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Mahabharata
Vaivahika Parva
Conversation between the Priest and Yudhisthira. Display of various things. Arrival of Dvaipayana. Words of Vyasa. History of five Indras. Marriage of Draupadi. Presents of Srikrishna.
Vaishampayana said:
Having been thus addressed, that foremost of the lunar race, the prince Dhrishtaduymna, cheerfully said to his father all that had happened and by whom Krishna (Draupadi) had been won.
Dhrishtaduymna said:
The Youth with large and red eyes, who was attired in back deer skin and looked like a celestials in beauty, who stringed the foremost of bows and brought down on earth the mark set on high, was soon surrounded by all the foremost of Brahmanas, who offered him their homage for the feat he had achieved. Incapable of bearing the sight of the foes and endued with great activity, he (the youth) displayed his prowess. Surrounded by the Brahmanas he resembled like the celestials and the Rishis.
As a female elephant follows the leader of a herd so Krishna cheerfully followed him, catching hold of his deer skin. Being unable of bearing that sight the assembled kings rose up in anger and advanced to fight.
O king, then there rose in the arena another hero, who tore up a large tree and rushed against the kings (felling them right and left), as angry Yama smites down all living creatures.
O king, the assembled kings stood motionless looking at these two best of heroes among men. While they, resembling like the sun and the moon, took Krishna with them and went away to a potter's house (situated) outside the city.
There (in the potter's house) sat a lady, as effulgent as a flame of fire, who I believe, is their mother. Around her also sat three foremost of men, each of when was like a fire.
Coming to her, the two heroes paid homage to her feet and asked Krishna "To do homage to her." Keeping Krishna there, those foremost or men all went out in their begging tour.
(When they returned), Krishna took from them the food (that they had obtained in alms) and offered a portion to the gods and gave away another portion to the Brahmanas. She gave a portion to that venerable lady and distributed the rest to those foremost of men; she herself ate last of all.
O king, they then all laid themselves down for sleep, Krishna lying like their nether pillow. The bed on which they lay was made of Kusha grass, on which they spread their deer skins.
They talked on various subjects in voices deep as those heroes were such that neither Vaishyas, nor Shudras, nor Brahmanas could talk in that way.
O king, there is no doubt that they are foremost of Kshatriyas, their conversations being on all military subjects. Our hope has been fulfilled. We have heard that the sons of Pritha escaped from the conflagration.
From the way in which the mark was shot down by the youth, the strength with which the bow was stringed by him and the manner in which they talked to one another, it is certain they are the sons of Pritha wandering in disguise.
Vaishampayana said:
Thereupon the king Drupada became exceedingly pleased and he sent to them his priest, directing him to ascertain who they were and whether they were (really) the sons of the illustrious Pandu.
As directed by the king, the priest went to them; and applauding them all, he told them duly in detail all that he was commanded by the monarch to say.
The Priest said:
O men that deserve first worship, the boon giving king of the earth, the lord of Panchala, (Drupada) is desirous to know who you are. Seeing this (hero) who has shot down the mark, his joy knows no bound.
Giving us all particulars of your family and tribe, place your feet on the heads of your enemies and gladden the hearts of the Panchala king and his men and of mine also.
King Pandu was a dear friend of king Draupada who regarded him as his counter self. He had all along cherished the desire of bestowing his this daughter on that Kuru prince (Pandu) as his daughter-in-law.
O heroes of faultless features, it was the wish in the heart of the king Drupada that the long and strong armed Arjuna should marry in due religious form his this daughter.
If that has become possible, nothing could be better, nothing more beneficial and nothing more conductive to fame and virtue than that incident. Having said this, the priest became silent. The king (Yudhishthira) seeing him thus sitting with humility said, "Let water to wash his fact and the Arghya be offered to this Brahmana. He is king Drupada's priest and therefore he is worthy of our respect. We should worship him with more than ordinary reverence."
O king, Bhima then did as directed. Accepting the worship thus offered to him, he (the priest) became exceedingly glad; and then Yudhishthira thus addressed that priest sitting in comfort.
