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

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"The Pandavas, too, entering that amphitheatre, sat with the Brahmanas and
beheld the unequalled affluence of the king of the Panchalas. And that
concourse of princes, Brahmanas, and others, looking gay at the
performances of actors and dancers (large presents of every kind of wealth
being constantly made), began to swell day by day. And it lasted, O king,
several days, till on the sixteenth day when it was at its full, the
daughter of Drupada, O thou bull of the Bharata race, having washed
herself clean entered the amphitheatre, richly attired and adorned with
every ornament and bearing in her hand a dish of gold (whereon were the
usual offerings of Arghya) and a garland of flowers. Then the priest of
the lunar race--a holy Brahmana conversant with all mantras--ignited the
sacrificial fire and poured on it with due rites libations of clarified
butter. And gratifying Agni by these libations and making the Brahmanas
utter the auspicious formula of benediction, stopped the musical
instruments that were playing all around. And when that vast amphitheatre,
O monarch, became perfectly still, Dhrishtadyumna possessed of a voice
deep as the sound of the kettledrum or the clouds, taking hold of his
sister's arm, stood in the midst of that concourse, and said, with a voice
loud and deep as the roar of the clouds, these charming words of excellent
import, 'Hear ye assembled kings, this is the bow, that is the mark, and
these are the arrows. Shoot the mark through the orifice of the machine
with these five sharpened arrows. Truly do I say that, possessed of
lineage, beauty of persons, and strength whoever achieveth this great feat
shall obtain today this my sister, Krishna for his wife.' Having thus
spoken unto the assembled monarchs Drupada's son then addressed his sister,
reciting unto her the names and lineages and achievements of those
assembled lords of the earth.'"

SECTION CLXXXVIII

(Swayamvara Parva continued)

"Dhrishtadyumna said, 'Duryodhana, Durvisaha, Durmukha and
Dushpradharshana, Vivinsati, Vikarna, Saha, and Duhsasana; Yuyutsu and
Vayuvega and Bhimavegarava; Ugrayudha, Valaki, Kanakayu, and Virochana,
Sukundala, Chitrasena, Suvarcha, and Kanakadhwaja; Nandaka, and Vahusali,
and Tuhunda, and Vikata; these, O sister, and many other mighty sons of
Dhritarashtra--all heroes--accompanied by Karna, have come for thy hand.
Innumerable other illustrious monarchs all bulls among Kshatriyas--have
also come for thee. Sakuni, Sauvala, Vrisaka, and Vrihadvala,--these sons
of the king Gandhara--have also come. Foremost of all wielders of weapons
--the illustrious Aswatthaman and Bhoja, adorned with every ornament have
also come for thee. Vrihanta, Manimana, Dandadhara, Sahadeva, Jayatsena,
Meghasandhi, Virata with his two sons Sankha and Uttara, Vardhakshemi,
Susarma, Senavindu, Suketu with his two sons Sunama and Suvarcha, Suchitra,
Sukumara, Vrika, Satyadhriti, Suryadhwaja, Rochamana, Nila, Chitrayudha,
Agsuman, Chekitana, the mighty Sreniman, Chandrasena the mighty son of
Samudrasena, Jarasandha, Vidanda, and Danda--the father and son, Paundraka,
Vasudeva, Bhagadatta endued with great energy, Kalinga, Tamralipta, the
king of Pattana, the mighty car-warrior Salya, the king of Madra, with his
son, the heroic Rukmangada, Rukmaratha, Somadatta of the Kuru race with
his three sons, all mighty chariot-fighters and heroes, viz., Bhuri,
Bhurisrava, and Sala, Sudakshina, Kamvoja of the Puru race, Vrihadvala,
Sushena, Sivi, the son of Usinara, Patcharanihanta, the king of Karusha,
Sankarshana (Valadeva), Vasudeva (Krishna) the mighty son of Rukmini,
Samva, Charudeshna, the son of Pradyumna with Gada, Akrura, Satyaki, the
high-souled Uddhava, Kritavarman, the son of Hridika, Prithu, Viprithu,
Viduratha, Kanka, Sanku with Gaveshana, Asavaha, Aniruddha, Samika,
Sarimejaya, the heroic Vatapi Jhilli Pindaraka, the powerful Usinara, all
these of the Vrishni race, Bhagiratha, Vrihatkshatra, Jayadratha the son
of Sindhu, Vrihadratha, Valhika, the mighty charioteer Srutayu, Uluka,
Kaitava, Chitrangada and Suvangada, the highly intelligent Vatsaraja, the
king of Kosala, Sisupala and the powerful Jarasandha, these and many other
great kings--all Kshatriyas celebrated throughout the world--have come, O
blessed one, for thee. Endued with prowess, these will shoot the mark. And
thou shalt choose him for thy husband who amongst these will shoot the
mark.'"

