Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/341

Rh nasi with a single chariot. There Bhisma the son of Shantanu saw that innumerable monarchs had come from all directions; and there he also saw those three maidens that would elect their own husbands. And when the (assembled) kings were being mentioned by name, Bhisma then chose those maidens (on behalf of his brother.) And taking them upon his chariot, Bhisma, that first of smiters in battle, addressed the kings, O monarch, and said in a voice like the roar of the clouds, 'The wise have directed that after inviting an accomplished person a maiden may be bestowed on him, decked in ornaments and along with many valuable presents. Others again may bestow their daughters by accepting of a couple of kine. Some again bestow their daughters by taking a fixed sum, and some take away maidens by force. Some wed with the consent of the maidens, some by drugging them into consent, and some by going unto the maiden's parents and obtaining their sanction. Some again obtain wives as presents, for assisting at sacrifices. Of these, the learned always applaud the eighth form of marriage. Kings, however, speak highly of the Swyamvara (the fifth form as above) and themselves wed according to it. But the sages have said that that wife is dearly to be prized who is taken away by force, after slaughter of opponents, from amid the concourse of princes and kings invited to a Swyamvara. Therefore, ye monarchs, I bear aways these maidens from hence by force. Strive ye to the best of your might to vanquish me or be vanquished! Ye monarchs, I stand here resolved to fight.' The Kuru prince, endued with great energy, thus addressing the assembled monarchs and the king of Kasi, took up on his car those maidens. And having taken them up, he sped his chariot away, challenging the invited kings to battle.

"The challenged monarchs then all stood up, slapping their arms and biting their nether lips in wrath. And loud was the din produced as in great hurry they began to cast off their ornaments and put on their armours. And the motion of their ornaments and armours, O Janamejaya, brilliant as these were, resembled meteoric flashes in the sky. And with brows contracted and eyes red in rage, the monarchs moved in impa-