Yudhishthira said:
By fixing a special kind of dower the Panchala king, has given away his daughter according to the practice of his order. He has not done it freely. Therefore, he has nothing to say in regard to the race, tribe, family and character of him who has performed the feat. This hero has won the princess by satisfying the demand of the king Drupada. All his queries have been answered by the stringing of the bow and the shooting down the mark.
It is by doing that which he had directed this illustrious hero has won Krishna in the assembly of kings. Under these circumstances, the king of the lunar race should not indulge in any regret which can only make him unhappy.
The desire that the king Drupada has all along entertained will (surely) be fulfilled, for O Brahmana, I believe this princess in endued with all auspicious marks.
None that is weak in strength could string that bow and none of low birth or unaccomplished in arms could have shot down the mark.
It is, therefore, not proper for the Panchala king to grieve today for his daughter. There is no man in the world who can (now) undo that act of shooting down the mark.
Vaishampayana said:
While Yudhishthira was saying all this, the king of Panchala, another messenger came in haste and said "The feast is ready."
The Messenger said:
A good feast for the bridegroom's party has been prepared by the king Drupada in view of his daughter's nuptials. Come there after finishing your daily rites. The marriage of Krishna will take place there. Do not make any delay.
These cars, adorned with golden lotus and drawn by excellent horses, are worthy of being ridden by kings. Riding on them, come to the palace of the Panchala king.
Vaishampayana said:
Having sent away the priest and having placed Kunti and Krishna on one of these cars, those best of the Kurus ascended those excellent cars and proceeded towards the palace.
O descendant of Bharata, O king, having heard from the priest the words of the Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira), he (Drupada), kept ready a large collection of things, such as fruits, sanctified garlands, armours, shields, carpets, kine, ropes, seeds and various other articles and implements of agriculture so that he might ascertain to which order these heroes belonged.
The king also collected every article appertaining to other arts and various implements and apparatus of every kind of sports.
(He kept there also) shining armours, shields, excellent swords and scimitars, beautiful chariots and horses, first class bows and well adorned arrows, various other kinds of weapons ornamented with gold, darts and rockets, battle axes and other implements of war, beds and carpets, various other fine things and cloths of various kinds.
Taking with her the virtuous Krishna, Kunti entered the inner apartment of Drupada's palace. The ladies (of the king Drupada's household) worshiped the wife of the Kuru king with joyous hearts.
O king, seeing those foremost of men, each possessing the sportive gait of the lion, each with deer skin for his upper garment, with eyes like mighty bulls, with broad shoulders and long hanging arms which looked like the bodies of mighty snakes, the king, the king's ministers, the king's sons, the king's relatives and attendants, all because exceedingly glad.
Those heroes without any hesitation and awkwardness sat with perfect fearlessness on costly seats furnished with footstools; and they sat one after the other according to the order of their age.
After those heroes were seated, well dressed male and female servants and skillful cooks brought excellent and costly viands, on plates made of gold and silver, food worthy of kings alone.
Then those foremost of men dined on those dishes and became well pleased. After the dinner was over, those heroes among men, passing over, all other things, began to examine with interest the various implements of war (displayed there).
Seeing this, Drupada's sons and the king (Drupada) himself with all the chief councillors knew the sons of Kunti to be all of royal blood and they therefore became exceedingly happy.
Then the greatly effulgent Panchala king addressed prince Yudhishthira in the form applicable to Brahmanas; he cheerfully inquired of that illustrious son of Kunti, (saying). "Are we to know you as Kshatriyas or Brahmanas,
Or accomplished Vaishyas or men born of Shudras? Or are we to know you as celestials who have assumed the disguise of Brahmanas by their power of Maya (delusion) and who are roaming over the earth and who have come here for the hand of Krishna? O Sir, tell us the truth, we are in great doubt.
Shall we not be happy when our doubts will be removed? O chastiser of foes, have the Fates been propitious to us?
Tell us the truth willingly. Truth becomes monarchs better then sacrifices and dedications of tanks. Therefore, do not speak the untruth.
O celestials like hero, O chastiser of foes, hearing your reply, I shall then make arrangements for the marriage according to the order to which you belong.
Yudhishthira said:
O Panchala king, be not cheerless. Be cheerful. There is no doubt, your desire has been fulfilled.
