The Mahabharata of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa by Kisari Mohan Ganguli (Translator)

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"Then those Brahmanas and Kshatriyas (of the city), hearing this, wondered
much. And the Vaisyas and the Sudras also became exceedingly glad, and
they all established a festival in which the worship of Brahmanas was the
principal ceremony (in remembrance of this Brahmana who had relieved them
from their fears of Vaka)."

SECTION CLXVII

(Chaitraratha Parva)

"After this citizens returned to their respective houses and the Pandavas
continued to dwell at Ekachakra as before."

"Janamejaya said, 'O Brahmana, what did those tigers among men, the
Pandavas, do after they had slain the Rakshasa Vaka?'

"Vaisampayana said, 'The Pandavas, O king, after slaying the Rakshasa Vaka,
continued to dwell in the abode of that Brahmana, employed in the study of
the Vedas. Within a few days there came a Brahmana of rigid vows unto the
abode of their host to take up his quarters there. Their host, that bull
among Brahmanas, ever hospitable unto all guests, worshipping the newly-
arrived Brahmana with due ceremonies, gave him quarters in his own abode.
Then those bulls among men, the Pandavas, with their mother Kunti,
solicited the new lodger to narrate to them his interesting experiences.
The Brahmana spake to them of various countries and shrines and (holy)
rivers, of kings and many wonderful provinces and cities. And after this
narration was over, that Brahmana, O Janamejaya, also spoke of the
wonderful self-choice of Yajnasena's daughter, the princes of Panchala,
and of the births of Dhrishtadyumna and Sikhandi, and of the birth,
without the intervention of a woman, of Krishna (Draupadi) at the great
sacrifice of Drupada.

"Then those bulls among men, the Pandavas, hearing of these extraordinary
facts regarding that illustrious monarch (Drupada), and desiring to know
the details thereof, asked the Brahmana, after his narration was concluded,
to satisfy their curiosity. The Pandavas said, 'How, O Brahmana, did the
birth of Dhrishtadyumna the son of Drupada, take place from the
(sacrificial) fire? How also did the extraordinary birth of Krishna take
place from the centre of the sacrificial platform? How also did Drupada's
son learn all weapons from the great bowman Drona? And, O Brahmana, how
and for whom and for what reason was the friendship between Drona and
Drupada broken off?'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Thus questioned, O monarch, by those bulls among
men, the Brahmana narrated all the particulars about the birth of
Draupadi.'"

SECTION CLXVIII

(Chaitraratha Parva continued)

"The Brahmana said, 'At that region where the Ganga entered the plains
there lived a great Rishi, devoted to the austerest of penances. Of rigid
vows and great wisdom, he bore the name Bharadwaja. One day, on coming to
the Ganga to perform his ablutions, the Rishi saw the Apsara Ghritachi,
who had come before, standing on the bank after her ablutions were over.
And it so happened that a wind arose and disrobed the Apsara standing
there. And the Rishi beholding her thus disrobed, felt the influence of
desire. Though practising the vow of continence from his very youth, as
soon as he felt the influence of desire, the Rishi's vital fluid came out.
And as it came out, he held it in a pot (drana), and of that fluid thus
preserved in a pot was born a son who came to be called Drona (the pot-
born). And Drona studied all the Vedas and their several branches. And
Bharadwaja had a friend named Prishata who was the king of Panchalas. And
about the time that Drona was born, Prishata also obtained a son named
Drupada. And that bull amongst Kshatriyas, Prishata's son, going every day
to that asylum of Bharadwaja, played and studied with Drona. And after
Prishata's death, Drupada succeeded him on the throne. Drona about this
time heard that (the great Brahmana hero) Rama (on the eve of his retiring
into the weeds) was resolved to give away all his wealth. Hearing this,
the son of Bharadwaja repaired unto Rama who was about to retire into the
woods and addressing him, said, 'O best of Brahmanas, know me to be Drona
who hath come to thee to obtain thy wealth.' Rama replied, saying, 'I have
given away everything. All that I now have is this body of mine and my
weapons. O Brahmana, thou mayest ask of me one of these two, either my
body or my weapons.' Then Drona said, 'It behoveth thee, sir, to give me
all thy weapons together with (the mysteries of) their use and
withdrawal.'

