“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Then Kunti spoke to
Bhimasena, Arjuna and the twins regarding the journey to Paanchaala. They all
said, ‘So be it.’ O king (Janamejaya), then Kunti with her sons saluted the
Brahmana (in whose house they had stayed) and set out for the delightful town of the illustrious Drupada.’
“Vaishampaayana said, ‘While the illustrious Pandavas
were living disguised in the abode of the Brahmana, (Maharishi) Vyasa, the son of
Satyavati, once went to see them. Those punishers of enemies (Pandavas), seeing him coming rose up and stepped
onward to receive him. Saluting him respectfully and worshipping him also the
Pandavas stood in silence with joined hands. Thus, worshipped by them the sage (Vyasa) became pleased. He asked them to be
seated, and cheerfully addressing them said, ‘O slayers of enemies, are you
living in the path of Dharma and according to the Shaastraas? Do you worship
the Brahmanas? I hope you are not backward in paying homage to those that
deserve your homage?’
“The illustrious Rishi (Vyasa),
after this, spoke many words of Dharmic meaning, and after conversing upon
many topics of great interest, he (Vyasa) said, ‘An illustrious Rishi, living in a certain ashrama, 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 lady became very unfortunate.
Though chaste (Sati in Sanskrit) and
beautiful (Roopavati in Sanskrit),
the lady did not obtain a husband. With a sorrowful heart, she immediately
began to practise Tapas with the object of obtaining a husband. She soon pleased
by her severe Tapas the god Shankara (Lord Shiva), who became favourable to her and said to that illustrious lady, ‘You
ask the boon you desire! Blessed be you! I am Shankara prepared to give you
what you will ask.’ Desirous of benefiting herself, the lady repeatedly said to
the supreme lord (Lord Shiva), ‘O
give me, a husband endued with every accomplishment.’ Then Ishaana (Lord
Shiva), that foremost of all speakers,
replied to her, saying, ‘O blessed one, you shall have five husbands from among
the Bharata princes.’ Thus told, the lady said to the God who had given her
that boon, ‘O lord, I desire to have only one husband through your grace.’ The God
(Lord Shiva) then addressed her
again and said these excellent words, ‘O girl, you have said full five times, ‘Give
me (a) husband.’ You shall,
therefore, in another life have five husbands!’ O princes of Bharata's line (Pandavas), that lady of divine beauty has been born
in the line of Drupada (as Draupadi).
The faultless Krishna (also known as Draupadi) of Prishata's line has been appointed to be the wife of you all. O
mighty ones (Pandavas), go
therefore, to the capital of the Paanchaalas and you stay there. There is no
doubt that having obtained her as wife you shall be very happy.’
“Vaishampaayana
continued, ‘Having said so to the Pandavas, the illustrious and blessed Pitamaha
(Maharishi
Vyasa) then gave them farewell. The Maharishi
(Vyasa) then left them and went to
the place from where he had come.’”
No comments:
Post a Comment