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Mahābhārata The History of the Great India
<< 70 The Proud Young Kings >>
 |  | Bedecked with jewels and earrings, those young kings now came together, challenging one another, each convinced that power and skill in weapons rested with him, each highly enlivened with worldly pride. [Thus when they heard the words of Dhrstadyumna,] they all proudly sprang to their feet, [each claiming that he would meet the challenge].
| | | Their pride was great, for each king possessed beauty, valor, lineage, virtue, and youth, and by the force of this pride they became as mad as the mighty elephants of the Himalayas. They challenged and stared at one another, their strong bodies bristling with determination. "Draupadi is meant for me!" they boasted, suddenly rising from their seats.
| | | Those warriors assembled in the great arena sought to win the hand of Drupada's daughter, just as the hosts of gods had once assembled to win the hand of Uma, born of the mountain king. The kings' limbs were harassed by the arrows of Cupid, for their hearts had already gone to Draupadi. Because of Draupadi they now went down to the center of the arena, and even kings who had been dear friends now treated each other as hostile rivals.
| | | At that moment, the hosts of gods arrived in their airships. Rudras, Vasus, Adityas, the Marutas, the twin Asvins, and all the Sadhyas—all arrived, led by Yamaraja, the lord of justice, and Kuvera, head of the celestial treasury.
| | | Then came the Daityas, the godly sages, the great birds and serpents, the Guhyakas and Caranas, Narada, Parvata, and Visvavasu, and the chief Gandharvas with their Apsara mates.
| | | Present there were Lord Balarama and Lord Krsna, and the leading men of the Vrsni and Andhaka dynasties. The great men of the Yadu dynasty, ready to execute Lord Krsna's command, carefully glanced around the arena. Lord Krsna Himself, the Yadu hero, then noticed five men dressed as renunciants and covered with ashes as if they were five sacrificial fires. The five looked as strong and alert as mighty red-spotted elephants in the season of their fury.
| | | Lord Krsna reflected deeply, [for He alone knew their identity,] and He quietly and discreetly told Lord Balarama, "There is Yudhisthira—and there are Bhima and Arjuna and the heroic twins."
| | | Lord Balarama gazed upon them, and then with a joyful mind He glanced at Krsna, who is known as Janardana.
| | | There were many other kings, with their sons and grandsons, and all of them had lost their eyes, minds, and personalities to Draupadi. As they looked at her strolling about the arena, their faces blushed and they chewed on their lips. The kings were determined to do battle for her sake. And so it was with the three wide-armed sons of Prtha and the powerful heroic twins. Their eyes fixed on Draupadi, all of them were struck by the arrows of Cupid.
| | | The sky above the arena was filled with Asuras, Gandharvas, godly sages, mystic Siddhas, and celestial birds and serpents. Divine scents wafted everywhere. Falling blossoms from divine garlands scattered and floated in the air. The great sounds of big drums sent forth deep thudding vibrations. And the sky was crowded with airplanes and alive with the sounds of flutes, vinas, and cymbals.
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