Nakula and Sahadeva) and Kunti waitwhere Krishna is. O bull amongst men, let grief be driven from thy heart,for we are Kshatriyas. Thy daughter, O monarch, hath like a lotus beentransferred only from one lake into another. O king, thou art our reveredsuperior and chief refuge. I have told thee the whole truth.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Hearing those words, the king Drupada's eyesrolled in ecstasy. And. filled with delight the king could not, for somemoments answer Yudhishthira. Checking his emotion with great effort, thatchastiser of foes at last replied unto Yudhishthira in proper words. Thevirtuous monarch enquired how the Pandavas had escaped from the town ofVaranavata. The son of Pandu told the monarch every particular in detailof their escape from the burning palace of lac. Hearing everything thatthe son of Kunti said, king Drupada censured Dhritarashtra, that ruler ofmen. And the monarch gave every assurance unto Yudhishthira, the son ofKunti. And that foremost of eloquent men then and there vowed to restoreYudhishthira to his paternal throne.
"Then Kunti and Krishna and Bhima and Arjuna and the twins, commanded bythe king, to reside there, treated by Yajnasena with due respect. Thenking Drupada with his sons, assured by all that had happened, approachingYudhishthira, said, 'O thou of mighty arms, let the Kuru prince Arjunatake with due rites, the hand of my daughter on this auspicious day, andlet him, therefore, perform the usual initiatory rites of marriage.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Hearing these words of Drupada, the virtuousking Yudhishthira replied, saying, 'O great king, I also shall have tomarry.' Hearing him, Drupada said, 'If it pleaseth thee, take thou thehand of my daughter thyself with due rites. Or, give Krishna in marriageunto whomsoever of thy brothers thou likest.' Yudhishthira said, 'Thydaughter, O king, shall be the common wife of us all! Even thus it hathbeen ordered, O monarch, by our mother. I am unmarried still, and Bhimaalso is so amongst the sons of Pandu. This thy jewel of a daughter hathbeen won by Arjuna. This, O king, is the rule with us; to ever enjoyequally a jewel that we may obtain. O best of monarchs, that rule ofconduct we cannot now abandon. Krishna, therefore, shall become thewedded wife of us all. Let her take our hands, one after another beforethe fire.'
'Drupada answered, 'O scion of Kuru's race, it hath been directed thatone man may have many wives. But it hath never been heard that one womanmay have many husbands! O son of Kunti, as thou art pure and acquaintedwith the rules of morality, it behoveth thee not to commit an act that issinful and opposed both to usage and the Vedas. Why, O prince, hath thyunderstanding become so?' Yudhishthira said in reply, 'O monarch,morality is subtle. We do not know its course. Let us follow the waytrodden by the illustrious ones of former ages. My tongue never utteredan untruth. My heart also never turneth to what is sinful. My mothercommandeth so; and my heart also approveth of it. Therefore, O king, thatis quite conformable to virtue. Act according to it, without anyscruples. Entertain no fear, O king, about this matter.'
"Drupada said, 'O son of Kunti thy mother, and my son Dhrishtadyumna andthyself, settle amongst yourselves as to what should be done. Tell me theresult of your deliberations and tomorrow I will do what is proper.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'After this, O Bharata, Yudhishthira, Kunti andDhrishtadyumna discoursed upon this matter. Just at that time, however,the island-born (Vyasa), O monarch, came there in course of hiswanderings.'"

SECTION CLXLVIII
(Vaivahika Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana said, 'Then all the Pandavas and the illustrious king ofthe Panchalas and all others there present stood up and saluted withreverence the illustrious Rishi Krishna (Dwaipayana). The high-souledRishi, saluting them in return and enquiring after their welfare, satdown on a carpet of gold. And commanded by Krishna (Dwaipayana) ofimmeasurable energy, those foremost of men all sat down on costly seats.A little after, O monarch, the son of Prishata in sweet accents asked theillustrious Rishi about the wedding of his daughter. And he said, 'How, Oillustrious one, can one woman become the wife of many men without beingdefiled by sin? O, tell me truly all about this.' Hearing these wordsVyasa replied, 'This practice, O king, being opposed to usage and theVedas, hath become obsolete. I desire, however, to hear what the opinionof each of you is upon this matter.'
