The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa BOOK 1 ADI PARVA SECTION CLXXXVI (Swayamvara Parva)

 The Mahabharata of

Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa BOOK 1

ADI PARVA

 SECTION CLXXXVI

(Swayamvara Parva)

"Vaisampayana said, 'Then those tigers among men--those brothers--the

five Pandavas, set out for Panchala to behold that country and Draupadi

and the festivities (in view of her marriage). And those tigers among

men--those oppressors of all enemies--in going along with their mother,

saw on the way numerous Brahmanas proceeding together. And those

Brahmanas who were all Brahmacharis beholding the Pandavas, O king, asked

them, 'Where are ye going to? Whence also are ye come?' And Yudhishthira

replied unto them, saying, 'Ye bulls among Brahmanas, know ye that we are

uterine brothers proceeding together with our mother. We are coming even

from Ekachakra.' The Brahmanas then said, 'Go ye this very day to the

abode of Drupada in the country of the Panchalas. A great Swayamvara

takes place there, on which a large sum of money will be spent. We also

are proceeding thither. Let us all go together. Extraordinary festivities

will take place (in Drupada's abode). The illustrious Yajnasena,

otherwise called Drupada, had a daughter risen from the centre of the

sacrificial altar. Of eyes like lotus-petals and of faultless features

endued with youth and intelligence, she is extremely beautiful. And the

slender-waisted Draupadi of every feature perfectly faultless, and whose

body emitteth a fragrance like unto that of the blue lotus for two full

miles around, is the sister of the strong-armed Dhrishtadyumna gifted

with great prowess--the (would-be) slayer of Drona--who was born with

natural mail and sword and bow and arrows from the blazing fire, himself

like unto the second Fire. And that daughter of Yajnasena will select a

husband from among the invited princes. And we are repairing thither to

behold her and the festivities on the occasion, like unto the festivities

of heaven. And to that Swayamvara will come from various lands kings and

princes who are performers of sacrifices in which the presents to the

Brahmanas are large: who are devoted to study, are holy, illustrious, and

of rigid vows; who are young and handsome; and who are mighty

car-warriors and accomplished in arms. Desirous of winning (the hand of)

the maiden those monarchs will all give away much wealth and kine and

food and other articles of enjoyment. And taking all they will give away

and witnessing the Swayamvara, and enjoying the festivities, we shall go

wheresoever we like. And there will also come unto that Swayamvara, from

various countries, actors, and bards singing the panegyrics of kings, and

dancers, and reciters of Puranas, and heralds, and powerful athletes. And

beholding all these sights and taking what will be given away to

illustrious ones, ye will return with us. Ye are all handsome and like

unto the celestials! Beholding you, Krishna may, by chance, choose some

one amongst you superior to the rest. This thy brother of mighty arms and

handsome and endued with beauty also, engaged in (athletic) encounters,

may, by chance, earn great wealth.'

"On hearing these words of the Brahmanas, Yudhishthira replied, 'Ye

Brahmanas, we will all go with you to witness that maiden's

Swayamvara--that excellent jubilee.'"

SECTION CLXXXVII

(Swayamvara Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'Thus addressed by the Brahmanas, the Pandavas, O

Janamejaya, proceeded towards the country of the southern Panchalas ruled

over by the king Drupada. And on their way those heroes beheld the

illustrious Dwaipayana--that Muni of pure soul, and perfectly sinless.

And duly saluting the Rishi and saluted by him, after their conversation

was over, commanded by him they proceeded to Drupada's abode. And those

mighty chariot-fighters proceeded by slow stages staying for some time

within those beautiful woods and by fine lakes that they beheld along

their way. Devoted to study, pure in their practices, amiable, and

sweet-speeched, the Pandavas at last entered the country of the

Panchalas. And beholding the capital, as also the fort, they took up

their quarters in the house of a potter, Adopting the Brahmanical

profession, they began to lead an eleemosynary life. And no men

recognised those heroes during their stay in Drupada's capital.

"Yajnasena always cherished the desire of bestowing his daughter on

Kiriti (Arjuna), the son of Pandu. But he never spoke of it to anybody.