O king, we are Kshatriyas and we are the sons of the illustrious Pandu. Know me to be the eldest of the sons of Kunti and these two to be Bhima and Arjuna.
O king, your daughter was won by these two (heroes) in the assembly of kings. The twins (Nakula and Sahadeva) and Kunti are there where Krishna is.
O best of men, let grief be dispelled from your heart, we are Kshatriyas. Your daughter like a lotus has been transplanted from one lake to the other.
O great king, you are our revered superior and chief refuge. I have told all that is necessary to be told.
Vaishampayana said:
Thereupon the king Drupada had his eyes rolling in ecstasy and he was filled with delight; he could not for some time answer Yudhishthira.
Suppressing his joy with great effort, that chastiser of foes (Drupada) replied to Yudhishthira in proper words.
The virtuous minded (king) asked how they (the Pandavas) had escaped from the city (of Varanavata). The Pandava (Yudhishthira) narrated it all in detail.
Hearing the narration of the son of Kunti, king Drupada censured that ruler of men, Dhritarashtra.
The foremost of all eloquent men, Drupada, gave every assurance to the son of Kunti, Yudhishthira and vowed to restore him to his kingdom.
At the request of the king, Kunti, Krishna, Bhima, Arjuna and the twins took up their quarters in a palace.
O king, they continued to reside there, treated by Yajnasena (Drupada) with every respect. The king (Drupada) with his sons assured by all that had happened, thus spoke (to Yudhishthira).
Drupada said:
O mighty armed hero, let the Kuru prince Arjuna take today the hand of my daughter with all due rites. Today is an auspicious day.
Vaishampayana said:
Thereupon the virtuous minded king Yudhishthira replied, "O great king, I shall also have to marry.
Drupada said:
O hero, take the hand of my daughter you yourself in all due rites. Or give Krishna in marriage to him whom you please.
Yudhishthira said:
O king, Draupadi shall be the queen of all of us. O great king, it has been thus ordered by our mother.
I am still unmarried, so is the Pandavas Bhimasena. Your jewel of a daughter has been won by Partha.
O king, this is our rule that we must equally enjoy a jewel that we obtain. O excellent king, we are not willing now to break that rule.
Krishna shall be the wedded queen of all of us. Let her take our hands before the fire one after the other according to our age.
Drupada said:
O descendant of Kuru, it is ordained that a husband can have many wives, but we have never heard that a wife can have many husbands.
O son of Kunti, pure as you are and acquainted with the rules of morality, you should not commit an act that is sinful and opposed both to the Vedas and usage. Why has your understanding come to be so?
Yudhishthira said:
O great king, morality is subtle, we do not know its course. Let us therefore follow the path trod by the illustrious men of former ages.
My tongue never utters an untruth; my mind never turns to that which is sinful. It has been commanded by our mother and my mind also approves of it.
O king, it is certainly comfortable to virtue. Therefore, act accordingly without any scruple. O king, do not entertain any fear in this matter.
Drupada said:
O son of Kunti, my son Dhrishtaduymna, Kunti and you yourself, these three settle amongst yourselves as to what should be done. I shall do what is proper tomorrow.
Vaishampayana said:
O descendant of Bharata, O king, thereupon those three (Kunti, Yudhishthira and Dhrishtaduymna) discoursed on this matter; and at that very time Dvaipayana came there (wandering over the world) at pleasure.
Vaishampayana said:
Thereupon all the Pandavas and the illustrious Panchala king and all others stood up; and they saluted the illustrious Krishna (Dvaipayana).
The high-souled (Rishi) saluted them in return and inquired after their welfare; he then sat down on a holy carpet made of gold.
Commanded by the immeasurable energetic Krishna (Dvaipayana), those foremost of men all sat down on costly seats.
Thereupon a moment after the son of Prishata in sweet words asked that illustrious man about the marriage of Draupadi.
Drupada said:
O illustrious one, how can one women become the wife of many men without being defiled by sin. Tell me truly all this in detail.
Vyasa said:
O king, this, being opposed to both usage and the Vedas, has become obsolete. I desire to hear what is the opinion of each of you in this matter.
Drupada said:
In my opinion this practice is sinful, because it is opposed to both the usage and the Vedas. O best of the twice born, there is nowhere a wife with many husbands.
