Mahābhārata The History of the Great India

<< 85 Srila Vyasadeva Arrives >>

All of them then met together and began to discuss, O Bharata, when suddenly Dvaipayana Vyasa happened to arrive.

Seeing the arrival of holy Vyasa, the Pandavas and the illustrious Pancala king rose to meet and honor him. He greeted them in turn, inquiring about their health and happiness. At last that great-minded one sat down on a shining golden seat. With the permission of Srila Vyasa, all those illustrious people sat down on very costly seats.

After a moment King Drupada, in a kind and gentle voice, asked the great soul Vyasa about Princess Draupadi: "How can one woman accept many men and not violate our religious law? My lord, explain all this to us as it is."

Srila Vyasa said, "It appears to be a violation—indeed almost a mockery—of religious law, an act incompatible with the Vedas as well as common morality. I want to hear everyone's view."

King Drupada said, "I feel that this act is irreligious, for it contradicts the holy scriptures and traditional morality. One woman does not become the wife of many men, O best of brahmanas. Nor was this custom of polyandry ever practiced by our forefathers, who were great and learned souls. Thus it cannot be sanatana-dharma, the eternal law of God. That is why I cannot be convinced about this procedure, for to me its virtue and authority are covered with doubt."

Dhrstadyumna said, "O noble twice-born one, how can an elder brother who follows the spiritual path act in such an aggressive manner with the wife of his younger brother? O brahmana rich in austerity, however subtle or intangible religion may be we do not understand how it can possibly lead to such a conclusion. Simply by one's own determination one cannot turn irreligion into religion. Therefore, I am not convinced that people of our culture should commit such an act. In no way should Draupadi become the queen of five men."

Yudhisthira said, "My voice has never uttered a lie, nor does my mind dwell on irreligion, yet still my mind favors this course, for it is not at all irreligious. Most virtuous sage, in the Puranas authorities say that a brahmana woman named Jatila, in the line of Gautama, had intercourse with seven sages. You know best what is the law, and certainly the order of a guru is law. Of all gurus, the highest is a saintly mother. Thinking we had brought alms, our mother said, 'Whatever you have brought you must all enjoy equally.' Therefore I consider our decision to be dharma, the path of virtue."

Kunti Devi said, "Yudhisthira always treads the path of righteousness, and the situation is just as he said. I have an acute fear of untruth, so how can I be saved from speaking falsely?"

Srila Vyasa said, "You shall be saved from untruth, good woman, for this marriage is in obedience to the eternal law of God. I shall not speak now to everyone, but rather I shall explain to you privately, O Pancala king, how this unusual religious duty was ordained and why it is accepted as being in accord with the eternal law of God, for, just as Yudhisthira stated, this is indeed a moral act without doubt."

The divine incarnation Vyasa then got up, took the king's hand, and went with him to the king's quarters. Kunti, the Pandavas, and Dhrstadyumna did not know what to think. They waited anxiously for both of them to return. Meanwhile, Dvaipayana Vyasa then explained to the king, who was a great soul, exactly why it was permitted by religious law for a single wife to have many husbands.

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