"Hearing these words of the Rishi, Drupada spoke first, saying, 'Thepractice is sinful in my opinion, being opposed to both usage and theVedas. O best of Brahmanas, nowhere have I seen many men having one wife.The illustrious ones also of former ages never had such a usage amongstthem. The wise should never commit a sin. I, therefore, can never make upmind to act in this way. This practice always appeareth to me to be ofdoubtful morality.
"After Drupada had ceased, Dhrishtadyumna spoke, saying 'O bull amongstBrahmanas, O thou of ascetic wealth, how can, O Brahmana, the elderbrother, if he is of a good disposition, approach the wife of his youngerbrother? The ways of morality are ever subtle, and, therefore, we knowthem not. We cannot, therefore, say what is conformable to morality andwhat not. We cannot do such a deed, therefore, with a safe conscience.Indeed, O Brahmana, I cannot say, 'Let Draupadi become the common wife offive brothers.'
"Yudhishthira then spoke, saying, 'My tongue never uttereth an untruthand my heart never inclineth to what is sinful. When my heart approvethof it, it can never be sinful. I have heard in the Purana that a lady ofname Jatila, the foremost of all virtuous women belonging to the race ofGotama had married seven Rishis. So also an ascetic's daughter, born of atree, had in former times united herself in marriage with ten brothersall bearing the same name of Prachetas and who were all of souls exaltedby asceticism. O foremost of all that are acquainted with the rules ofmorality, it is said that obedience to superior is ever meritorious.Amongst all superiors, it is well-known that the mother is the foremost.Even she hath commanded us to enjoy Draupadi as we do anything obtainedas alms. It is for this, O best of Brahmanas, that I regard the(proposed) act as virtuous.'
"Kunti then said, 'The act is even so as the virtuous Yudhishthira hathsaid. I greatly fear, O Brahmana, lest my speech should become untrue.How shall I be saved from untruth?'
"When they had all finished speaking, Vyasa said, 'O amiable one, howshall thou be saved from the consequence of untruth? Even this is eternalvirtue! I will not, O king of the Panchalas, discourse on this before youall. But thou alone shalt listen to me when I disclose how this practicehath been established and why it is to be regarded as old and eternal.There is no doubt that what Yudhishthira hath said is quite conformableto virtue.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Then the illustrious Vyasa--the masterDwaipayana--rose, and taking hold of Drupada's hand led him to a privateapartment. The Pandavas and Kunti and Dhrishtadyumna of Prishata's racesat there, waiting for the return of Vyasa and Drupada. Meanwhile,Dwaipayana began his discourse with illustrious monarch for explaininghow the practice of polyandry could not be regarded as sinful.'"

SECTION CLXLIX
(Vaivahika Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana said, 'Vyasa continued, 'In days of yore, the celestialshad once commenced a grand sacrifice in the forest of Naimisha. At thatsacrifice, O king, Yama, the son of Vivaswat, became the slayer of thedevoted animals. Yama, thus employed in that sacrifice, did not (duringthat period), O king, kill a single human being. Death being suspended inthe world, the number of human beings increased very greatly. Then Somaand Sakra and Varuna and Kuvera, the Sadhyas, the Rudras, the Vasus, thetwin Aswins,--these and other celestials went unto Prajapati, the Creatorof the universe. Struck with fear for the increase of the humanpopulation of the world they addressed the Master of creation and said,'Alarmed, O lord, at the increase of human beings on earth, we come tothee for relief. Indeed, we crave thy protection.' Hearing those wordsthe Grandsire said, 'Ye have little cause to be frightened at thisincrease of human beings. Ye all are immortal. It behoveth you not totake fright at human beings.' The celestials replied, 'The mortals haveall become immortal. There is no distinction now between us and them.Vexed at the disappearance of all distinction, we have come to thee inorder that thou mayest distinguish us from them.' The Creator then said,'The son of Vivaswat is even now engaged in the grand sacrifice. It isfor this that men are not dying. But when Yama's work in connection withthe sacrifice terminates, men will again begin to die as before.Strengthened by your respective energies, Yama will, when that timecomes, sweep away by thousands the inhabitants on earth who will scarcelyhave then any energy left in them.'