The illustrious men of former ages had never such an usage amongst them. The wise should never commit a sin.
I can therefore never make up my mind to act in this way. The practice appears to me to be of doubtful morality.
Dhristadyumna said:
O best of the twice born, O ascetic Rishi, O Brahmana, how can the elder brother, if he is at all of good character, can approach the wife of his younger brother?
The ways of morality are always subtle. Therefore, we do not know them. We cannot, therefore, say what is comfortable to virtue and what is not.
We cannot therefore perform such an act with a safe mind. O Brahmana, I can never say, "Let Krishna be the wife of five (husbands).
Yudhishthira said:
My tongue never utters an untruth and my heart never turns to sin. When my heart approves it, it can never be sinful.
I have heard in the Puranas that a lady of the Gautama race named Jatila, the foremost of all virtuous women, married seven Rishis (all together.)
So also the daughter of an ascetic married ten brothers, all of them bearing the same name of Prachetas and all of their souls were exalted by asceticism.
O foremost of all men learned in the precepts of virtue, it is a cardinal virtue. Of all superiors the mother is the foremost.
She has commanded us, saying "Enjoy all of you that which you have obtained." O best of the twice born, it is therefore I consider this act to be virtuous.
Kunti said:
It is so as the virtuous Yudhishthira has said. I am in great fear lest my words become untrue. How shall I be saved from untruth?
Vyasa said:
O amiable one, you shall be saved from untruth. This is eternal virtue. O Panchala king, I will not talk on this matter before you all. You alone will hear it.
(I shall tell you) how this practice has been established and why it is to be regarded as old and eternal. There is no doubt that what the son of Kunti, Yudhishthira, has said is quite conformable to virtue.
Vaishampayana said:
Thereupon rose the illustrious Vyasa, the lord Dvaipayana; and taking hold of Drupada's hand he went into the palace.
The Pandavas, Kunti and the descendant of Prishata Dhrishtaduymna, waited in that place for those two (Vyasa and Drupada).
Thereupon Dvaipayana explained to that illustrious king how the marriage of one wife with many husbands is conformable to virtue.
Vyasa said:
In days of yore, the celestials performed a great sacrifice in the Naimisha forest. O king, the son of Vivasvata (Yama) became the slayer of animals.
O king, thus employed in that sacrifice, Yama did not kill any human being. Thereupon the death being suspended among men, the number of human beings greatly increased.
Soma, Shakra, Varuna, Kubera, the Sadhyas, the Rudra, the Vasus, the twin Ashvinis, these and other celestials went to Prajapati, the creator of the world.
Alarmed at the increase on human beings, they all thus addressed the master of creation. "We are afflicted with the fear (of the increase of human beings) and therefore wishing to be relieved, we ask your protection.
The Grandsire said:
You have no fear from fear human beings; you are all immoral. You should not be frightened by the mortals.
The Celestials said:
The mortals have all become the immortals. There is now no difference between them and us. Being vexed at this, we have come to you so that we may have some distinction (from men).
The Deity said:
The son of Vivasvata (Yama) is now engaged in the great sacrifice. It is this reason that human beings are not dying. When his sacrificial works will be finished, the death will be again among men.
When that time will come, the son of Vivasvata will be strengthened by your respective energies. He will then sweep away thousands of human beings who will have no energy left in them.
Vyasa said:
Having heard these words of the first born deity, the greatly strong (celestials) went (to the place of sacrifice) and when they all assembled there, they saw a (golden) lotus in the Bhagirathi.
Seeing that (golden) lotus, they were very much surprised. The foremost of heroes among them, Indra, went (to find out where it grew). Going to the place where from the Ganges always issues forth, he saw a lady as effulgent as the fire.
The lady who had come there to fetch water was bathing in the Ganges, but she was weeping all the while. The drops of tear that fell from her eyes were transformed into golden lotuses.
Seeing this wonderful sight, the wielder of the thunder (Indra) came to the lady and said, "O amiable lady, who are you? Why are you weeping? I desire to know the truth. Tell me everything."
The Lady said:
O Shakra, unfortunate as I am, you may know who I am and why I am I weeping. O king, if you come with me as I lead the way, you can then see why I weep.