"The Brahmana continued, 'Then Rama of Bhrigu's race, saying, 'So be it,'
gave all his weapons unto Drona, who obtaining them regarded himself as
crowned with success. Drona obtaining from Rama the most exalted of all
weapons, called the Brahma weapon, became exceedingly glad and acquired a
decided superiority over all men. Then the son of Bharadwaja, endued with
great prowess went to king Drupada, and approaching that monarch, that
tiger among men, said, 'Know me for thy friend.' Hearing this Drupada said,
'One of low birth can never be the friend of one whose lineage is pure,
nor can one who is not a car-warrior have a car-warrior for his friend. So
also one who is not a king cannot have a king as his friend. Why dost thou,
therefore, desire (to revive our) former friendship?'

"The Brahmana continued, 'Drona, gifted with great intelligence, was
extremely mortified at this, and settling in his mind some means of
humiliating the king of the Panchala he went to the capital of the Kurus,
called after the name of an elephant. Then Bhishma, taking with him his
grandsons, presented them unto the wise son of Bharadwaja as his pupils
for instruction, along with various kinds of wealth. Then Drona, desirous
of humiliating king Drupada, called together his disciples and addressed
them, 'Ye sinless ones, it behoveth you, after you have been accomplished
in arms, to give me as preceptorial fee something that I cherish in my
heart.' Then Arjuna and others said unto their preceptor, 'So be it.'--
After a time when the Pandavas became skilled in arms and sure aims,
demanding of them his fee, he again told them these words, 'Drupada, the
son of Prishata, is the king of Chhatravati. Take away from him his
kingdom, and give it unto me.' Then the Pandavas, defeating Drupada in
battle and taking him prisoner along with his ministers, offered him unto
Drona, who beholding the vanquished monarch, said, 'O king, I again
solicit thy friendship; and because none who is not a king deserveth to be
the friend of a king, therefore, O Yajnasena, I am resolved to divide thy
kingdom amongst ourselves. While thou art the king of the country to the
south of Bhagirathi (Ganga), I will rule the country to the north.'

"The Brahmana continued, 'The king of the Panchalas, thus addressed by the
wise son of Bharadwaja, told that best of Brahmanas and foremost of all
persons conversant with weapons, these words, 'O high-souled son of
Bharadwaja, blest be thou, let it be so, let there be eternal friendship
between us as thou desirest!' Thus addressing each other and establishing
a permanent bond between themselves, Drona and the king of Panchala, both
of them chastisers of foes, went away to the places they came from. But
the thought of that humiliation did not leave the king's mind for a single
moment. Sad at heart, the king began to waste away.'"

SECTION CLXIX

(Chaitraratha Parva continued)