"Vyasa continued, 'Hearing these words of the first-born deity, thecelestials returned to the spot where the grand sacrifice was beingperformed. And the mighty one sitting by the side of the Bhagirathi saw a(golden) lotus being carried along by the current. And beholding that(golden) lotus, they wondered much. And amongst them, that foremost ofcelestials, viz., Indra, desirous of ascertaining whence it came,proceeded up along the course of the Bhagirathi. And reaching that spotwhence the goddess Ganga issues perennially, Indra beheld a womanpossessing the splendour of fire. The woman who had come there to takewater was washing herself in the stream, weeping all the while. Thetear-drops she shed, falling on the stream, were being transformed intogolden lotuses. The wielder of the thunderbolt, beholding that wonderfulsight, approached the woman and asked her, 'Who art thou, amiable lady?Why dost thou weep? I desire to know the truth. O, tell me everything.'
"Vyasa continued, 'The woman thereupon answered, 'O Sakra, thou mayestknow who I am and why, unfortunate that I am, I weep, if only, O chief ofthe celestials, thou comest with me as I lead the way. Thou shall thensee what it is I weep for." Hearing these words of the lady, Indrafollowed her as she led the way. And soon he saw, not far off from wherehe was, a handsome youth with a young lady seated on a throne placed onone of the peaks of Himavat and playing at dice. Beholding that youth,the thief of the celestials said, 'Know, intelligent youth, that thisuniverse is under my sway.' Seeing, however, that the person addressedwas so engrossed in dice that he took no notice of what he said, Indrawas possessed by anger and repeated, 'I am the lord of the universe. Theyouth who was none else than the god Mahadeva (the god of the gods),seeing Indra filled with wrath, only smiled, having cast a glance at him.At that glance, however, the chief of the celestials was at onceparalysed and stood there like a stake. When the game at dice was over,Isana addressing the weeping woman said, 'Bring Sakra hither, for I shallsoon so deal with him that pride may not again enter his heart.' As soonas Sakra was touched by that woman, the chief of the celestials withlimbs paralysed by that touch, fell down on the earth. The illustriousIsana of fierce energy then said unto him, 'Act not, O Sakra, ever againin this way. Remove this huge stone, for thy strength and energy areimmeasurable, and enter the hole (it will disclose) where await someothers possessing the splendour of the sun and who are all like untothee.' Indra, then, on removing that stone, beheld a cave in the breastof that king of mountains, within which were four others resemblinghimself. Beholding their plight, Sakra became seized with grief andexclaimed, 'Shall I be even like these?' Then the god Girisha, lookingfull at Indra with expanded eyes, said in anger, 'O thou of a hundredsacrifices, enter this cave without loss of time, for thou hast fromfolly insulted me.' Thus addressed by the lord Isana, the chief of thecelestials, in consequence of that terrible imprecation, was deeplypained, and with limbs weakened by fear trembled like the wind-shakenleaf of a Himalayan fig. And cursed unexpectedly by the god owning a bullfor his vehicle, Indra, with joined hands and shaking from head to foot,addressed that fierce god of multi-form manifestations, saving, 'Thouart, O Bhava, the over-looker of the infinite Universe!' Hearing thesewords the god of fiery energy smiled and said, 'Those that are ofdisposition like thine never obtain my grace. These others (within thecave) had at one time been like thee. Enter thou this cave, therefore,and lie there for some time. The fate of you all shall certainly be thesame. All of you shall have to take your birth in the world of men,where, having achieved many difficult feats and slaying a large number ofmen, ye shall again by the merits of your respective deeds, regain thevalued region of Indra. Ye shall accomplish all I have said and much morebesides, of other kinds of work.' Then those Indras, of their shorn glorysaid, 'We shall go from our celestial regions even unto the region of menwhere salvation is ordained to be difficult of acquisition. But let thegods Dharma, Vayu, Maghavat, and the twin Aswins beget us upon ourwould-be mother. Fighting with men by means of both celestial and humanweapons, we shall again come back into the region of Indra.'
