“Vaishampaayana said, ‘The large-eyed daughter of
Kuntibhoja, Pritha (Kunti) by name, was endued with beauty and every accomplishment. Of rigid
vows (Vrata in Sanskrit), she was
devoted to Dharma and possessed of every good quality. But though endued with
beauty and youth and every womanly attribute, yet it so happened that no king
asked-for her hand. O best of monarchs (Janamejaya), her father Kuntibhoja seeing this, invited the princes and kings of
other countries and desired his daughter to select her husband from among her
guests. The intelligent Kunti, entering the amphitheatre, saw Pandu -- the
foremost of the Bharatas -- that tiger among kings -- in that assembly of
crowned heads.
“Proud as the lion, broad-chested, bull-eyed, endued
with great strength, and outshining all other monarchs in splendour, he looked
like another (Lord) Indra in that royal assembly. The friendly daughter of Kuntibhoja, of
faultless features, seeing Pandu -- that best of men -- in that assembly,
became very much disturbed. Advancing with modesty, all the while shaking with
emotion, she placed the marriage garland about Pandu's neck.
“The other monarchs, seeing Kunti choose Pandu for her
lord, returned to their respective kingdoms on elephants, horses and chariots,
as they had come. O king (Janamejaya), the king - the bride's father - caused
the marriage rites to be performed duly. The Kuru prince (Pandu) blessed with great good fortune and the
daughter of Kuntibhoja formed a couple like Maghavat (Lord Indra) and Paulomi (Lord Indra’s wife). O best of Kuru monarchs (Janamejaya), king Kuntibhoja, after the marriage was
over, presented his son-in-law (Pandu) with
much wealth and sent him back to his capital. Then the Kuru prince Pandu,
accompanied by a large force bearing various kinds of banners and triangular
flag, and praised by Brahmanas and Maharishis pronouncing blessing, reached his
capital (Hastinapura). After
arriving at his own palace, he established his queen in that place.’”
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