"The Brahmana continued, 'King Drupada (after this), distressed at heart,
wandered among many asylums of Brahmanas in search of superior Brahmanas
well-skilled in sacrificial rites. Overwhelmed with grief and eagerly
yearning for children, the king always said, 'Oh, I have no offspring
surpassing all in accomplishments.' And the monarch, from great
despondency, always said 'Oh, fie on those children that I have and on my
relatives!' And ever thinking of revenging himself on Drona, the monarch
sighed incessantly. And that best of kings, O Bharata, even after much
deliberation, saw no way of overcoming, by his Kshatriya might, the
prowess and discipline and training and accomplishment of Drona. Wandering
along the banks of the Yamuna and the Ganga, the monarch once came upon a
sacred asylum of Brahmanas. There was in that asylum no Brahmana who was
not a Snataka, no one who was not of rigid vows, and none who was not
virtuous to a high degree. And the king saw there two Brahmana sages named
Yaja and Upayaja, both of rigid vows and souls under complete control and
belonging to the most superior order. They were both devoted to the study
of the ancient institutes and sprung from the race of Kasyapa. And those
best of Brahmanas were well able to help the king in the attainment of his
object. The king then, with great assiduity and singleness of purpose,
began to court this pair of excellent Brahmanas. Ascertaining the superior
accomplishments of the younger of the two the king courted in private
Upayaja of rigid vows, by the offer of every desirable acquisition.
Employed in paying homage to the feet of Upayaja, always addressing in
sweet words and offering him every object of human desire, Drupada, after
worshipping that Brahmana, addressed him (one day), saying, 'O Upayaja, O
Brahmana, if thou, performest those sacrificial rites by (virtue of) which
I may obtain a son who may slay Drona, I promise thee ten thousand kine,
or whatever else may be agreeable to thee, O first of Brahmanas, truly am
I ready to make gifts to thee.' Thus addressed by the king, the Rishi
replied, saying, 'I cannot (perform such rites).' But Drupada without
accepting this reply as final, once more began to serve and pay homage
unto that Brahmana. Then, after the expiration of a year, Upayaja, that
first of Brahmanas, O monarch, addressing Drupada in sweet tone, said, 'My
elder brother (Yaja), one day, while wandering through the deep woods,
took up a fruit that had fallen upon a spot the purity of which he cared
not to enquire about. I was following him (at the time) and observed this
unworthy act of his. Indeed, he entertains no scruples in accepting things
impure. In accepting that (particular) fruit he saw not any impropriety of
sinful nature: Indeed, he who observeth not purity (in one instance) is
not very likely to observe it in the other instances. When he lived in the
house of his preceptor, employed in studying the institutes, he always
used to eat (impure) remnants of other people's feasts. He always speaks
approvingly of food and entertains no dislike for anything. Arguing from
these, I believe that my brother covets earthy acquisitions. Therefore, O
king, go unto him; he will perform spiritual offices for thee.' Hearing
these words of Upayaja, king Drupada, though entertaining a low opinion of
Yaja, nevertheless went to his abode. Worshipping Yaja who was (still)
worthy of homage, Drupada said unto him, 'O master, perform thou spiritual
offices for me and I will give thee eighty thousand kine! Enmity with
Drona burneth my heart; it behoveth thee therefore to cool that heart of
mine. Foremost of those conversant with the Vedas, Drona is also skilled
in the Brahma weapon and for this, Drona hath overcome me in a contest
arising from (impaired) friendship. Gifted with great intelligence, the
son of Bharadwaja is (now) the chief preceptor of the Kurus. There is no
Kshatriya in this world superior to him. His bow is full six cubits long
and looks formidable, and his shafts are capable of slaying every living
being. That great bowman, the high-souled son of Bharadwaja, habited as a
Brahmana, is destroying the Kshatriya power all over the earth. Indeed, he
is like a second Jamadagnya intended for the extermination of the
Kshatriya race. There is no man on earth who can overcome the terrible
force of his weapons. Like a blazing fire fed with clarified butter, Drona,
possessed of Brahma might and uniting it with Kshatriya might, consumeth
every antagonist in battle. But (thy) Brahma force is greater in itself
than (Drona's) Brahma force united with Kshatriya might. Therefore, as I
am inferior (to Drona) in consequence of my possession of Kshatriya might
alone, I solicit the aid of thy Brahma force, having obtained thee so
superior to Drona in knowledge of Brahma. O Yaja, perform that sacrifice
by means of which I may obtain a son invincible in battle and capable of
slaying Drona. Ready am I to give thee ten thousand kine.' Hearing these
words of Drupada, Yaja said, 'So be it.' Yaja then began to recollect the
various ceremonies appertaining to the particular sacrifice. And knowing
the affair to be a very grave one, he asked the assistance of Upayaja who
coveted nothing. Then Yaja promised to perform the sacrifice for the
destruction of Drona. Then the great ascetic Upayaja spoke unto king
Drupada of everything required for the grand sacrifice (by aid of fire)
from which the king was to obtain offspring. And he said, 'O king, a child
shall be born unto thee, endued, as thou desirest, with great prowess,
great energy, and great strength.'

"The Brahmana continued, 'Then king Drupada, impelled by the desire of
obtaining a son who was to slay Drona, began, for the success of his wish,
to make the necessary preparations. (And when everything was complete)
Yaja, after having poured libations of clarified butter on the sacrificial
fire, commanded Drupada's queen, saying, 'Come hither, O queen, O daughter-
in-law of Prishata! A son and a daughter have arrived for thee!' Hearing
this, the queen said, 'O Brahmana, my mouth is yet filled with saffron and
other perfumed things. My body also beareth many sweet scents; I am hardly
fit for accepting (the sanctified butter which is to give me offspring).
Wait for me a little, O Yaja! Wait for that happy consummation.' Yaja,
however, replied, 'O lady, whether thou comest or waitest, why should not
the object of this sacrifice be accomplished when the oblation hath
already been prepared by me and sanctified by Upayaja's invocations?'

