SRIMAD MAHABHARATA - AADI PARVA - VAIVAAHIKA (UPA) PARVA - PART 196

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘The messenger said, ‘King Drupada has, in view of his daughter’s wedding prepared a good feast for the bride-groom’s party. You come there after finishing your daily rites. Krishna’s wedding will take place there. You delay not. These chariots adorned with golden lotuses drawn by excellent horses are worthy of kings. Riding on them, you come into the abode of the king of the Paanchaalas (King Drupada).’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Then those bulls among the Kurus (Pandavas), dismissing the priest (Purohita in Sanskrit; referring here the Purohita sent by King Drupada) and causing Kunti and Krishna (Draupadi) to ride together on one of those chariots, themselves ascended those magnificient vehicles and proceeded towards Drupada’s place. Meanwhile, O Bharata (King Janamejaya), hearing from his Purohita the words that Yudhishthira had said, king Drupada, in order to discover the varna to which those heroes (Veera in Sanskrit) belonged, kept ready a large collection of articles (required by the Shastras for the wedding of each of the four varnas). He kept ready fruits, purified garlands, and coats of armour, shields, carpets, cows, seeds, and various other articles and implements of agriculture.

“O monarch (Janamejaya), the king (Drupada) also collected every article relating to other arts, and various implements and apparatus of every kind of sport. He also collected excellent coats of armour and shining shields, swords and scimitars, of fine hardness and elasticity, beautiful chariots and horses, first-class bows and well-adorned arrows, and various kinds of missiles ornamented with gold. He also kept ready arrows, rockets, battle-axes and various items of war. There were in that collection beds, carpets and various fine things, and cloths of various sorts.

“When the party went to Drupada’s abode, Kunti taking with her the virtuous Krishna (Draupadi) entered the inner apartments of the king (Drupada). The ladies of the king’s household with joyous hearts worshipped the queen of the Kurus. O monarch (Janamejaya), seeing those foremost of men, each possessing the sportive walk of the lion, with deer-skins for their upper garments, eyes like to those of mighty bulls, broad shoulders, and long-hanging arms like to the bodies of mighty snakes, the king (Drupada), the king’s ministers, the king’s son, and the king's friends and attendants, all became exceedingly glad. Those heroes (Veera in Sanskrit) sat on excellent seats, furnished with footstools without any awkwardness and hesitation. Those foremost of men sat with perfect fearlessness on those costly seats one after another according to the order of their ages. After those heroes were seated, well-dressed servants male and female, and skillful cooks brought excellent and costly food worthy of kings on gold and silver plates. Then those foremost of men dined on those dishes and became well-pleased. After the dinner was over, those heroes among men (Pandavas), passing over all other articles, began to observe with interest the various items of war. Looking this, Drupada’s son and Drupada himself, along with all his chief ministers of state, understanding the sons of Kunti (Pandavas) to be all of royal blood became exceedingly glad.’”