The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section 197

Section CLXLVII. *(* V*aivahika Parva continued. )* Vaisampayana said, "Then the illustrious king of Panchala, addressing prince Yudhis-thira in the form applicable to Brahmanas, cheerfully asked that illustrious son of Kunti, saying, 'Are we to know ye as Kshatriyas, or Brahmanas, or accomplished Vaisyas, or as born in the race of Sudras? Or, are we to know ye as celestials who disguising themselves as Brahmanas are ranging the earth and come hither for the hand of Krishnā? O tell us truly, for we have great doubts! Shall we not be glad when our doubts have been resolved! O thou oppressor of all 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 thou oppressor of enemies, hearing thy reply I shall arrange for my daughter's wedding, according to the order to which ye belong!' "Hearing these words of Drupada, Yudhish-thira 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 Krishnā is. O thou bull amongst men, let grief be dispelled from thy heart, for we are Kshatriyas! Thy daughter, O monarch, hath like a lotus been only transferred from one lake into another! O king, thou art our reverend superior and chief refuge. I have told thee the whole truth!'" Vaysampayana continued, "Hearing those words, king Drupada's eyes rolled in ecstasy, and filled with delight the king could not (for some moments) answer Yudhish-thira. Suppressing his joy with great exertion, that oppressor of all foes at last replied unto Yudhish-thira in proper words. And the virtuous monarch enquired how the Pandavas had escaped from the town of Varanavata. And the son of Pandu told the monarch every particular in detail of their escape from the burning palace of lac. And hearing everything that the son of Kunti said, king Drupada censured Dhrita-rashtra that ruler of men. And the monarch gave every assurance unto Yudhish-thira the son of Kunti. And that foremost of eloquent men there and then vowed to restore Yudhish-thira on his paternal throne. "Then Kunti and Krisnā and Bhima and Arjuna and the twins, commanded by the king, all took up their quarters in a palace. And they continued, O king, to reside there treated by Yajna-sena with every respect. Then king Drupada along with his sons, assured by all that had happened, approaching Yudhish-thira, said, 'O thou of mighty arms, let the Kuru prince Arjuna take, with due rites, the hand of my daughter this auspicious day, and let him, therefore, perform the usual initiatory rites of marriage.'" Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words of Drupada, the virtuous king Yudhish-thira replied, saying, 'O great king, I also shall have to marry!' Hearing him Drupada said, 'If it pleasest thee, take thou the hand of my daughter thyself with due rites! Or, give thou Krishnā in marriage with whomsoever of thy brothers thou likest!' Yudhish-thira 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 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 thou best of monarchs, that rule of conduct we cannot now abandon! Krishnā, 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 the Kuru 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, pure as thou art 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?' Yudhish-thira said in reply 'O monarch, morality is subtle. We do not know its course. Let us follow in the way that hath been trod by the illustrious ones of former ages. My tongue never uttereth 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 , this is quite conformable to virtue. Act according to it, without any scruples. Entertain no fear, O king, in this matter!' "Drupada said, 'O son of Kunti, thy mother, and my son Dhrishta-dyumna, and thyself, settle amongst yourselves as to what should be done. Tell me the result of your deliberations and hereafter I will do what is proper.'" Vaisampayana continued, "After this, O Bharata, Yudhish-thira, Kunti, and Dhrishta-dyumna discoursed upon this matter. Just at that time, however, Dwaipayana, O monarch, came there in course of his wanderings." Thus ends the hundred and ninety-seventh Section in the Vaivahika of the Adi Parva.