"The Brahmana continued, 'Having said this, Yaja poured the sanctified
libation on the fire, whereupon arose from those flames a child resembling
a celestial who possessing the effulgence of fire, was terrible to behold.
With a crown on this head and his body encased in excellent armour, sword
in hand, and bearing a bow and arrows, he frequently sent forth loud roars.
And immediately after his birth, he ascended an excellent chariot and went
about in it for some time. Then the Panchalas in great joy shouted,
'Excellent, Excellent.' The very earth seemed at that time unable to bear
the weight of the Panchalas mad with joy. Then, marvellous to say, the
voice of some invisible spirit in the skies said, 'This prince hath been
born for the destruction of Drona. He shall dispel all the fears of the
Panchalas and spread their fame. He shall also remove the sorrow of the
king.' And there arose, after this from the centre of the sacrificial
platform, a daughter also, called Panchali, who, blest with great good
fortune, was exceedingly handsome. Her eyes were black, and large as lotus-
petals, her complexion was dark, and her locks were blue and curly. Her
nails were beautifully convex, and bright as burnished copper; her eye-
brows were fair, and bosom was deep. Indeed, she resembled the veritable
daughter of a celestial born among men. Her body gave out fragrance like
that of a blue lotus, perceivable from a distance of full two miles. Her
beauty was such that she had no equal on earth. Like a celestial herself,
she could be desired (in marriage) by a celestial, a Danava, or a Yaksha.
When this girl of fair hips was born an incorporeal voice said, 'This dark-
complexioned girl will be the first of all women, and she will be the
cause of the destruction of many Kshatriyas. This slender-waisted one will,
in time, accomplish the purpose of the gods, and along with her many a
danger will overtake the Kauravas.' On hearing these words, the Panchalas
uttered a loud leonine roar, and the earth was unable to bear the weight
of that joyous concourse. Then beholding the boy and the girl, the
daughter-in-law of Prishata, desiring to have them, approached Yaja and
said, 'Let not these know any one else except myself as their mother.'
Yaja, desiring to do good unto the king said, 'So be it!' Then the
Brahmanas (present there), their expectations fully gratified, bestowed
names upon the new-born pair, 'Let this son of king Drupada, they said, be
called Dhrishtadyumna, because of his excessive audacity and because of
his being born like Dyumna with a natural mail and weapon.' And they also
said, 'Because this daughter is so dark in complexion, she should be
called Krishna (the dark).'

"The Brahmana continued, 'Thus were born those twins of the great
sacrifice of Drupada. And the great Drona, bringing the Panchala prince
into his own abode, taught him all weapons in requital of half the kingdom
he had formerly taken from Drupada. The high-souled son of Bharadwaja,
regarding destiny to be inevitable, did what would perpetuate his own
great deeds.'"

SECTION CLXX

(Chaitraratha Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'Hearing these words of the Brahmana, the sons of
Kunti seemed to be, as it were, pierced with darts. Indeed, all those
mighty heroes lost their peace of mind. Then the truthful Kunti, beholding
all her sons listless and inattentive, addressed Yudhishthira and said,
'We have now lived many nights in the abode of this Brahmana. We have
passed our time pleasantly in this town, living on the alms obtained from
many honest and illustrious persons. O oppressor of foes, as we have now
seen often and often all the agreeable woods and gardens that are in this
part of the country, seeing them again would no longer give any pleasure.
O heroic scion of Kuru's race, alms also are not now obtainable here as
easily as before. If thou wishest it would be well for us now to go to
Panchala; we have not seen that country, it will, no doubt, O hero, prove
delightful to us. O crusher of foes, it hath been heard by us that alms
are obtainable in the country of the Panchala, and that Yajnasena, the
king thereof, is devoted to Brahmanas. I am of opinion that it is not good
to live long in one place. Therefore, O son, if thou likest, it is good
for us to go there.'

"Hearing these words, Yudhishthira said, 'It is our duty to obey thy
command, which, besides, must be for our good. I do not, however, know
whether my younger brothers are willing to go.'"

SECTION CLXXI

(Chaitraratha Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Then Kunti spoke unto Bhimasena and Arjuna and
the twins regarding the journey to Panchala. They all said, 'So be it.'
Then, O king, Kunti with her sons saluted the Brahmana (in whose house
they had dwelt) and set out for the delightful town of the illustrious
Drupada.'

