The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section 195

Section CXCV. ( *Vaivāhika Parva.* ) Vaisampayana said "Thus addressed, Dhrishta-dyumna, that foremost of the Lunar princes, cheerfully said unto his father all that had happened and by whom had Krishnā been won. And the prince said, 'With large, red, eyes, attired in deer-skin, and resembling a celestial in beauty, the youth who stringed that foremost of bows and brought down on earth the mark set on high, was soon surrounded by the foremost of Brahmanas who also offered him their homage for the feat he had achieved. Incapable of bearing the sight of a foe and endued with great activity, he began to exert his prowess. And surrounded by the Brahmanas he resembled the thunder-wielding Indra standing in the midst of the celestials and the Rishis. And like a she-elephant following the leader of a herd, Krishnā cheerfully followed that youth catching hold of his deer-skin. Then when the assembled monarchs incapable of bearing that sight rose up in wrath and advanced for fight, there rose up another hero who tearing up a large tree rushed against that concourse of kings felling them right and left like Yama himself smiting down creatures endued with life. Then, O monarch, the assembled kings stood motionless looking at that couple of heroes, while they, resembling the Sun and the Moon, taking Krishnā with them, left the amphitheatre and wended unto the abode of a potter in the suburbs of the town. And there at the potter's sat a lady like unto a flame of fire who, I ween, is their mother. And around her also sat three other foremost of men each of whom was like unto fire. And the couple of heroes having approached her paid homage unto her feet, and they said unto Krishnā also to do the same. And keeping Krishnā with her, those foremost of men all went out on a tour of eleemosynation. Sometime after when they returned, Krishnā taking from them what they had obtained in alms, devoted a portion thereof to the gods, and gave another portion away in gift to Brahmanas. And of what remained after this, she gave a portion to that venerable lady, and distributed the rest amongst those five foremost of men. And she took a little for herself and ate it last of all. Then, O monarch, they all laid themselvs down for sleep, Krishna lying along the line of their feet as their nether pillow. And the bed on which they lay was made of *Kusa* grass upon which was spread their deer skins. And before going to sleep they talked on diverse subjects in voices deep as of black clouds. And the talk of those heroes was such that neither Vaisyas nor Sudras, nor Brahmanas, would talk in that way. Without doubt, O monarch, they are all bulls amongst Kshatriyas, their talk having been on military subjects. It seems, O father, that our hope hath fructified, for we have heard that the sons of Kunti all escaped from the conflagration of the house of lac. From the way in which the mark was shot down by that youth, and the strength with which the bow was stringed by him, and the manner in which I have heard them talk with one another, it is certain, O monarch, that they are the sons of Prithā wandering 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 were and whether they were the sons of the illustrious Pandu. Thus directed, the king's priest went unto them and applauding them all, delivered the king's message duly, saying, 'Ye who are worthy of preference in everything, the boon-giving king of the earth—Drupada—is desirous of ascertaining who ye are! Beholding this one who hath shot down the mark, his joy knoweth no bounds. Giving us all particulars of your family and tribe, place ye your feet on the heads of your foes and gladden the hearts of the king of Panchala and his men and mine also! King Pandu was the dear friend of king Drupada and regarded by him as his counter self. And Drupada had all along cherished the desire of bestowing this daughter of his upon Pandu as his daughter-in-law. Ye heroes of features perfectly faultless, king Drupada hath all along cherished this deire in his heart that Arjuna of strong and long arms might wed this daughter of his according to the ordinance. If that hath become possible, nothing could be better, nothing more beneficial, nothing more conducive to fame and virtue, so far as Drupada is concerned.' "Having said this, the priest became silent and humbly waited for an answer. And beholding him sitting thus, the king (Yudhish-thira) commanded Bhima who sat near, saying, 'Let water to wash his feet and *Arghya* be offered unto this Brahmana. He is king Drupada's priest and therefore worthy of great respect. We should worship him with more than ordinary reverence.' Then, O monarch, Bhima did as directed. And accepting the worship thus offered unto him, the Brahmana with a glad heart sat at his ease. Then Yudhish-thira addressed him and said, 'The king of Panchala hath, by appointing a special king of dower, given away his daughter according to the practice of his order and not freely. This hero hath, by satisfying that demand, won the princess. King Drupada, therefore, hath nothing now to say in regard to the race, tribe, family, and disposition of him who hath performed that feat. Indeed, all his queries have been answered 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 hath brought away Krishnā from among the assembled monarchs. Under these circumstances, the king of the Lunar race should not indulge in any regrets which can only make him unhappy (without mending matters in the least). The desire that king Drupada hath all along cherished will be accomplished, for this handsome princess beareth, I ween, every auspicious mark! None that is weak in strength could string that bow, and none of mean birth unaccomplished in arms could have shot down the mark. It behoveth not, therefore, the king of Panchala to grieve for his daughter today. Nor can anybody in the world undo that act of shooting down the mark. Therefore, the king should not grieve for what must take its course.' "While Yudhish-thira was saying all this, another messenger from the king of Panchala, coming thither in haste, said 'The (nuptial) feast is ready.'" Thus ends the hundred and ninety-fifth Section in the Vaivahika of the Adi Parva.