"Vyasa continued, 'Hearing these words of the former Indras, the wielderof the thunderbolt once more addressed that foremost of gods, saying,'Instead of going myself, I shall, with a portion of my energy, createfrom myself a person for the accomplishment of the task (thou assignest)to form the fifth among these!' Vishwabhuk, Bhutadhaman, Sivi of greatenergy, Santi the fourth, and Tejaswin, these it is said were the fiveIndras of old. And the illustrious god of the formidable bow, from hiskindness, granted unto the five Indras the desire they cherished. And healso appointed that woman of extraordinary beauty, who was none else thancelestial Sri (goddess of grace) herself, to be their common wife in theworld of men. Accompanied by all those Indras, the god Isana then wentunto Narayana of immeasurable energy, the Infinite, the Immaterial, theUncreate, the Old, the Eternal, and the Spirit of these universes withoutlimits. Narayana approved of everything. Those Indras then were born inthe world of men. And Hari (Narayana) took up two hairs from his body,one of which hairs was black and the other white. And those two hairsentered the wombs of two of the Yadu race, by name Devaki and Rohini. Andone of these hairs viz., that which was white, became Valadeva. And thehair that was black was born as Kesava's self, Krishna. And those Indrasof old who had been confined in the cave on the Himavat are none elsethan the sons of Pandu, endued with great energy. And Arjuna amongst thePandavas, called also Savyasachin (using both hands with equal dexterity)is a portion of Sakra.'
"Vyasa continued, 'Thus, O king, they who have been born as the Pandavasare none else than those Indras of old. And the celestial Sri herself whohad been appointed as their wife is this Draupadi of extraordinarybeauty. How could she whose effulgence is like that of the sun or themoon, whose fragrance spreads for two miles around, take her birth in anyother than an extraordinary way, viz., from within the earth, by virtueof the sacrificial rites? Unto thee, O king, I cheerfully grant thisother boon in the form of spiritual sight. Behold now the sons of Kuntiendued with their sacred and celestial bodies of old!'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Saying this, that sacred Brahmana Vyasa ofgenerous deeds, by means of his ascetic power, granted celestial sightunto the king. Thereupon the king beheld all the Pandavas endued withtheir former bodies. And the king saw them possessed of celestial bodies,with golden crowns and celestial garlands, and each resembling Indrahimself, with complexions radiant as fire or the sun, and decked withevery ornament, and handsome, and youthful, with broad chests andstatures measuring about five cubits. Endued with every accomplishment,and decked with celestial robes of great beauty and fragrant garlands ofexcellent making the king beheld them as so many three-eyed gods(Mahadeva), or Vasus, or Rudras, or Adityas themselves. And observing thePandavas in the forms of those Indras of old, and Arjuna also in the formof Indra sprung from Sakra himself, king Drupada was highly pleased. Andthe monarch wondered much on beholding that manifestation of celestialpower under deep disguise. The king looking at his daughter, thatforemost of women endued with great beauty, like unto a celestial damseland possessed of the splendour of fire or the moon, regarded her as theworthy wife of those celestial beings, for her beauty, splendour andfame. And beholding that wonderful sight, the monarch touched the feet ofSatyavati's son, exclaiming, 'O great Rishi, nothing is miraculous inthee!' The Rishi then cheerfully continued, 'In a certain hermitage therewas an illustrious Rishi's daughter, who, though handsome and chaste,obtained not a husband. The maiden gratified, by severe ascetic penances,the god Sankara (Mahadeva). The lord Sankara, gratified at her penances,told her himself. 'Ask thou the boon thou desirest' Thus addressed, themaiden repeatedly said unto the boon-giving Supreme Lord, 'I desire toobtain a husband possessed of every accomplishment. Sankara, the chief ofthe gods, gratified with her, gave her the boon she asked, saying, 'Thoushall have, amiable maiden, five husbands.' The maiden, who had succeededin gratifying the god, said again, 'O Sankara, I desire to have from theeonly one husband possessed of every virtue?' The god of gods,well-pleased with her, spake again, saying, 'Thou hast, O maiden,addressed me five full times, repeating, 'Give me a husband.' Therefore,O amiable one, it shall even be as thou hast asked. Blessed be thou. Allthis, however, will happen in a future life of thine!'