Vyasa said:
He (Indra) followed her and soon saw a handsome youth with a young lady. They were seated on a throne on the peaks of the king of mountains and they were playing with dice.
The king of the celestials thus spoke to him, "O intelligent youth, know this universe to be under my sway." Seeing that the person take no notice of what he had said, he (Indra) again said,"I am the lord of the universe."
Seeing Indra angry, the youth who was none else than Mahadeva cast a glance at him and smiled. At that glance the king of the celestials was at once paralysed and stood on that spot like a statue.
When the game of dice came to an end, he (Shiva) spoke thus to the weeping woman, "Bring him (Indra) here. I shall so deal with him that pride may not again enter his heart."
As soon as Indra was touched by that woman, the chief of the celestials with limbs paralysed by that touch fell down on the ground. The illustrious deity of fierce energy (Shiva) then said to him, "O Indra, never act thus again.
Remove this huge stone, for your strength and energy are immeasurable. Enter the hole and wait with others who are all like you and the sun in splendour."
He (Indra) removed that stone and saw a cave on the great mountain in which were four others resembling himself. Seeing them, he became very much grieved and exclaimed, "Shall I too meet with such fate?"
Then looking at the wielder of thunder (Indra) with expanded eyes, the deity Girisha (Shiva), said in anger, "O Shatakratu, (Indra) enter this cave without delay, for out of folly you have insulted me before my very eyes."
Thus addressed by the lord (Shiva), the chief of the celestials was deeply grieved in consequence of that imprecation; and with limbs weakened by fear he trembled like the wind shaken leaf of the tree on the breast of the king of mountains.
Thus unexpectedly cursed by the deity that rides the bull (Shiva), Indra trembled from head to foot; and with joined hands the thus head addressed the fearful god of many manifestations, "O Bhava, you are the on looker of the infinite universe."
To him thus replied the deity of fiery energy with smiles, "Those that have your disposition never obtain my grace. These others (four in the cave) were like you at one lie there for some time.
The fate of you all should certainly by the same. All of you shall have to take births in the world of men, where having achieved many difficult feats and killing large number of men, you shall again regain the valued region of Indra by the merits of your respective deeds. You shall accomplish all I have said and much more.
The Old Indras said:
We shall go from our celestial region to the region of men where salvation is difficult to gain. But let the celestials, Dharma, Vayu, Maghavata (present Indra) and the twin Ashvinis beget us on our would be mother. After fighting with men with both human and celestial weapons, we shall again come back to the region of Indra.
Vyasa said:
Having heard this, the wielder of thunder (Indra) again addressed that foremost of gods (Shiva) saying, "Instead of going myself, I shall create from myself with a portion of my energy a person able to accomplish the task; and he will be the fifth among these (old Indras)."
Vishvabhuga, Bhutadhamana, greatly effulgent Shibi, Shanti and Tejasvin, these are the five Indras of old.
The illustrious deity of the formidable bow kindly granted to the five Indras the desire they cherished in their hearts and he appointed that exceedingly beautiful lady, who was none else than the celestial Lakshmi herself to be their common wife in the world of men.
Thereupon accompanied by all these Indras, he (Shiva) went to Narayana, who is immeasurably effulgent, infinite, immaterial, the self born, the old the eternal and the spirit of the infinite universe.
He (Narayana) approved of everything and then they (Indras) all took births in the world of men. Hari (Narayana) took up two hairs from his body; one of then was white and the other black.
Those two hairs entered the wombs of the two ladies of the Yadu race, named Devaki and Rohini. The hair of the deity that was white became Baladeva and the hair that was black became Keshava's self, Krishna.
Those Indra-like ones who were kept confined in the cave of the mountain are none less then the five sons of Pandu, possessing great prowess. And the Pandava Savyasachi (Arjuna) is a portion of (the present) Indra.
O king, thus were born as the sons of Pandu those that were at one time Indras and the celestial Lakshmi herself who had appointed to be their wife is the exceedingly beautiful Draupadi.
How could she whose effulgence is like that of the son of the moon, whose fragrance spreads over two miles around, take birth in any other but an extraordinary way? She rose from within the earth by virtue of your sacrifice.
