SECTION CLXLVII
(Vaivahika Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana said, 'Then the illustrious
king of Panchala, addressing prince Yudhishthira in the form applicable to
Brahmanas, cheerfully enquired of that illustrious son of Kunti, saying, 'Are
we to know you as Kshatriyas, or Brahamanas, or are we to know you as
celestials who disguising themselves as Brahmanas are ranging the earth and
come hither for the hand of Krishna? O tell us truly, for we have great doubts!
Shall we 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 a celestial, O chastiser of
foes, hearing thy reply I shall make arrangements for my daughter's wedding
according to the order to which ye belong.'
"Hearing these words of Drupada,
Yudhishthira answered, saying 'Be not cheerless, O king; let joy fill thy
heart! The desire cherished by thee hath certainly been accomplished. We are
Kshatriyas, O king, and sons of the illustrious Pandu. Know me to be the eldest
of the sons of Kunti and these to be Bhima and Arjuna. By these, O king, was
thy daughter won amid the concourse of monarchs. The twins (Nakula and
Sahadeva) and Kunti wait where 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 been transferred only from one lake into another. O king, thou art
our revered superior and chief refuge. I have told thee the whole truth.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Hearing those
words, the king Drupada's eyes rolled in ecstasy. And. filled with delight the
king could not, for some moments answer Yudhishthira. Checking his emotion with
great effort, that chastiser of foes at last replied unto Yudhishthira in
proper words. The virtuous monarch enquired how the Pandavas had escaped from
the town of Varanavata. The son of Pandu told the monarch every particular in
detail of their escape from the burning palace of lac. Hearing everything that
the son of Kunti said, king Drupada censured Dhritarashtra, that ruler of men.
And the monarch gave every assurance unto Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti. And
that foremost of eloquent men then and there vowed to restore Yudhishthira to
his paternal throne.
"Then Kunti and Krishna and Bhima and Arjuna
and the twins, commanded by the king, to reside there, treated by Yajnasena
with due respect. Then king Drupada with his sons, assured by all that had
happened, approaching Yudhishthira, said, 'O thou of mighty arms, let the Kuru
prince Arjuna take with due rites, the hand of my daughter on this auspicious
day, and let him, therefore, perform the usual initiatory rites of marriage.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Hearing these
words of Drupada, the virtuous king Yudhishthira replied, saying, 'O great
king, I also shall have to marry.' Hearing him, Drupada said, 'If it pleaseth
thee, take thou the hand of my daughter thyself with due rites. Or, give
Krishna in marriage unto whomsoever of thy brothers thou likest.' Yudhishthira
said, 'Thy daughter, O king, shall be the common wife of us all! Even thus it
hath been ordered, O monarch, by our mother. I am unmarried still, and Bhima
also is so amongst the sons of Pandu. This thy jewel of a daughter hath been
won by Arjuna. This, O king, is the rule with us; to ever enjoy equally a jewel
that we may obtain. O best of monarchs, that rule of conduct we cannot now
abandon. Krishna, therefore, shall become the wedded wife of us all.
Let her take our hands, one after another before
the fire.'
'Drupada answered, 'O scion of Kuru's race, it
hath been directed that one man may have many wives. But it hath never been
heard that one woman may have many husbands! O son of Kunti, as thou art pure
and acquainted with the rules of morality, it behoveth thee not to commit an
act that is sinful and opposed both to usage and the Vedas. Why, O prince, hath
thy understanding become so?' Yudhishthira said in reply, 'O monarch, morality
is subtle. We do not know its course. Let us follow the way trodden by the illustrious
ones of former ages. My tongue never uttered an untruth. My heart also never
turneth to what is sinful. My mother commandeth so; and my heart also approveth
of it. Therefore, O king, that is quite conformable to virtue. Act according to
it, without any scruples. Entertain no fear, O king, about this matter.'
"Drupada said, 'O son of Kunti thy mother,
and my son Dhrishtadyumna and thyself, settle amongst yourselves as to what
should be done. Tell me the result of your deliberations and tomorrow I will do
what is proper.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'After this, O
Bharata, Yudhishthira, Kunti and Dhrishtadyumna discoursed upon this matter.
Just at that time, however, the island-born (Vyasa), O monarch, came there in
course of his wanderings.'"
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