"Vyasa continued, 'O Drupada, this thy daughter of celestial beauty isthat maiden. Indeed, the faultless Krishna sprung from Prishata's racehath been pre-ordained to become the common wife of five husbands. Thecelestial Sri, having undergone severe ascetic penances, hath, for thesake of the Pandavas, had her birth as thy daughter, in the course of thygrand sacrifice. That handsome goddess, waited upon by all thecelestials, as a consequence of her own acts becomes the (common) wife offive husbands. It is for this that the self-create had created her.Having listened to all this, O king Drupada, do what thou desirest.'"

SECTION CC
(Vaivahika Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana said, 'Drupada, on hearing this, observed, O great Rishi,it was only when I had not heard this from thee that I had sought to actin the way I told thee of. Now, however, that I know all, I cannot beindifferent to what hath been ordained by the gods. Therefore do Iresolve to accomplish what thou hast said. The knot of destiny cannot beuntied. Nothing in this world is the result of our own acts. That whichhad been appointed by us in view of securing one only bridegroom hath nowterminated in favour of many. As Krishna (in a former life) hadrepeatedly said, 'O, give me a husband!' the great god himself even gaveher the boon she had asked. The god himself knows the right or wrong ofthis. As regards myself, when Sankara hath ordained so, right or wrong,no sin can attach to me. Let these with happy hearts take, as ordained,the hand of Krishna with the rites.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Then the illustrious Vyasa, addressingYudhishthira the just, said, 'This day is an auspicious day, O son ofPandu! This day the moon has entered the constellation called Pushya.Take thou the hand of Krishna today, thyself first before thy brothers!'When Vyasa had said so, king Yajnasena and his son made preparations forthe wedding. And the monarch kept ready various costly articles asmarriage presents. Then he brought out his daughter Krishna, decked,after a bath, with many jewels and pearls. Then there came to witness thewedding all the friends and relatives of the king, ministers of state,and many Brahmanas and citizens. And they all took their seats accordingto their respective ranks. Adorned with that concourse of principal men,with its yard decked with lotuses and lilies scattered thereupon, andbeautified with lines of troops, king Drupada's palace, festooned aroundwith diamonds and precious stones, looked like the firmament studded withbrilliant stars. Then those princes of the Kuru line, endued with youthand adorned with ear-rings, attired in costly robes and perfumed withsandal-paste, bathed and performed the usual religious rites andaccompanied by their priest Dhaumya who was possessed of the splendour offire, entered the wedding hall one after another in due order, and withglad hearts, like mighty bulls entering a cow-pen. Then Dhaumya,well-conversant with the Vedas, igniting the sacred fire, poured with duemantras libations of clarified butter into that blazing element. Andcalling Yudhishthira there, Dhaumya, acquainted with mantras, united himwith Krishna. Walking round the fire the bridegroom and the bride tookeach other's hand. After their union was complete, the priest Dhaumya,taking leave of Yudhishthira, that ornament of battles, went out of thepalace. Then those mighty car-warriors,--those perpetuators of the Kuruline,--those princes attired in gorgeous dresses, took the hand of thatbest of women, day by day in succession, aided by that priest. O king,the celestial Rishi told me of a very wonderful and extraordinary thingin connection with these marriages, viz., that the illustrious princessof slender waist regained her virginity every day after a previousmarriage. After the weddings were over, king Drupada gave unto thosemighty car-warriors diverse kinds of excellent wealth. And the king gaveunto them one hundred cars with golden standards, each drawn by foursteeds with golden bridles. And he gave them one hundred elephants allpossessing auspicious marks on their temples and faces and like unto ahundred mountains with golden peaks. He also gave them a hundred femaleservants all in the prime of youth and clad in costly robes and ornamentsand floral wreaths. And the illustrious monarch of the Lunar race gaveunto each of those princes of celestial beauty, making the sacred fire awitness of his gifts, much wealth and many costly robes and ornaments ofgreat splendour. The sons of Pandu endued with great strength, aftertheir wedding were over, and after they had obtained Krishna like unto asecond Sri along with great wealth, passed their days in joy andhappiness, like so many Indras, in the capital of the king of thePanchalas,'"