And, O Janamejaya, the king of Panchala thinking of Arjuna caused a very

stiff bow to be made that was incapable of being bent by any except

Arjuna. Causing some machinery to be erected in the sky, the king set up

a mark attached to that machinery. And Drupada said, 'He that will string

this bow and with these well-adorned arrows shoot the mark above the

machine shall obtain my daughter.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'With these words king Drupada proclaimed the

Swayamvara. On hearing of them, O Bharata, the kings of other lands came

to his capital. And there came also many illustrious Rishis desirous of

beholding the Swayamvara. And there came also, O king, Duryodhana and the

Kurus accompanied by Kama. There also came many superior Brahmanas from

every country. And the monarchs who came there were all received with

reverence by the illustrious Drupada. Desirous of beholding the

Swayamvara, the citizens, roaring like the sea, all took their seats on

the platforms that were erected around the amphitheatre. The monarch

entered the grand amphitheatre by the north-eastern gate. And the

amphitheatre which itself had been erected on an auspicious and level

plain to the north-east of Drupada's capital, was surrounded by beautiful

mansions. And it was enclosed on all sides with high walls and a moat

with arched doorways here and there. The vast amphitheatre was also

shaded by a canopy of various colours. And resounding with the notes of

thousands of trumpets, it was scented with black aloes and sprinkled all

over with water mixed with sandal-paste and decorated with garlands of

flowers. It was surrounded with high mansions perfectly white and

resembling the cloud-kissing peaks of Kailasa. The windows of those

mansions were covered with net works of gold; the walls were set with

diamonds and precious costly carpets and cloths. All those mansions

adorned with wreaths and garlands of flowers and rendered fragrant with

excellent aloes, were all white and spotless, like unto the necks of

swans. And the fragrance therefrom could be perceived from the distance

of a Yojana (eight miles). And they were each furnished with a hundred

doors wide enough to admit a crowd of persons; they were adorned with

costly beds and carpets, and beautified with various metals; they

resembled the peaks of the Himavat. And in those seven-storied houses of

various sizes dwelt the monarchs invited by Drupada whose persons were

adorned with every ornament and who were possessed with the desire of

excelling one another. And the inhabitants of the city and the country

who had come to behold Krishna and taken their seats on the excellent

platforms erected around, beheld seated within those mansions those lions

among kings who were all endued with the energy of great souls. And those

exalted sovereigns were all adorned with the fragrant paste of the black

aloe. Of great liberality, they were all devoted to Brahma and they

protected their kingdoms against all foes. And for their own good deeds

they were loved by the whole world.

"The Pandavas, too, entering that amphitheatre, sat with the Brahmanas

and beheld the unequalled affluence of the king of the Panchalas. And

that concourse of princes, Brahmanas, and others, looking gay at the

performances of actors and dancers (large presents of every kind of

wealth being constantly made), began to swell day by day. And it lasted,

O king, several days, till on the sixteenth day when it was at its full,

the daughter of Drupada, O thou bull of the Bharata race, having washed

herself clean entered the amphitheatre, richly attired and adorned with

every ornament and bearing in her hand a dish of gold (whereon were the

usual offerings of Arghya) and a garland of flowers. Then the priest of

the lunar race--a holy Brahmana conversant with all mantras--ignited the

sacrificial fire and poured on it with due rites libations of clarified

butter. And gratifying Agni by these libations and making the Brahmanas

utter the auspicious formula of benediction, stopped the musical

instruments that were playing all around. And when that vast

amphitheatre, O monarch, became perfectly still, Dhrishtadyumna possessed

of a voice deep as the sound of the kettledrum or the clouds, taking hold

of his sister's arm, stood in the midst of that concourse, and said, with

a voice loud and deep as the roar of the clouds, these charming words of

excellent import, 'Hear ye assembled kings, this is the bow, that is the

mark, and these are the arrows. Shoot the mark through the orifice of the

machine with these five sharpened arrows. Truly do I say that, possessed

of lineage, beauty of persons, and strength whoever achieveth this great

feat shall obtain today this my sister, Krishna for his wife.' Having

thus spoken unto the assembled monarchs Drupada's son then addressed his

sister, reciting unto her the names and lineages and achievements of

those assembled lords of the earth.'"