SECTION CLXXXIX

(Swayamvara Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'Then those youthful princes adorned with ear-rings,
vying with one another and each regarding himself accomplished in arms and
gifted with might, stood up brandishing their weapons. And intoxicated
with pride of beauty, prowess, lineage, knowledge, wealth, and youth, they
were like Himalayan elephants in the season of rut with crowns split from
excess of temporal juice. And beholding each other with jealousy and
influenced by the god of desire, they suddenly rose up from their royal
seats, exclaiming 'Krishna shall be mine.' And the Kshatriyas assembled in
that amphitheatre, each desirous of winning the daughter of Drupada,
looked like the celestial (of old) standing round Uma, the daughter of the
King of mountains. Afflicted with the shafts of the god of the flowery bow
and with hearts utterly lost in the contemplation of Krishna, those
princes descended into the amphitheatre for winning the Panchala maiden
and began to regard even their best friends with jealousy. And there came
also the celestials on their cars, with the Rudras and the Adityas, the
Vasus and the twin Aswins, the Swadhas and all the Marutas, and Kuvera
with Yama walking ahead. And there came also the Daityas and the Suparnas,
the great Nagas and the celestial Rishis, the Guhyakas and the Charanas
and Viswavasu and Narada and Parvata, and the principal Gandharvas with
Apsaras. And Halayudha (Valadeva) and Janardana (Krishna) and the chief of
the Vrishni, Andhaka, and Yadava tribes who obeyed the leadership of
Krishna were also there, viewing the scene. And beholding those elephants
in rut--the five (Pandavas)--attracted towards Draupadi like mighty
elephants towards a lake overgrown with lotuses, or like fire covered with
ashes, Krishna the foremost of Yadu heroes began to reflect. And he said
unto Rama (Valadeva), 'That is Yudhishthira; that is Bhima with Jishnu
(Arjuna); and those are the twin heroes.' And Rama surveying them slowly
cast a glance of satisfaction at Krishna. Biting their nether lips in
wrath, the other heroes there--sons and grandsons of kings--with their
eyes and hearts and thoughts set on Krishna, looked with expanded eyes on
Draupadi alone without noticing the Pandavas. And the sons of Pritha also,
of mighty arms, and the illustrious twin heroes, beholding Draupadi, were
all likewise struck by the shafts of Kama. And crowded with celestial
Rishis and Gandharvas and Suparnas and Nagas and Asuras and Siddhas, and
filled with celestial perfumes and scattered over with celestial flowers,
and resounding with the kettle-drum and the deep hum of infinite voices,
and echoing with the softer music of the flute, the Vina, and the tabor,
the cars of the celestials could scarcely find a passage through the
firmament. Then those princes--Karna, Duryodhana, Salwa, Salya,
Aswatthaman, Kratha, Sunitha, Vakra, the ruler of Kalinga and Banga,
Pandya, Paundra, the ruler of Videha, the chief of the Yavanas, and many
other sons and grandsons of kings,--sovereigns of territories with eyes
like lotus-petals,--one after another began to exhibit prowess for
(winning) that maiden of unrivalled beauty. Adorned with crowns, garlands,
bracelets, and other ornaments, endued with mighty arms, possessed of
prowess and vigour and bursting with strength and energy, those princes
could not, even in imagination, string that bow of extraordinary
stiffness.

