“Vaishampaayana said, ‘Then those illustrious sons of Pritha (Kunti), on returning to the potter’s house,
approached their mother. Those first of men represented Yagnaseni (Draupadi) to their mother as the alms (Bhiksha
in Sanskrit) they had obtained that day.
Kunti who was there within the room and saw not her sons, replied, saying, ‘You all enjoy (whatever
you have obtained).’
“The moment after, she saw Krishna (Draupadi) and then she said, ‘Oh, what have I said?’ Anxious from fear of sin,
and thinking how everyone could be free from the situation, she took the
cheerful Yagnaseni (Draupadi) by the
hand, and approaching Yudhishthira said, ‘The daughter of king Yagnasena (Drupada) upon being represented to me by your
younger brothers as the alms (Bhiksha in Sanskrit) they had obtained, from ignorance, O king (Yudhishthira), I said what was proper – ‘You all enjoy all
what has been obtained.’ O you bull of the Kuru race (Yudhishthira), tell me how my speech may not become
untrue; how sin may not touch the daughter of the king of Paanchaala (Draupadi), and how also she may not become uneasy.’
“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Thus addressed by his mother that hero (Veera
in Sanskrit) among men, that foremost descendant
of the Kuru race, the intelligent king (Yudhishthira), thinking for a moment, consoled Kunti, and addressing Dhananjaya (Arjuna), said, ‘By you, O Phalguna (Arjuna), has Yagnaseni (Arjuna) been won. It is proper, therefore, that you
should wed her. O you withstander of all enemies, igniting the sacred fire, you
take her hand with due rites.’
“Arjuna, hearing this, replied, ‘O king (Yudhishthira), do not make me a participator in sin. Your
instruction is not conformable to Dharma. That is the path followed by the
sinful. You should wed first, then the strong-armed Bhima of unimaginable achievements,
then myself, then Nakula, and last of all, Sahadeva endued with great activity.
O monarch, both Vrikodara (Bhimasena)
and myself, and the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva) and this lady (Draupadi) also,
all await your commands. When such is the state of things, do that, after thinking,
which would be proper, and conformable to Dharma, and productive of fame, and
beneficial to the king of Paanchaala (Draupadi). All of us are obedient to you. O, command us as you like.’
“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Hearing these words of Jishnu (Arjuna), so full of respect and affection, the
Pandavas all cast their eyes upon the princess of Paanchaala (Draupadi). The princess of Paancahala (Draupadi) also looked at them all. Casting their
glances on the illustrious Krishna (Draupadi), those princes looked at one another. Taking their seats, they began
to think of Draupadi alone. Indeed, after those princes of immeasurable energy (Pandavas) had looked at Draupadi, the Kaamadeva
invaded their hearts and continued to crush all their senses. As the lavishing
beauty of Paanchaali (Draupadi) who
had been modelled by the Creator (Lord Brahma) Himself, was superior to that of all other women on earth, it could
captivate the heart of every creature. Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, seeing
his younger brothers, understood what was passing in their minds. That bull
among men immediately recollected the words of Krishna-Dwaipaayana (Maharishi
Vyasa). The king (Yudhishthira),
then, from fear of a division among the brothers, addressing all of them, said,
‘The auspicious Draupadi shall be the common wife of us
all.’
“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘The Pandavas, then, hearing those words of
their eldest brother, began to revolve them in their minds in great
cheerfulness. The hero (Veera in Sanskrit) of the Vrishni kula (Sri Krishna – suspecting the five persons he
had seen at the Swayamvara to be Pandavas),
came accompanied by the son of Rohini (Balarama), to the house of the potter where those foremost of men had taken up
their house. On arriving there, (Sri)
Krishna and Baladeva saw seated in that potter’s house Ajaatashatru (Yudhishthira) of well developed and long arms, and his
younger brothers passing the brilliance of fire sitting around him.
“Then Vaasudeva approaching that foremost of men of Dharma -- the son
of Kunti (Yudhishthira) -- and
touching the feet of that prince of the Ajameeda race, said, ‘I am (Sri) Krishna.’ The son of Rohini (Balarama) also approaching Yudhishthira, did the
same. The Pandavas, seeing (Sri) Krishna
and Baladeva, began to express great delight. O you foremost of the Bharata
race (King Janamejaya), those heroes
(Veera in Sanskrit) of the Yadu race
(i.e. Sri Krishna and Balarama)
thereafter touched also the feet of Kunti, their father’s sister.
“Ajaatashatru (Yudhishthira),
that foremost of the Kuru race, seeing (Sri) Krishna, enquired after his well-being and asked, ‘How, O Vaasudeva,
have you been able to trace us, as we are living in disguise?’
“Vaasudeva, smilingly answered, ‘O king (Yudhishthira), fire, even if it is covered, can be
known. Who else among men than the Pandavas could exhibit such might? O
resisters of all enemies, O Pandavas, by sheer good fortune (Dishtya in
Sanskrit) you have escaped from that
fierce fire. It is by sheer good fortune alone that the wicked son of
Dhritarashtra and his advisors have not succeeded in accomplishing their
wishes. Blessed be you! You grow in prosperity like a fire in a cave gradually
growing and spreading itself all around. To avoid any of the monarchs
recognising you, let us return to our tent.’
“Then, obtaining Yudhishthira’s leave, (Sri) Krishna of prosperity knowing no decrease, accompanied by Baladeva, quickly
went away from the potter’s abode.’”
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