"Vaisampayana said, 'While the illustrious Pandavas were living disguised
in the abode of the Brahmana, Vyasa, the son of Satyavati, once went to
see them. Those chastisers of foes, beholding him coming rose up and
stepped onward to receive him. Saluting him reverentially and worshipping
him also the Pandavas stood in silence with joined hands. Thus worshipped
by them the sage became gratified. He asked them to be seated, and
cheerfully addressing them said, 'Ye slayers of foes, are ye living in the
path of virtue and according to the scriptures? Do ye worship the
Brahmanas? Ye are not, I hope, backward in paying homage unto those that
deserve your homage?' The illustrious Rishi, after this, spoke many words
of virtuous import, and after discoursing upon many topics of great
interest, he said, 'An illustrious Rishi, living in a certain hermitage,
had a daughter of tender waist, fair lips, and fine eye-brows, and
possessing every accomplishment. As a consequence of her own acts (in a
past life) the fair maid became very unfortunate. Though chaste and
beautiful, the damsel obtained not a husband. With a sorrowful heart she
thereupon began to practise ascetic penances with the object of obtaining
a husband. She soon gratified by her severe the god Sankara (Mahadeva),
who became propitious unto her and said unto that illustrious damsel, 'Ask
thou the boon thou desirest! Blest be thou! I am Sankara prepared to give
thee what thou wilt ask.' Desirous of benefiting herself, the maid
repeatedly said unto the supreme lord, 'O give me, a husband endued with
every accomplishment.' Then Isana (Mahadeva), that foremost of all
speakers, replied unto her, saying, 'O blessed one, thou shall have five
husbands from among the Bharata princes.' Thus told, the maiden said unto
the god who had given her that boon, 'O lord, I desire to have only one
husband through thy grace.' The god then addressed her again and said
these excellent words, 'Thou hast, O girl, said full five times, 'Give me
(a) husband.' Thou shalt, therefore, in another life have five husbands!'
Ye princes of Bharata's line, that damsel of celestial beauty hath been
born in the line of Drupada. The faultless Krishna of Prishata's line hath
been appointed to be the wife of you all. Ye mighty ones, go therefore, to
the capital of the Panchalas and dwell ye there. There is no doubt that
having obtained her as wife ye shall be very happy.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Having said so unto the Pandavas, the
illustrious and blessed grandsire then bade them farewell. The great
ascetic then left them and went to the place whence he had come.'"

SECTION CLXXII

(Chaitraratha Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'After Vyasa had gone away, those bulls among men, the
Pandavas, saluted the Brahmana and bade him farewell, and proceeded
(towards Panchala) with joyous hearts and with their mother walking before
them. Those slayers of all foes, in order to reach their destination,
proceeded in a due northerly direction, walking day and night till they
reached a sacred shrine of Siva with the crescent mark on his brow. Then
those tigers among men, the sons of Pandu, arrived at the banks of the
Ganga, Dhananjaya, that mighty car-warrior, walking before them, torch in
hand, for showing the way and guarding them (against wild animals). And it
so happened that at that time the proud king of the Gandharvas, with his
wives, was sporting in that solitary region in the delightful waters of
the Ganga. The king of the Gandharvas heard the tread of the Pandavas as
they approached the river. On hearing the sounds of their foot-steps, the
mighty Gandharvas were inflamed with wrath, and beholding those chastisers
of foes, the Pandavas, approach towards him with their mother, he drew his
frightful bow to a circle and said, 'It is known that excepting the first
forty seconds the grey twilight preceding nightfall hath been appointed
for the wandering of the Yakshas, the Gandharvas and the Rakshasas, all of
whom are capable of going everywhere at will. The rest of the time hath
been appointed for man to do his work. If therefore, men, wandering during
those moments from greed of gain, come near us, both we and the Rakshasas
slay those fools. Therefore, persons acquainted with the Vedas never
applaud those men--not even kings at the head of their troops--who
approach any pools of water at such a time. Stay ye at a distance, and
approach me not. Know ye not that I am bathing in the waters of the
Bhagirathi? Know that I am Angaraparna the Gandharva, ever relying on my
own strength! I am proud and haughty and am the friend of Kuvera. This my
forest on the banks of the Ganga, where I sport to gratify all my senses,
is called Angaraparna after my own name. Here neither gods, nor Kapalikas,
nor Gandharvas nor Yakshas, can come. How dare ye approach me who am the
brightest jewel on the diadem of Kuvera?'

"Hearing these words of the Gandharva, Arjuna said, 'Blockhead, whether it
be day, night, or twilight, who can bar others from the ocean, the sides
of the Himalayas, and this river? O ranger of the skies, whether the
stomach be empty or full, whether it is night or day, there is no special
time for anybody to come to the Ganga--that foremost of all rivers. As
regards ourselves endued with might, we care not when we disturb thee.
Wicked being, those who are weak in fighting worship thee. This Ganga,
issuing out of the golden peaks of Himavat, falleth into the waters of the
ocean, being distributed into seven streams. They who drink the waters of
these seven streams, viz., Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Vitashtha, Sarayu,
Gomati, and Gandaki, are cleansed of all their sins. O Gandharva, this
sacred Ganga again, flowing through the celestial region is called there
the Alakananda. It hath again in the region of the Pitris become the
Vaitarani, difficult of being crossed by sinners, and, Krishna-Dwaipayana
himself hath said so. The auspicious and celestial river, capable of
leading to heaven (them that touch its waters), is free from all dangers.
Why dost thou then desire to bar us from it? This act of thine is not in
consonance with eternal virtue. Disregarding thy words, why shall we not
touch the sacred waters of the Bhagirathi free from all dangers and from
which none can bar us?'