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442 "After Drupada had ceased, Dhrishtadyumna spoke, saying, O bull amongst Brahmanas, O thou of ascetic wealth, how can, O Brahmana the elder brother, if he is of a good disposition, approach the wife of his younger brother? The ways of morality are ever subtle, and therefore, we know them not. We cannot, therefore, say what is conformable to morality and what not. We cannot do such a deed, therefore, with a safe conscience. Indeed, O Brahmana, I cannot say--Let Draupadi become the common wife of five brothers.

"Yudhishthira then spoke, saying.My tongue never uttereth an untruth and my heart never inclineth to what is sinful. When my heart approveth of it, it can never be sinful. I have heard in the Purana that a lady of name Jatila,-the foremost of all virtuous women-belonging to the race of Gotama had married seven Rishis. So also an ascetic's daughter, born of a tree, had in former times united herself in marriage with ten brothers all bearing the same name of Prachetas and who were all of souls exalted by asceticism. O foremost of all that are acquainted with the rules of morality, it is said that obedience to superiors is ever meritorious. Amongst all superiors, it is well known that the mother is the foremost. Even she hath commanded us to enjoy Draupadi as we do anything obtained as alms. It is for this, O best of Brahmanas, that I regard the (proposed) act as virtuous.'

"Kunti then said, "The act is even so as the virtuous Yudhishthira hath said. I greatly fear, O Brahmana, lest my speech should become untrue! How shall I be saved from untruth!

"When they had all finished speaking, Vyasa said, 'O amiable one, how shalt be saved from the consequence of untruth. Even this is eternal virtue! I will not, O king of the Panchalas, discourse on this before you all. But thou alone shalt listen to me when I disclose how this practice hath been established and why it is to be regarded as old and eternal. There is no doubt that what Yudhishthira hath said is quite conformable to virtue.

Vaisampayana continued, "Then the illustrious Vyasa - the master Dwaipayana-rose, and taking hold of Drupada's hand led him to a private apartment. The Pandavas and Kunti and Dhrishtadyumna of Prishata's race sat there, waiting for the return of Vyasa and Drupada. Meantime Dwaipayana began his discourse with the illustrious monarch for explaining how the practice of polyandry could not be regarded as sinful."

Thus ends the hundred and ninety-eighth section in the Vaivahika Parva of the Adi Parva,