The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section 200

Section CC. ( Vaivahika Parva continued. )

Vaisampāyana said, "Drupada, on hearing this, observed 'O great Rishi, it was only when I had not heard all this from thee that I had sought to act in the way I told thee of. Now, however, that I know all, I cannot be indifferent to what hath been ordained by the gods. Therefore do I resolve to accomplish what thou hast said. The knot of destiny cannot be united. Nothing in this world is the result of our own acts. That which had been appointed by us in view of securing one only bride-groom hath now terminated in favor of many. As Krishnā (in a former life) had repeatedly said,—O, give me a husband!—the great god himself even gave her the boon she had asked. The god himself knoweth the right or the wrong of this. As regards myself, when Shankra hath ordained so, right or wrong, no sin can attach to me. Let these with happy hearts take, as ordained, the hand of this Krishnā with due rites.'"

Vaisampāyana continued, "Then the illustrious Vyāsa, addressing Yudhish-thira the just, said, 'Today is an auspicious day, O son of Pāndu! This day the moon entereth the conjunction called Paushya. Take thou the hand of Krishnā today thyself first before thy brothers!' When Vyāsa had said so, king Yajna-sena along with his son made preparations for the wedding. And the monarch brought various costly articles as marriage presents. And he brought out his daughter Krishnā also, decked, after a bath, in many jewels and pearls. Then there came to witness the wedding all the friends and relatives of the king, ministers of state, and many Brāhmanas and citizens. And they all took their seats according to their respective ranks. And adorned with that concourse of principal men, with its yard decked with lotuses and lilies scattered thereon, and beautified with lines of troops, king Drupada's palace, festooned around with diamonds and precious stones, looked like the firmament studded with brilliant stars. Then those princes of the Kuru line, endued with youth and adorned with ear-rings, attired in costly robes and perfumed with sandal paste, bathed and performed the usual rites of religion, and accompanied by their priest, Dhaumnya, possessed of the splendour of fire, entered the wedding hall, one after another in due order, and with glad hearts, like mighty bulls entering the fold. Then Dhaumya, well conversant with the Vedas, igniting the sacred fire, poured with due mantras libations of clarified butter into that blazing element. And calling Yudhish-thira there, Dhaumya acquainted with mantras united him with Krishnā. And walking round the fire the bride-groom and the bride took each other's hand. And after their union was complete, the priest Dhaumya, taking leave of Yudhish-thira, that ornament of war, went out of the palace. Then those mighty charioteers,—those perpetuators of the Kuru line,—those princes attired in gorgeous dresses, took the hand of that best of women—day after day. And, O king, the celestial Rishi told me of a very wonderful and extraordinary thing (in connection with these marriages), viz, that the illustrious princes of slender waist, regained her virginity day by day after a previous marriage. And after the weddings were complete, king Drupada gave unto those mighty charioteers various kinds of excellent wealth. And the king gave unto them one hundred chariots with golden flag-staffs, each drawn by four horses with golden bridles. And he gave them one hundred elephants all possessing auspicious marks on their temples and faces, and like unto a hundred mountains with golden peaks. And he also gave them a hundred female servants all in the prime of youth and decked in costly robes and ornaments and floral wreathes. And the illustrious monarch of the lunar race gave unto each of those princes of celestial beauty, making the sacred fire a witness of his gifts, a lakh of coins and many costly robes and ornaments of great splendour. And the sons of Pandu endued with great strength, after their weddings were over, and after they had obtained Krishnā like unto a second Sree along with great wealth, passed their days in joy and happiness, like so many Indras, in the capital of the king of Pānchāla."

Thus ends the two hundredth Section in the Vaivahika of the Adi Parva.