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Mahābhārata The History of the Great India
<< 81 The Proposed Marriage Challenged >>
 |  | King Drupada and his son doubt: Should Draupadi marry five men? The sage Vaisampayana is telling the history of the Pandavas to their great-grandson, King Janamejaya. The Pandavas are living disguised as brahmanas in a brahmana's house. Arjuna, one of the five Pandava brothers, won the hand of Princess Draupadi in an archery match. After the match, her brother Dhrstadyumna secretly followed the Pandavas to their hideout to learn their identities. He has just returned to tell his father, King Drupada, that the "brahmana" who won his daughter is probably Arjuna, whom the king has long hoped would marry her.
| | | King Drupada Was Overjoyed. He called his royal priest to deliver this message: "We must know who you are, great souls—whether or not you are the sons of Pandu."
| | | Taking the king's words, the priest went and recited to the Pandavas the king's complete message just as the king had spoken it, and in the proper sequence, for the messenger understood the importance of sequence.
| | | "Most worthy ones, King Drupada, lord of this land, desires to know you, for having witnessed how one of you struck down the target, the king now sees no end to his happiness.
| | | "[The king says,] 'Please explain the lineage of your family and community. Place your foot on the heads of the envious and bring pleasure to this heart of mine and to the hearts of those who follow me, the king of Pancala.'
| | | "King Pandu was a beloved friend of King Drupada's, and Drupada loved him like his very self. This was Drupada's desire: 'If only my daughter could be the daughter-in-law of Pandu, the Kaurava king!' O men of flawless form, this desire of King Drupada's has ever stayed in his heart—'Arjuna, with his long, wide arms, should accept my daughter in sacred marriage!'"
| | | Having spoken the message, the priest stood humbly before them.
| | | Yudhisthira looked up at him and then ordered Bhima, who stood close by, "We must honor this person with footbath and gifts. He is the royal priest of King Drupada, and he is to be offered the highest honors."
| | | Bhima did exactly that, O king, and the priest accepted the honors in a noble fashion.
| | | When the brahmana was seated at his leisure, Yudhisthira said to him, "The Pancala king Drupada has released his daughter in accordance with his religious duty and following his own desire. The heroic King Drupada designated this princess as a royal gift, and he has honored his word. There is no need here for an investigation into our social class, our means of livelihood, or our family or lineage. Because a great soul strung the bow and pierced the target in the midst of the earthly kings, he fairly won this girl Draupadi, and she was properly entrusted to him.
| | | "Things being what they are, the king of the Pancalas should not lament and make himself miserable. You stated that King Drupada has long desired to marry his daughter to the son of Pandu, and his majesty's wish shall certainly come to pass. Dear brahmana, such a beautiful princess was virtually unattainable. That bow could not possibly have been strung by a dull or weak man. Indeed, how could a man unschooled in weapons or of wretched birth have struck down the target? Therefore, there is no reason for the Pancala king to grieve over his daughter. Nor is there any man on earth who can change the fact that the target was brought down."
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