"And (some amongst) those kings in exerting with swelling lips each
according to his strength, education, skill, and energy,--to string that
bow, were tossed on the ground and lay perfectly motionless for some time.
Their strength spent and their crowns and garlands loosened from their
persons, they began to pant for breath and their ambition of winning that
fair maiden was cooled. Tossed by that tough bow, and their garlands and
bracelets and other ornaments disordered, they began to utter exclamations
of woe. And that assemblage of monarchs, their hope of obtaining Krishna
gone, looked sad and woeful. And beholding the plight of those monarchs,
Karna that foremost of all wielders of the bow went to where the bow was,
and quickly raising it strung it and placed the arrows on the string. And
beholding the son of Surya--Karna of the Suta tribe--like unto fire, or
Soma, or Surya himself, resolved to shoot the mark, those foremost of
bowmen--the sons of Pandu--regarded the mark as already shot and brought
down upon the ground. But seeing Karna, Draupadi loudly said, 'I will not
select a Suta for my lord.' Then Karna, laughing in vexation and casting
glance at the Sun, threw aside the bow already drawn to a circle.

"Then when all those Kshatriyas gave up the task, the heroic king of the
Chedis--mighty as Yama (Pluto) himself--the illustrious and determined
Sisupala, the son of Damaghosa, in endeavouring to string the bow, himself
fell upon his knees on the ground. Then king Jarasandha endued with great
strength and powers, approaching the bow stood there for some moment,
fixed and motionless like a mountain. Tossed by the bow, he too fell upon
his knees on the ground, and rising up, the monarch left the amphitheatre
for (returning to) his kingdom. Then the great hero Salya, the king of
Madra, endued with great strength, in endeavouring to string the bow fell
upon his knees on the ground. At last when in that assemblage consisting
of highly respectable people, all the monarchs had become subjects of
derisive talk that foremost of heroes--Jishnu, the son of Kunti--desired
to string the bow and placed the arrows on the bow-string.'"

