Indian Myth and LegendMackenzie, Donald A. (Donald Alexander)
History
Indian Myth and Legend
Mackenzie, Donald A. (Donald Alexander)
Hindu mythology; Legends -- India
The rajahs drew back, humbled because of Karna's flight and Salya's
downfall.
“Brave, indeed, are the Brahmans,” they said. “Who can they be? What is
their lineage? and whence come they?”
The Pandavas scorned to make answer. But Krishna had knowledge of
who they were, and he interposed with gentle words to soothe the
angry rajahs. The monarchs heard him and withdrew, and the tumult was
appeased.
Then Arjuna took Draupadi by the hand and led her away in peace from
that scene of angry strife. So ended the swayamvara, and Krishna
declared that the bride had been fairly won.
The Pandava brethren went towards the house of the potter, and they
entered and addressed their mother Pritha, saying: “A great gift have
we obtained this day.”
Said Pritha: “Then share the gift between you, as becomes brethren.”
Yudhishthira said: “What hast thou said, O mother? The gift is the
Princess Draupadi whom Arjuna hath won at the swayamvara.”
Said Pritha: “Alas! what have I said? I have sinned deeply in saying,
‘Then share the gift between you, as becomes brethren.’ But, O
Yudhishthira, my son, the fatal words have been spoken; you must devise
how they can be obeyed without involving one another in wrong.”
Yudhishthira pondered a time and then spake to Arjuna, saying: “My
brother, thou hast won Draupadi by thine own merit. She must therefore
be thy bride.”
Said Arjuna: “Thou, Yudhishthira, art our elder brother and we are thy
servants. The princess is for thee.”
Yudhishthira said: “Let this matter be arranged in accordance with
the will of the gods. It is for Drupada to say unto which of us his
daughter will be given.”
Now, as hath already been told, each one of the Pandavas yearned in his
secret heart to have Draupadi for his bride....
Meanwhile the evening meal had been prepared, and Pritha desired that
the princess should at once take her place, and serve out the portions
to the brethren. So she said unto Draupadi: “Divide the food, and first
set aside a share for the poor; then cut what is left into two parts,
one part for Bhima, and the rest for my other sons and for thee and me.”
The princess smiled when she beheld the great meal which Bhima devoured.
When they had all eaten they retired to rest. Draupadi slept with
Pritha, and the brethren lay at their feet.
King Drupada was sore troubled in heart after his daughter had been
led away to the potter's house, and he sent his valiant son to watch
her. Dhrishta-dyumna went forth in disguise, and, listening at the
window, he discovered to his joy that the Brahmans were no other than
the Pandava brethren. He returned to his royal sire and related all
that had happened, and what had been spoken at the evening meal. The
king was well pleased because that the brethren were Kshatriyas and not
Brahmans.
In the morning Drupada sent a priest to the potter's house to ask how
it fared with all the brethren.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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