O king, I cheerfully grant to you this boon, I give you spiritual sight. Behold the sons of Kunti now possessing their sacred and celestial forms of old.
Vaishampayana said:
Thereupon, that holy Brahmana, Vyasa of greatly generous deeds, gave celestial sight to that king (Drupada) by his ascetic power. Then the king saw them (the Pandavas) all possessing their former forms.
He saw them with celestial garlands, each of them resembling like a Indra himself, with complexion as effulgent as the fire or the sun, each adorned with every ornament, each handsome and youthful, each with broad chest and stature with a height of five cubits.
Possessing every accomplishment, attired in celestial robes of great beauty and adorned with fragrant garlands of excellent make, the king saw them as so many, three-eyed gods (Shiva) or Vasus, Rudras or Adityas.
Seeing the (four others) Pandavas in the forms of the (present) Indra sprang from Indra himself, the king Drupada was exceedingly pleased. He was greatly surprised on seeing the celestial manifestation of Maya.
Looking at his daughter, that foremost of women possessing great beauty as that of a celestial maiden and splendour as that of the fire or the moon, the king considered, that for her beauty, splendour and fame, she is really worthy to be the wife of those celestial beings.
Seeing that wonderful sight, he touched the feet of the son of Satyavati, (Vyasa) and said, "O great Rishi, there is nothing wonderful in you."
Vyasa said:
There was in a certain wood a daughter of an illustrious Rishi, who though handsome and chaste, did not get a husband,
She gratified by her asceticism the deity Shankara (Shiva). The deity being pleased with her, himself thus spoke to her "Tell me what you want."
Having been thus addressed, she repeatedly said to the boon-giving supreme lord, "I desire to have a husband endued with all accomplishments."
That deity Shankara gave her the boon in joyful heart (saying), "O amiable girl, you shall have five husbands."
She who had been able to please the deity said again, "O Shankara, I desire to have from you only one husband endued with all accomplishments."
The god of gods, being well-pleased with her, spoke again to her thus, "You have addressed me five times saying, "Give me a husband"
O amiable girl, therefore it shall be as you have asked. Be blessed. All this will happen in one of your future births."
This your daughter of celestial beauty is that maiden. The faultless Krishna of the Prishata race had been pre-ordained to be the wife of five (men).
The celestial Lakshmi has risen in the great sacrifice to be the wife of the Pandavas. After serve penances she is born as your daughter.
O king, that handsome goddess, who is waited upon by all the celestials, becomes the wife of five husbands. She has been created by the self-created (Brahma) for this purpose. Hearing all this, do what you desire.
Drupada said:
O great Rishi, it is only when I have not heard from you all this that I intended to act in the way I have already told you. I am now incapable of acting against what has been ordained by the celestials. I therefore desire to act as you have said.
The knot of destiny cannot be untied. There is nothing which is the result of our own actions. That which was made to secure one husband (for my daughter) becomes now the source of this (new) ordinance.
As Krishna (Draupadi) had repeatedly asked (in her former life) for five times saying, "Give me a husband," the greatly deity had granted her the boon accordingly. The deity himself knows the right or the wrong of this.
When Shankara has fixed this ordinance, sinful or virtuous, I can have no fault. Therefore, let these (heroes) take as ordained the hand of Krishna according to all due rites.
Vaishampayana said:
The illustrious Rishi then spoke thus to Dharamraja (Yudhishthira), "O son of Pandu today is an auspicious day. Today the Moon has entered the constellation Paushya. You first take the hand of Krishna today.”
Thereupon the king Yajnasena with his son made preparations for the marriage. Keeping ready many costly marriage presents, he brought out his daughter Krishna adorned after a bath, with many jewels and pearls.
All the friends and the relatives of the king with the state ministers and many Brahmanas and citizens according to their precedence of ranks, came there in joy to witness the marriage ceremony.
Adorned with that concourse of chief men, with its court-yards decked with lotuses and lilies and beautified with the lines of troops and fastened round with diamonds and precious stones, his (Drupada's) palace looked like the sky studded with the brilliant stars.
Then those Kuru Princes, those young (heroes) bathed; adorned with ear-rings, attired in costly robes and perfumed by Sundal paste, they performed the Abhisheka (preparatory ceremony) and all other usual auspicious rites.