SECTION CLXL

(Swayamvara Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana continued, 'When all the monarchs had desisted from
stringing that bow, the high-souled Jishnu arose from among the crowd of
Brahmanas seated in that assembly. And beholding Partha possessing the
complexion of Indra's banner, advancing towards the bow, the principal
Brahmanas shaking their deer-skins raised a loud clamour. And while some
were displeased, there were others that were well-pleased. And some there
were, possessed of intelligence and foresight, who addressing one another
said, 'Ye Brahmanas, how can a Brahmana stripling unpractised in arms and
weak in strength, string that bow which such celebrated Kshatriyas as
Salya and others endued with might and accomplished in the science and
practice of arms could not? If he doth not achieve success in this untried
task which he hath undertaken from a spirit of boyish unsteadiness, the
entire body of Brahmanas here will be rendered ridiculous in the eyes of
the assembled monarchs. Therefore, forbid this Brahmana that he may not go
to string the bow which he is even now desirous of doing from vanity,
or mere childish daring.' Others replied, 'We shall not be made
ridiculous, nor shall we incur the disrespect of anybody or the
displeasure of the sovereigns. Some remarked, 'This handsome youth is even
like the trunk of a mighty elephant, whose shoulders and arms and thighs
are so well-built, who in patience looks like the Himavat, whose gait is
even like that of the lion, and whose prowess seems to be like that of an
elephant in rut, and who is so resolute, that it is probable that he will
accomplish this feat. He has strength and resolution. If he had none, he
would never go of his own accord. Besides, there is nothing in the three
worlds that Brahmanas of all mortal men cannot accomplish. Abstaining from
all food or living upon air or eating of fruits, persevering in their vows,
and emaciated and weak, Brahmanas are ever strong in their own energy. One
should never disregard a Brahmana whether his acts be right or wrong, by
supposing him incapable of achieving any task that is great or little, or
that is fraught with bliss or woe. Rama the son of Jamadagni defeated in
battle, all the Kshatriyas. Agastya by his Brahma energy drank off the
fathomless ocean. Therefore, say ye, 'Let this youth bend the bow and
string it with ease' (and many said), 'So be it.' And the Brahmanas
continued speaking unto one another these and other words. Then Arjuna
approached the bow and stood there like a mountain. And walking round that
bow, and bending his head unto that giver of boons--the lord Isana--and
remembering Krishna also, he took it up. And that bow which Rukma, Sunitha,
Vakra, Radha's son, Duryodhana, Salya, and many other kings accomplished
in the science and practice of arms, could not even with great exertion,
string, Arjuna, the son of Indra, that foremost of all persons endued with
energy and like unto the younger brother of Indra (Vishnu) in might,
strung in the twinkling of an eye. And taking up the five arrows he shot
the mark and caused it to fall down on the ground through the hole in the
machine above which it had been placed. Then there arose a loud uproar in
the firmament, and the amphitheatre also resounded with a loud clamour.
And the gods showered celestial flowers on the head of Partha the slayer
of foes. And thousands of Brahmanas began to wave their upper garments in
joy. And all around, the monarchs who had been unsuccessful, uttered
exclamations of grief and despair. And flowers were rained from the skies
all over the amphitheatre. And the musicians struck up in concert. Bards
and heralds began to chant in sweet tones the praises (of the hero who
accomplished the feat). And beholding Arjuna, Drupada--that slayer of foes,--
was filled with joy. And the monarch desired to assist with his forces the
hero if the occasion arose. And when the uproar was at its height,
Yudhishthira, the foremost of all virtuous men, accompanied by those first
of men the twins, hastily left the amphitheatre for returning to his
temporary home. And Krishna beholding the mark shot and beholding Partha
also like unto Indra himself, who had shot the mark, was filled with joy,
and approached the son of Kunti with a white robe and a garland of flowers.
And Arjuna the accomplisher of inconceivable feats, having won Draupadi by
his success in the amphitheatre, was saluted with reverence by all the
Brahmanas. And he soon after left the lists followed close by her who thus
became his wife.'"

SECTION CLXLI

(Swayamvara Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'When the king (Drupada) expressed his desire of
bestowing his daughter on that Brahmana (who had shot the mark), all those
monarchs who had been invited to the Swayamvara, looking at one another,
were suddenly filled with wrath. And they said, 'Passing us by and
treating the assembled monarchs as straw this Drupada desireth to bestow
his daughter--that first of women,--on a Brahmana! Having planted the tree
he cutteth it down when it is about to bear fruit. The wretch regardeth us
not: therefore let us slay him. He deserveth not our respect nor the
veneration due to age. Owing to such qualities of his, we shall, therefore,
slay this wretch that insulteth all kings, along with his son. Inviting
all the monarchs and entertaining them with excellent food, he
disregardeth us at last. In this assemblage of monarchs like unto a
conclave of the celestials, doth he not see a single monarch equal unto
himself? The Vedic declaration is well-known that the Swayamvara is for
the Kshatriyas. The Brahmanas have no claim in respect of a selection of
husband by a Kshatriya damsel. Or, ye kings, if this damsel desireth not
to select any one of us as her lord, let us cast her into the fire and
return to our kingdoms. As regards this Brahmana, although he hath, from
officiousness or avarice, done this injury to the monarchs, he should not
yet be slain; for our kingdoms, lives, treasures, sons, grandsons, and
whatever other wealth we have, all exist for Brahmanas. Something must be
done here (even unto him), so that from fear of disgrace and the desire of
maintaining what properly belongeth unto each order, other Swayamvaras may
not terminate in this way.'

