|
Mahābhārata The History of the Great India
<< 77 Five Husbands For Draupadi >>
 |  | Arjuna surprises his mother when he returns with his wife-to-be. The sage Vaisampayana is telling the history of the Pandavas to their great-grandson, King Janamejaya. As the Mahabharata continues, Arjuna returns with Princess Draupadi to the potter's workshop where the Pandavas and their mother have been living, disguised as brahmanas. Arjuna has just won the hand of Draupadi in a competition among princes.
| | | Kunti, the mother of the Pandavas, knew only that her sons had gone out as usual to collect alms and that they had not returned on time. She began to imagine all sorts of calamities that might have befallen them. "I pray that Dhrtarastra's sons have not discovered and killed them, for my sons are the best of the Kurus. Could they have been waylaid by horrible Raksasas, who possess mystical powers and never forgive an enemy? But the great soul Vyasa declared that my sons would be victorious. Could his conclusion be in error?"
| | | Filled with affection for her sons, Prtha thus worried over them until late in the afternoon, when Jisnu Arjuna returned. Like the bright sun surrounded by clouds, he came in surrounded by brahmanas, who kept the Absolute Truth before them.
| | | Prtha's two exalted sons Bhima and Arjuna, the finest of men, went back to the potter's workshop with the greatest of joy. Finding Kunti home, they called to her, joking about Draupadi: "We brought alms!"
| | | Kunti was inside the shop, and without looking at her sons she called back, "All of you enjoy the alms together."
| | | When Kunti saw they had brought a girl, she cried out, "Oh, what a terrible thing I have said!" Embarrassed, and fearful of an irreligious act, Kunti took the very blissful Draupadi by the hand and went to see Yudhisthira.
| | | Kunti said, "Your two younger brothers delivered to me the young daughter of King Drupada, and being distracted, son, I said as usual, 'All of you enjoy the alms together!' O best of the Kurus, how will my statement not prove false, [for I cannot lie]? Yet how will sin not overtake the sinless daughter of the king of Pancala?"
| | | Yudhisthira, a king of tremendous ability, thought over the matter for some time. Then, trying his best to encourage Kunti, the courageous Kuru said to Dhananjaya Arjuna, "You have won Draupadi, O Pandava, and it is you who will satisfy the princess. Now let the sacred fire be ignited. May the offerings be made. You shall lawfully accept her hand."
| | | Arjuna said, "Do not bestow upon me an irreligious deed, my king. What you propose is not the virtue people seek. You, as the eldest brother, will marry first, and then the mighty-armed Bhima, of inconceivable works. I come next, after me comes Nakula, and finally Madri's son Sahadeva will marry. Vrkodara Bhima, the twins, this girl, and I, O king, are all your subordinates. It being thus, you must carefully consider the situation and then do what must be done to enhance our virtue and reputation. Your actions must also be pleasing to Drupada, the king of Pancala. You may command us, for we are all prepared to obey you."
| | | All the Pandavas then looked over at the glorious Draupadi, who stood before them, and then sat staring at one another, holding her within their hearts. Each of the Pandavas was a man of immeasurable vigor. As they went on looking at the maiden Krsna, a deep love arose in their hearts and forcibly took hold of their eyes and ears and all their senses. The creator of this world had personally designed the very attractive body of the Pancala princess, and all creatures were enchanted with her grace, for she was lovelier than other women.
| | | Yudhisthira understood that all the Pandavas were absorbed in thinking of the lovely form of Draupadi, and he well remembered all that their grandfather Dvaipayana Vyasa had told them about their future marriage. The king then told his brothers, "To avoid the serious danger of division among us, pure-hearted Draupadi will be a wife to all of us."
| | | The Pandavas thought about the instruction of their brother, Pandu's eldest son. Deep within their minds they meditated on the ultimate purpose and meaning of his decision, and thus those most able warriors simply sat in silence.
|
|
| |
|---|
English
Español
Pусский
Português