O lord, like mighty bulls entering their pen, they then accompanied by their priest Dhaumya, as effulgent as fire, entered in joy and in due order (the wedding place) one after the other.
Then that Veda-knowing priest (Dhaumya) kindled the sacred fire and poured the libations of ghee in that blazing fire with proper Mantras. That Mantra knowing Brahmana then called Yudhisthira and united him with Krishna (Draupadi).
Walking round the fire (for seven times), the bride and the bridegroom took each other's hands. Thus they were married by the Veda-knowing (Dhaumya). Then taking leave of that ornament of battle (Yudhishthira), he (Dhaumya) went out of the palace.
Then those mighty car-warriors, the perpetuators of the Kuru race, those princes, attired in costly robes, took the hand of that best of women (Draupadi) day by day in succession.
The celestial Rishi told me of a very wonderful incident, namely that the high-souled lady of slender waist (Draupadi) regained her virginity day after day (i.e., every day after her previous marriage).
After the wedding was over, Drupada gave to those great car-warriors various kind of excellent wealth. (He gave them) one hundred chariots with golden standards, each drawn by four horses with golden bridles;
One hundred elephants all possessing auspicious marks on their temples and faces and all looking like so many mountains with golden peaks; and one hundred young maid-servants attired in costly robes and adorned with ornaments and floral wreaths.
Making fire his witness, the high-souled king of the lunar race, (Draupada), gave separately each of those celestials-like heroes much wealth, various brilliant ornaments and many costly robes.
When the wedding was over and after they had obtained that maiden, like Lakshmi herself, along with great wealth, those greatly powerful sons of Pandu like so many Indras passed their days in joy, in the capital of the Panchala king.
Vaishampayana said:
After his alliance with the Pandavas, Drupada had all his fears dispelled; and he did not fear even the celestials.
The ladies of the illustrious Draupada's (household) all came to Kunti; and mentioning their respective names, they saluted her with their heads touching the ground.
Krishna, attired in red silk and with her wrists still encircled with auspicious thread, saluted her mother-in-law with reverence; and she then stood before her contentedly with joined hands.
Out of affection Pritha (Kunti) pronounced a blessing on Draupadi, endued with beauty and auspicious marks and with sweet disposition and good character.
Kunti said:
As Sachi is to Indra, as Svaha to Vibhavasu, as Rohini to Soma, as Damayanti to Nala.
As Bhadra to Vaishravana, as Arundhati to Vasishtha and as Lakshmi to Narayana, so be you to your husbands.
O amiable girl, be the mother of long-lived and heroic children and possess every thing that can make you happy. Be lucky and prosperous, be faithful to your husbands and a performer of great sacrifices.
Let your time be ever passed in duly entertaining your guests, the strangers that come to your house, the pious men, the old men, the children and the superiors.
Be installed with the virtue-loving king (Yudhishthira) as the queen of the kingdom and the capital of Kurujangala.
Let the whole earth, conquered by your greatly powerful husbands, be given to the Brahmanas in a great Ashvamedha sacrifice.
O accomplished girl, what gems of great qualities are in the world, let them all belong to you. O blessed girl, be happy for (full) one hundred years.
O daughter-in-law, as I rejoice to-day on seeing you in red silk, so I shall rejoice when you will give birth to an accomplished son.
Vaishampayana said:
After the Pandavas had been married, Hari (Krishna) sent to them various golden ornaments set with pearls and Vaidurya gems.
Madhava (Krishna) also sent (to them) costly robes of various countries, many beautiful and soft blankets and skins,
Various costly beds, carpets and conveyance and hundreds of vessels set with diamonds and Vaidurya gems.
Krishna gave them thousands of maid-servants, all young, beautiful and accomplished and adorned with all ornaments and brought from various countries.
He also gave them many well-trained elephants of the country of the Madras, many excellent horses adorned with ornaments and many chariots drawn by heroes of excellent colours and large teeth.
Madhusudan (Krishna) of immeasurable soul sent to them also in separate heaps millions of coins of pure gold.
Wishing to please Govinda (Krishna), Dharmaraja Yudhishthira, being himself filled with great joy, accepted all those presents.
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