"Having addressed one another thus, those tigers among monarchs endued
with arms like unto spiked iron maces, took up their weapons and rushed at
Drupada to slay him then and there. And Drupada beholding those monarchs
all at once rushing towards him in anger with bows and arrows, sought,
from fear, the protection of the Brahmanas. But those mighty bowmen (Bhima
and Arjuna) of the Pandavas, capable of chastising all foes, advanced to
oppose those monarchs rushing towards them impetuously like elephants in
the season of rut. Then the monarchs with gloved fingers and upraised
weapons rushed in anger at the Kuru princes, Bhima and Arjuna, to slay
them. Then the mighty Bhima of extraordinary achievements, endued with the
strength of thunder, tore up like an elephant a large tree and divested it
of its leaves. And with that tree, the strong-armed Bhima, the son of
Pritha, that grinder of foes, stood, like unto the mace-bearing king of
the dead (Yama) armed with his fierce mace, near Arjuna that bull amongst
men. And beholding that feat of his brother, Jishnu of extraordinary
intelligence, himself also of inconceivable feats, wondered much. And
equal unto Indra himself in achievements, shaking off all fear he stood
with his bow ready to receive those assailants. And beholding those feats
of both Jishnu and his brother, Damodara (Krishna) of superhuman
intelligence and inconceivable feats, addressing his brother, Halayudha
(Valadeva) of fierce energy, said, 'That hero there, of tread like that of
a mighty lion, who draweth the large bow in his hand four full cubits in
length, is Arjuna! There is no doubt, O Sankarshana, about this, if I am
Vasudeva. That other hero who having speedily torn up the tree hath
suddenly become ready to drive off the monarchs is Vrikodara! For no one
in the world, except Vrikodara, could today perform such a feat in the
field of battle. And that other youth of eyes like unto lotus-petals, of
full four cubits height, of gait like that of a mighty lion, and humble
withal, of fair complexion and prominent and shining nose, who had, a
little before, left the amphitheatre, is Dharma's son (Yudhishthira). The
two other youths, like unto Kartikeya, are, I suspect, the sons of the
twin Aswins. I heard that the sons of Pandu along with their mother Pritha
had all escaped from the conflagration of the house of lac.' Then
Halayudha of complexion like unto that of clouds uncharged with rain,
addressing his younger brother (Krishna), said with great satisfaction, 'O,
I am happy to hear, as I do from sheer good fortune, that our father's
sister Pritha with the foremost of the Kaurava princes have all escaped
(from death)!'"

