The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section 198

Section CLXLVIII. *( Vaivahika Parva continued.* ) Vaisampayana said, "Then all the Pandavas and the illustrious king of Panchala and all others there present stood up and saluted with reverence the illustrious Rishi Krishna (-Dwaipayana). And the high-souled Rishi, saluting them in return and enquiring after their welfare, sat down on a carpet of gold. And commanded by Krishna (-Dwaipayana) of immeasurable energy, those foremost of men, all sat down on costly seats. A little while after, O monarch, the son of Prishata in sweet accents asked the illustrious Rishi about the wedding of his daughter. And he said, 'How, O illustrious one, can one woman become the wife of many men without being defiled by sin? O, tell me truly all about this?' And hearing these words, Vayasa replied, 'This practice, O king, being opposed to usage and the Vedas, hath become obsolete. I desire, however, to hear what the opinion of each of ye is upon this matter.' "Hearing these words of the Rishi, Drupada spoke first, saying, 'The practice is sinful in my opinion, being opposed to both usage and the to both usage and the Vedas. Thou best of Brahmanas, nowhere have I seen many men having one wife. The illustrious ones also of former ages never had such an unsage amongst them. The wise should never commit a sin. I, therefore, can never make up my mind to act in this way. This practice always appeareth to me of doubtful morality.' "After Drupada had ceased, Dhrishta-dyumna spoke, saying, 'O thou bull amongst Brahmanas, O thou of ascetic wealth, how can, O Brahmana, the elder brother, if he is of good disposition, approach the wife of his younger brother? The ways of morality are ever subtle, and, therefore, we know them not. We cannot, therefore, say what is conformable to morality and what not. We cannot do such a deed, therefore, with a safe conscience. Indeed, O Brahmana, I cannot say—*Let Draupadi become the common wife of give brothers.*' "Yudhishthira then spoke, saying, 'My tongue never uttereth an untruth, and my heart never inclineth to what is sinful. When my heart approveth of it, it can never be sinful. I have heard in the Purana that a lady of name Jatilā,—the foremost of all virtuous women,—belonging to the race of Gotama had married seven Rishis. So also an ascetic's daughter born of a tree had in former times united herself in marriage with ten brothers bearing the same name of Prachetā and who were all of souls exalted by asceticism. O thou foremost of all who are acquainted with the rules of morality, it is said that obedience to superiors is ever meritorious. Amongst all superiors, it is well known that the mother is the foremost. Even she hath commanded us to enjoy Draupadi as we do anything obtained as *alms.* It is for this, O best of Brahmanas, that I regard the (proposed) act as virtuous.' "Kunti then said, 'The fact is even so as the virtuous Yudhish-thira hath said. I greatly fear, O Brahmana, lest my speech becometh untrue! How shall I be saved from untruth!' When they had all finished speaking, Vyasa said, 'O amiable one, thou shalt be saved from the consequences of untruth! Even this is the eternal virtue! I will not, O king of Panchala, discourse of this before ye all. But thou alone shalt listen to me when I disclose how this practice hath been established and why it is to be regarded as old and eternal. There is no doubt that what Yudhish-thira hath said is quite conformable to virtue.'" Vaisampayana continued, "Then the illustrious Vyasa—the master Dwaipayana—rose, and taking hold of Drupada's hand led him to a private apartment. And the Pandavas and Kunti and Dhrishta-dyumna of Prishata's race sat there waiitng for the return of Vyasa and Drupada. Meantime Dwaipayana began his discourse with that illustrious monarch for explaining how the practice of polyandry could not be regarded as sinful." Thus ends the hundred and ninety-eighth Section in the Vaivahika of the Adi Parva.