Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/461

Rh beauty is that maiden. Indeed, the faultless Krishna sprung from Prishata's race hath been pre-ordained to become the common wife of five husbands. The celestial Sree, having undergone severe ascetic penances, hath. for the sake of the Pandavas, bad her birth as thy daughter, in the course of thy grand sacrifice. That handsome goddess. waited upon by all the celestiala, as a consequence of her own acts becomes the (common) wife of five husbands. It is for this that the self-create had created her. Having listened to all this, o king Drupada, do what thou desirest!"

Thus ends the hundred and ninety-ninth section in the Vaivahika Parva of the Adi Parva.

Vaisampayana said, -"Drupada, on hearing this, observed - great Rishi, it was only when I had not heard this from thee that I had sought to act in the way I told thee of. Now, however, that I know all, I cannot be indifferent to what hath been ordained by the gods. Therefore do I resolve to accomplish what thou hast 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 hath now terminated in favour of many. As Krishna (in a former life) had repeatedly said, give me a husband the great god himself even gave her the boon she had asked. The god himself knows the right or wrong of this. As regards myself, when Sankara hath ordained so. right or wrong. no sin can attach to me. Let these with happy hearts take, as ordained, the hand of Krishna with the rites."

Vaisampayana continued.--"Then the illustrious Vyasa, addressing Yudhishthira the just, said.--"The day is an auspicious day. O son of Pandu 1 This day the moon has entered the constellation called Pushya, Take thou the hand of Krishna to-day, thyself first before thy brothers!' When Vyasa had said so, king Yajnasena and his son made preparations for the wedding. And the monarch kept ready various costly articles as marriage presents. Then he brought out his daughter Krishna, decked, 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, and many Brahmanas and citizens. And they all took their seats according to their respective ranks. Adorned with that concourse of principal men, with its yard decked with lotuses and