“Vaishampaayana said, ‘Drupada, on hearing this, observed, ‘O Maharishi,
it was only when I had not heard this from you that I had sought to act in the
way I told you of. Now, however, that I know all, I cannot be against to what
has been decided by the Devas. Therefore, do I resolve to accomplish what you
have said. The knot of destiny cannot be untied.
Nothing in this world is the result of our own acts. That which had been
appointed by us in view of securing one only bridegroom has now terminated in
favour of many. As Krishna (i.e. Draupadi) (in her former life) had repeatedly said, ‘O, give me a
husband!’ the Mahadeva (Lord Shiva)
Himself gave her the boon she had asked. The Deva Himself knows the right or
wrong of this. As regards myself, when Shankara (Lord Shiva) has ordained so, right or wrong, no sin
can attach to me. Let these with happy hearts take, as ordained, the hand of
Krishna (Draupadi) with the (appropriate) rites.’
“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Then the illustrious Vyasa, addressing the
Dharmaraja Yudhishthira, said, ‘This day is an auspicious day, O Pandava! This
day the Moon has entered the constellation called Pushya. You take the hand of Krishna (Draupadi) today, yourself first before your
brothers!’ When Vyasa had said so, king Yagnasena (Drupada) and his son made preparations for the
wedding. The monarch kept ready various costly articles as marriage gifts. Then
he brought out his daughter Krishna (Draupadi), decorated, after a bath, with many jewels and pearls. Then there came
to witness the wedding all the friends and relatives of the king, ministers of
state, many Brahmanas and citizens. They all took their seats according to
their respective ranks. Adorned with that assembly of important men, with its
yard decorated with lotuses and lilies scattered immediately, and beautified
with lines of troops, king Drupada’s palace, decorated around with diamonds and
precious stones, looked like the sky studded with brilliant stars.
“Then those princes of the Kuru line (Pandavas), filled with youth and adorned with ear-rings, dressed in costly garments
and perfumed with sandal-paste, bathed and performed the usual religious rites
and accompanied by their priest (Purohita in Sanskrit) Dhaumya who was possessed of the splendour of fire, entered the
wedding hall one after another in due order, and with glad hearts, like mighty
bulls entering a cow-enclosure. Then Dhaumya, well-knowledgeable with the
Vedas, igniting the sacred Agni, poured with due mantras, offerings of
clarified butter into that blazing element. Calling Yudhishthira there,
Dhaumya, familiar with mantras, united him with Krishna (Draupadi). Walking round the Agni, the bridegroom
and the bride took each other's hand. After their union was complete, the Purohita
Dhaumya, taking leave of Yudhishthira, that ornament of battles, went out of
the palace.
“Then those mighty chariot-warriors -- those preservers of the Kuru
line -- those princes attired in gorgeous dresses, took the hand of that best
of women, day by day in succession, aided by that Purohita (Dhaumya). O king (Janamejaya), the Viprarishi told me of a very
wonderful and extraordinary thing in connection with these marriages, viz.,
that the illustrious princess of slender waist (Draupadi) regained her virginity every day after a
previous marriage.
“After the weddings were over, king Drupada gave to those mighty
chariot-warriors various kinds of excellent wealth. The king gave to them one
hundred chariots with golden standards, each drawn by four horses with golden headgears.
He gave them one hundred elephants all possessing auspicious marks on their
temples and faces and like to a hundred mountains with golden peaks. He also
gave them a hundred female servants all in the prime of youth and dressed in
costly garments and ornaments and floral decorations. The illustrious monarch (Drupada) of the Lunar (Somaka in Sanskrit) race gave to each of those princes of divine
beauty, making the sacred Agni a witness of his gifts, much wealth, many costly
garments and ornaments of great splendour. The Pandavas filled with great
strength, after their wedding were over, and after they had obtained Krishna (Draupadi) like to a second Sri along with great
wealth, passed their days in joy and happiness, like so many Indras, in the
capital of the king of the Paanchaalas.’”
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