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Mahābhārata The History of the Great India
<< 66 The Quest for Draupadi s Hand >>
 |  | The world's greatest young heroes gather in the opulent kingdom of the Pancalas, hoping to win Draupadi as their bride. The sage Vaisampayana is telling the history of the Pandavas to their great-grandson, King Janamejaya. Disguised as brahmanas, the Pandavas are traveling to the kingdom of King Drupada, whose daughter Draupadi will select a husband in a ceremony known as a svayamvara.
| | | The five Pandava brothers, tigers of men, set out to see Draupadi and the divine festival. Traveling with their mother, they met on the road many brahmanas also going to the festival with their followers.
| | | The brahmanas said to the Pandavas, who were disguised as celibate brahminical students, "Fellow brahmanas, where are you headed and from where are you coming?"
| | | Yudhisthira Maharaja replied, "O saintly ones who have seen the Lord, be informed that we brothers have come from Ekacakra and are traveling with our mother."
| | | The brahmanas said, "You should all go at once to the palace of King Drupada, in the land of Pancala. A grand svayamvara is going to take place there, and the king will be giving away a fortune in charity. We ourselves are going there, making our way in one large group. There will be a most glorious and amazing festival there.
| | | "The daughter of the great soul Drupada arose from a sacred altar, and her eyes are just like lotus petals. She is a young and very delicate lady, lovely to see, and intelligent also. She is the sister of Dhrstadyumna, that fiery foe of Drona born with armor, sword, arrows, and bow. Dhrstadyumna has powerful arms and took birth from a blazing fire of sacrifice. He glows like fire.
| | | "His sister is called Draupadi and Krsna, and there is not a single flaw in the figure of that thin-waisted girl. Her body bears the natural fragrance of a blue lotus, and that fragrance spreads for miles. The daughter of King Drupada is eagerly preparing for her svayamvara, and we are going there to see her at her divine festival. Kings and princes will be arriving there, great souls fixed in their vows, clean in their habits, and most generous to the brahmanas, for all of them have studied the Vedas under learned priests. Young and handsome rulers from many countries will come together, great chariot fighters who have mastered their weapons.
| | | "Hoping for the blessing of victory, the monarchs who come there will distribute to everyone who comes all varieties of gifts, including valuable stones and coins, as well as cows and food grains. After we have received all that charity, seen the svayamvara, and experienced the festival, we shall then go as we please.
| | | "Actors, bards, dancers, powerful wrestlers, and reciters of legends and history will all come there from different countries. Thus when you have seen and taken part in the wondrous event and received charity, you great souls will return with us from whence you came. And—who knows?—when Draupadi Krsna sees all you handsome boys standing there, as good-looking as gods, she might just choose one of you as her husband! This attractive brother of yours is very handsome, and his arms are huge. If he wrestles there, he could win a big prize!"
| | | Yudhisthira Maharaja said, "Yes, sir, we shall go with all of you to see that most prominent and divine festival, wherein the young princess will choose her prince."
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