SECTION CLXXXVIII

(Swayamvara Parva continued)

"Dhrishtadyumna said, 'Duryodhana, Durvisaha, Durmukha and

Dushpradharshana, Vivinsati, Vikarna, Saha, and Duhsasana; Yuyutsu and

Vayuvega and Bhimavegarava; Ugrayudha, Valaki, Kanakayu, and Virochana,

Sukundala, Chitrasena, Suvarcha, and Kanakadhwaja; Nandaka, and Vahusali,

and Tuhunda, and Vikata; these, O sister, and many other mighty sons of

Dhritarashtra--all heroes--accompanied by Karna, have come for thy hand.

Innumerable other illustrious monarchs all bulls among Kshatriyas--have

also come for thee. Sakuni, Sauvala, Vrisaka, and Vrihadvala,--these sons

of the king Gandhara--have also come. Foremost of all wielders of

weapons--the illustrious Aswatthaman and Bhoja, adorned with every

ornament have also come for thee. Vrihanta, Manimana, Dandadhara,

Sahadeva, Jayatsena, Meghasandhi, Virata with his two sons Sankha and

Uttara, Vardhakshemi, Susarma, Senavindu, Suketu with his two sons Sunama

and Suvarcha, Suchitra, Sukumara, Vrika, Satyadhriti, Suryadhwaja,

Rochamana, Nila, Chitrayudha, Agsuman, Chekitana, the mighty Sreniman,

Chandrasena the mighty son of Samudrasena, Jarasandha, Vidanda, and

Danda--the father and son, Paundraka, Vasudeva, Bhagadatta endued with

great energy, Kalinga, Tamralipta, the king of Pattana, the mighty

car-warrior Salya, the king of Madra, with his son, the heroic

Rukmangada, Rukmaratha, Somadatta of the Kuru race with his three sons,

all mighty chariot-fighters and heroes, viz., Bhuri, Bhurisrava, and

Sala, Sudakshina, Kamvoja of the Puru race, Vrihadvala, Sushena, Sivi,

the son of Usinara, Patcharanihanta, the king of Karusha, Sankarshana

(Valadeva), Vasudeva (Krishna) the mighty son of Rukmini, Samva,

Charudeshna, the son of Pradyumna with Gada, Akrura, Satyaki, the

high-souled Uddhava, Kritavarman, the son of Hridika, Prithu, Viprithu,

Viduratha, Kanka, Sanku with Gaveshana, Asavaha, Aniruddha, Samika,

Sarimejaya, the heroic Vatapi Jhilli Pindaraka, the powerful Usinara, all

these of the Vrishni race, Bhagiratha, Vrihatkshatra, Jayadratha the son

of Sindhu, Vrihadratha, Valhika, the mighty charioteer Srutayu, Uluka,

Kaitava, Chitrangada and Suvangada, the highly intelligent Vatsaraja, the

king of Kosala, Sisupala and the powerful Jarasandha, these and many

other great kings--all Kshatriyas celebrated throughout the world--have

come, O blessed one, for thee. Endued with prowess, these will shoot the

mark. And thou shalt choose him for thy husband who amongst these will

shoot the mark.'"

SECTION CLXXXIX

(Swayamvara Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'Then those youthful princes adorned with ear-rings,