SECTION CLXLII

(Swayamvara Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'Then those bulls among Brahmanas shaking their deer-
skins and water-pots made of cocoanut-shells exclaimed, 'Fear not, we will
fight the foe!' Arjuna smilingly addressing those Brahmanas exclaiming
thus, said, 'Stand ye aside as spectators (of the fray). Showering hundreds
of arrows furnished with straight points even I shall check, like snakes
with mantras, all those angry monarchs.' Having said this, the mighty
Arjuna taking up the bow he had obtained as dower accompanied by his
brother Bhima stood immovable as a mountain. And beholding those
Kshatriyas who were ever furious in battle with Karna ahead, the heroic
brothers rushed fearlessly at them like two elephants rushing against a
hostile elephant. Then those monarchs eager for the fight fiercely
exclaimed, 'The slaughter in battle of one desiring to fight is
permitted.' And saying this, the monarchs suddenly rushed against the
Brahmanas. And Karna endued with great energy rushed against Jishnu for
fight. And Salya the mighty king of Madra rushed against Bhima like an
elephant rushing against another for the sake of a she-elephant in heat;
while Duryodhana and others engaged with the Brahmanas, skirmished with
them lightly and carelessly. Then the illustrious Arjuna beholding Karna,
the son of Vikartana (Surya), advancing towards him, drew his tough bow
and pieced him with his sharp arrows. And the impetus of those whetted
arrows furnished with fierce energy made Radheya (Karna) faint.
Recovering consciousness Karna attacked Arjuna with greater care than
before. Then Karna and Arjuna, both foremost of victorious warriors,
desirous of vanquishing each other, fought madly on. And such was the
lightness of hand they both displayed that (each enveloped by the other's
shower of arrows) they both became invisible (unto the spectators of their
encounter). 'Behold the strength of my arms.'--'Mark, how I have
counteracted that feat,'--those were the words--intelligible to heroes
alone--in which they addressed each other. And incensed at finding the
strength and energy of Arjuna's arms unequalled on the earth, Karna, the
son of Surya, fought with greater vigour. And parrying all those impetuous
arrows shot at him by Arjuna, Karna sent up a loud shout. And this feat of
his was applauded by all the warriors. Then addressing his antagonist,
Karna said, 'O thou foremost of Brahmanas, I am gratified to observe the
energy of thy arms that knoweth no relaxation in battle and thy weapons
themselves fit for achieving victory. Art thou the embodiment of the
science of weapons, or art thou Rama that best of Brahmanas, or Indra
himself, or Indra's younger brother Vishnu called also Achyuta, who for
disguising himself hath assumed the form of a Brahmana and mustering such
energy of arms fighteth with me? No other person except the husband
himself of Sachi or Kiriti, the son of Pandu, is capable of fighting with
me when I am angry on the field of battle.' Then hearing those words of
his, Phalguna replied, saying, 'O Karna, I am neither the science of arms
(personified), nor Rama endued with superhuman powers. I am only a
Brahmana who is the foremost of all warriors and all wielders of weapons.
By the grace of my preceptor I have become accomplished in the Brahma and
the Paurandara weapons. I am here to vanquish thee in battle. Therefore, O
hero, wait a little.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Thus addressed (by Arjuna), Karna the adopted
son of Radha desisted from the fight, for that mighty chariot-fighter
thought that Brahma energy is ever invincible. Meanwhile on another part
of the field, the mighty heroes Salya and Vrikodara, well-skilled in
battle and possessed of great strength and proficiency, challenging each
other, engaged in fight like two elephants in rut. And they struck each
other with their clenched fists and knees. And sometimes pushing each
other forward and sometimes dragging each other near, sometimes throwing
each other down; face downward, and sometimes on the sides, they fought on,
striking, each other at times with their clenched fists. And encountering
each other with blows hard as the clash of two masses of granite, the
lists rang with the sounds of their combat. Fighting with each other thus
for a few seconds, Bhima the foremost of the Kuru heroes taking up Salya
on his arms hurled him to a distance. And Bhimasena, that bull amongst men,
surprised all (by the dexterity of his feat) for though he threw Salya on
the ground he did it without hurting him much. And when Salya was thus
thrown down and Karna was struck with fear, the other monarchs were all
alarmed. And they hastily surrounded Bhima and exclaimed, 'Surely these
bulls amongst Brahmanas are excellent (warriors)! Ascertain in what race
they have been born and where they abide. Who can encounter Karna, the son
of Radha, in fight, except Rama or Drona, or Kiriti, the son of Pandu? Who
also can encounter Duryodhana in battle except Krishna, the son of Devaki,
and Kripa, the son of Saradwan? Who also can overthrow in battle Salya,
that first of mighty warriors, except the hero Valadeva or Vrikodara, the
son of Pandu, or the heroic Duryodhana? Let us, therefore, desist from
this fight with the Brahmanas. Indeed, Brahmanas, however offending,
should yet be ever protected. And first let us ascertain who these are;
for after we have done that we may cheerfully fight with them.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'And Krishna, having beheld that feat of Bhima,
believed them both to be the son of Kunti. And gently addressing the
assembled monarchs, saying, 'This maiden hath been justly acquired (by the
Brahmana),' he induced them to abandon the fight. Accomplished in battle,
those monarchs then desisted from the fight. And those best of monarchs
then returned to their respective kingdoms, wondering much. And those who
had come there went away saying, 'The festive scene hath terminated in the
victory of the Brahmanas. The princess of Panchala hath become the bride
of a Brahmana.' And surrounded by Brahmanas dressed in skins of deer and
other wild animals, Bhima and Dhananjaya passed with difficulty out of the
throng. And those heroes among men, mangled by the enemy and followed by
Krishna, on coming at last out of that throng, looked like the full moon
and the sun emerging from the clouds.