vying with one another and each regarding himself accomplished in arms

and gifted with might, stood up brandishing their weapons. And

intoxicated with pride of beauty, prowess, lineage, knowledge, wealth,

and youth, they were like Himalayan elephants in the season of rut with

crowns split from excess of temporal juice. And beholding each other with

jealousy and influenced by the god of desire, they suddenly rose up from

their royal seats, exclaiming 'Krishna shall be mine.' And the Kshatriyas

assembled in that amphitheatre, each desirous of winning the daughter of

Drupada, looked like the celestial (of old) standing round Uma, the

daughter of the King of mountains. Afflicted with the shafts of the god

of the flowery bow and with hearts utterly lost in the contemplation of

Krishna, those princes descended into the amphitheatre for winning the

Panchala maiden and began to regard even their best friends with

jealousy. And there came also the celestials on their cars, with the

Rudras and the Adityas, the Vasus and the twin Aswins, the Swadhas and

all the Marutas, and Kuvera with Yama walking ahead. And there came also

the Daityas and the Suparnas, the great Nagas and the celestial Rishis,

the Guhyakas and the Charanas and Viswavasu and Narada and Parvata, and

the principal Gandharvas with Apsaras. And Halayudha (Valadeva) and

Janardana (Krishna) and the chief of the Vrishni, Andhaka, and Yadava

tribes who obeyed the leadership of Krishna were also there, viewing the

scene. And beholding those elephants in rut--the five

(Pandavas)--attracted towards Draupadi like mighty elephants towards a

lake overgrown with lotuses, or like fire covered with ashes, Krishna the

foremost of Yadu heroes began to reflect. And he said unto Rama

(Valadeva), 'That is Yudhishthira; that is Bhima with Jishnu (Arjuna);

and those are the twin heroes.' And Rama surveying them slowly cast a

glance of satisfaction at Krishna. Biting their nether lips in wrath, the

other heroes there--sons and grandsons of kings--with their eyes and

hearts and thoughts set on Krishna, looked with expanded eyes on Draupadi

alone without noticing the Pandavas. And the sons of Pritha also, of

mighty arms, and the illustrious twin heroes, beholding Draupadi, were

all likewise struck by the shafts of Kama. And crowded with celestial

Rishis and Gandharvas and Suparnas and Nagas and Asuras and Siddhas, and

filled with celestial perfumes and scattered over with celestial flowers,

and resounding with the kettle-drum and the deep hum of infinite voices,

and echoing with the softer music of the flute, the Vina, and the tabor,

the cars of the celestials could scarcely find a passage through the

firmament. Then those princes--Karna, Duryodhana, Salwa, Salya,

Aswatthaman, Kratha, Sunitha, Vakra, the ruler of Kalinga and Banga,

Pandya, Paundra, the ruler of Videha, the chief of the Yavanas, and many

other sons and grandsons of kings,--sovereigns of territories with eyes

like lotus-petals,--one after another began to exhibit prowess for

(winning) that maiden of unrivalled beauty. Adorned with crowns,

garlands, bracelets, and other ornaments, endued with mighty arms,

possessed of prowess and vigour and bursting with strength and energy,

those princes could not, even in imagination, string that bow of

extraordinary stiffness.

"And (some amongst) those kings in exerting with swelling lips each

according to his strength, education, skill, and energy,--to string that

bow, were tossed on the ground and lay perfectly motionless for some

time. Their strength spent and their crowns and garlands loosened from

their persons, they began to pant for breath and their ambition of

winning that fair maiden was cooled. Tossed by that tough bow, and their

garlands and bracelets and other ornaments disordered, they began to

utter exclamations of woe. And that assemblage of monarchs, their hope of

obtaining Krishna gone, looked sad and woeful. And beholding the plight

of those monarchs, Karna that foremost of all wielders of the bow went to

where the bow was, and quickly raising it strung it and placed the arrows

on the string. And beholding the son of Surya--Karna of the Suta

tribe--like unto fire, or Soma, or Surya himself, resolved to shoot the

mark, those foremost of bowmen--the sons of Pandu--regarded the mark as

already shot and brought down upon the ground. But seeing Karna, Draupadi

loudly said, 'I will not select a Suta for my lord.' Then Karna, laughing

in vexation and casting glance at the Sun, threw aside the bow already

drawn to a circle.

Then when all those Kshatriyas gave up the task, the heroic king of the

Chedis--mighty as Yama (Pluto) himself--the illustrious and determined

Sisupala, the son of Damaghosa, in endeavouring to string the bow,

himself fell upon his knees on the ground. Then king Jarasandha endued

with great strength and powers, approaching the bow stood there for some

moment, fixed and motionless like a mountain. Tossed by the bow, he too

fell upon his knees on the ground, and rising up, the monarch left the

amphitheatre for (returning to) his kingdom. Then the great hero Salya,

the king of Madra, endued with great strength, in endeavouring to string

the bow fell upon his knees on the ground. At last when in that

assemblage consisting of highly respectable people, all the monarchs had

become subjects of derisive talk that foremost of heroes--Jishnu, the son

of Kunti--desired to string the bow and placed the arrows on the

bow-string.'"

SECTION CLXL

(Swayamvara Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana continued, 'When all the monarchs had desisted from

stringing that bow, the high-souled Jishnu arose from among the crowd of

Brahmanas seated in that assembly. And beholding Partha possessing the

complexion of Indra's banner, advancing towards the bow, the principal

Brahmanas shaking their deer-skins raised a loud clamour. And while some

were displeased, there were others that were well-pleased. And some there

were, possessed of intelligence and foresight, who addressing one another

said, 'Ye Brahmanas, how can a Brahmana stripling unpractised in arms and

weak in strength, string that bow which such celebrated Kshatriyas as

Salya and others endued with might and accomplished in the science and

practice of arms could not? If he doth not achieve success in this

untried task which he hath undertaken from a spirit of boyish

unsteadiness, the entire body of Brahmanas here will be rendered

ridiculous in the eyes of the assembled monarchs. Therefore, forbid this

Brahmana that he may not go to string the bow which he is even now

desirous of doing from vanity, childish daring, or mere unsteadiness.'

Others replied, 'We shall not be made ridiculous, nor shall we incur the

disrespect of anybody or the displeasure of the sovereigns. Some

remarked, 'This handsome youth is even like the trunk of a mighty

elephant, whose shoulders and arms and thighs are so well-built, who in

patience looks like the Himavat, whose gait is even like that of the

lion, and whose prowess seems to be like that of an elephant in rut, and

who is so resolute, that it is probable that he will accomplish this

feat. He has strength and resolution. If he had none, he would never go

of his own accord. Besides, there is nothing in the three worlds that

Brahmanas of all mortal men cannot accomplish. Abstaining from all food

or living upon air or eating of fruits, persevering in their vows, and

emaciated and weak, Brahmanas are ever strong in their own energy. One

should never disregard a Brahmana whether his acts be right or wrong, by

supposing him incapable of achieving any task that is great or little, or

that is fraught with bliss or woe. Rama the son of Jamadagni defeated in

battle, all the Kshatriyas. Agastya by his Brahma energy drank off the

fathomless ocean. Therefore, say ye, 'Let this youth bend the bow and

string it with ease' (and many said), 'So be it.' And the Brahmanas

continued speaking unto one another these and other words. Then Arjuna

approached the bow and stood there like a mountain. And walking round

that bow, and bending his head unto that giver of boons--the lord

Isana--and remembering Krishna also, he took it up. And that bow which

Rukma, Sunitha, Vakra, Radha's son, Duryodhana, Salya, and many other

kings accomplished in the science and practice of arms, could not even

with great exertion, string, Arjuna, the son of Indra, that foremost of

all persons endued with energy and like unto the younger brother of Indra

(Vishnu) in might, strung in the twinkling of an eye. And taking up the

five arrows he shot the mark and caused it to fall down on the ground

through the hole in the machine above which it had been placed. Then

there arose a loud uproar in the firmament, and the amphitheatre also

resounded with a loud clamour. And the gods showered celestial flowers on

the head of Partha the slayer of foes. And thousands of Brahmanas began

to wave their upper garments in joy. And all around, the monarchs who had

been unsuccessful, uttered exclamations of grief and despair. And flowers

were rained from the skies all over the amphitheatre. And the musicians

struck up in concert. Bards and heralds began to chant in sweet tones the

praises (of the hero who accomplished the feat). And beholding Arjuna,

Drupada--that slayer of foes,--was filled with joy. And the monarch

desired to assist with his forces the hero if the occasion arose. And

when the uproar was at its height, Yudhishthira, the foremost of all

virtuous men, accompanied by those first of men the twins, hastily left

the amphitheatre for returning to his temporary home. And Krishna

beholding the mark shot and beholding Partha also like unto Indra

himself, who had shot the mark, was filled with joy, and approached the

son of Kunti with a white robe and a garland of flowers. And Arjuna the

accomplisher of inconceivable feats, having won Draupadi by his success

in the amphitheatre, was saluted with reverence by all the Brahmanas. And

he soon after left the lists followed close by her who thus became his

wife.'"