(Swayamvara Parva continued)
" continued, 'When all the monarchs had desisted from stringing that bow, the high-souled arose from among the crowd of Brahmanas seated in that assembly. And beholding possessing the complexion of 's banner, advancing towards the bow, the principal Brahmanas shaking their deer-skins raised a loud clamour. And while some were displeased, there were others that were well-pleased. And some there were, possessed of intelligence and foresight, who addressing one another said, 'Ye you Brahmanas, how can a Brahmana stripling unpractised in arms and weak in strength, string that bow which such celebrated Kshatriyas as and others endued with might and accomplished in the science and practice of arms could not? If he doth does not achieve success in this untried task which he hath has undertaken from a spirit of boyish unsteadiness, the entire body of Brahmanas here will be rendered ridiculous in the eyes of the assembled monarchs. Therefore, forbid this Brahmana that he may not go to string the bow which he is even now desirous of doing from vanity, childish daring, or mere unsteadiness.' Others replied, 'We shall not be made ridiculous, nor shall we incur the disrespect of anybody or the displeasure of the sovereigns. Some remarked, 'This handsome youth is even like the trunk of a mighty elephant, whose shoulders and arms and thighs are so well-built, who in patience looks like the Himavat, whose gait is even like that of the lion, and whose prowess seems to be like that of an elephant in rut, and who is so resolute, that it is probable that he will accomplish this feat. He has strength and resolution. If he had none, he would never go of his own accord. Besides, there is nothing in the three worlds that Brahmanas of all mortal men cannot accomplish. Abstaining from all food or living upon air or eating of fruits, persevering in their vows, and emaciated and weak, Brahmanas are ever strong in their own energy. One should never disregard a Brahmana whether his acts be right or wrong, by supposing him incapable of achieving any task that is great or little, or that is fraught with bliss or woe. Rama the son of defeated in battle, all the Kshatriyas. Agastya by his Brahma energy drank off the fathomless ocean. Therefore, say ye you, 'Let this youth bend the bow and string it with ease' (and many said), 'So be it.' And the Brahmanas continued speaking unto to one another these and other words. Then approached the bow and stood there like a mountain. And walking round that bow, and bending his head unto to that giver of boons--the lord --and remembering also, he took it up. And that bow which Rukma, Sunitha, Vakra, Radha's son, , , and many other kings accomplished in the science and practice of arms, could not even with great exertion, string, , the son of , that foremost of all persons endued with energy and like unto to the younger brother of () in might, strung in the twinkling of an eye. And taking up the five arrows he shot the mark and caused it to fall down on the ground through the hole in the machine above which it had been placed. Then there arose a loud uproar in the firmament, and the amphitheatre also resounded with a loud clamour. And the gods showered celestial flowers on the head of the slayer of foes. And thousands of Brahmanas began to wave their upper garments in joy. And all around, the monarchs who had been unsuccessful, uttered exclamations of grief and despair. And flowers were rained from the skies all over the amphitheatre. And the musicians struck up in concert. Bards and heralds began to chant in sweet tones the praises (of the hero who accomplished the feat). And beholding , --that slayer of foes,--was filled with joy. And the monarch desired to assist with his forces the hero if the occasion arose. And when the uproar was at its height, , the foremost of all virtuous men, accompanied by those first of men the twins, hastily left the amphitheatre for returning to his temporary home. And beholding the mark shot and beholding also like unto to himself, who had shot the mark, was filled with joy, and approached the son of with a white robe and a garland of flowers. And the accomplisher of inconceivable feats, having won by his success in the amphitheatre, was saluted with reverence by all the Brahmanas. And he soon after left the lists followed close by her who thus became his wife.'"
(Swayamvara Parva continued)
" said, 'When the king () expressed his desire of bestowing his daughter on that Brahmana (who had shot the mark), all those monarchs who had been invited to the Swayamvara, looking at one another, were suddenly filled with wrath. And they said, 'Passing us by and treating the assembled monarchs as straw this desireth desires to bestow his daughter--that first of women,--on a Brahmana! Having planted the tree he cutteth cuts it down when it is about to bear fruit. The wretch regardeth regards us not: therefore let us slay him. He deserveth deserves not our respect nor the veneration due to age. Owing to such qualities of his, we shall, therefore, slay this wretch that insulteth insults all kings, along with his son. Inviting all the monarchs and entertaining them with excellent food, he disregardeth disregards us at last. In this assemblage of monarchs like unto to a conclave of the celestials, doth does he not see a single monarch equal unto to himself? The Vedic declaration is well-known that the Swayamvara is for the Kshatriyas. The Brahmanas have no claim in respect of a selection of husband by a Kshatriya damsel. Or, ye you kings, if this damsel desireth desires not to select any one of us as her lord, let us cast her into the fire and return to our kingdoms. As regards this Brahmana, although he hath has, from officiousness or avarice, done this injury to the monarchs, he should not yet be slain; for our kingdoms, lives, treasures, sons, grandsons, and whatever other wealth we have, all exist for Brahmanas. Something must be done here (even unto to him), so that from fear of disgrace and the desire of maintaining what properly belongeth belongs unto to each order, other Swayamvaras may not terminate in this way.'
"Having addressed one another thus, those tigers among monarchs endued with arms like unto to spiked iron maces, took up their weapons and rushed at to slay him then and there. And beholding those monarchs all at once rushing towards him in anger with bows and arrows, sought, from fear, the protection of the Brahmanas. But those mighty bowmen ( and ) of the Pandavas, capable of chastising all foes, advanced to oppose those monarchs rushing towards them impetuously like elephants in the season of rut. Then the monarchs with gloved fingers and upraised weapons rushed in anger at the Kuru princes, and , to slay them. Then the mighty of extraordinary achievements, endued with the strength of thunder, tore up like an elephant a large tree and divested it of its leaves. And with that tree, the strong-armed , the son of , that grinder of foes, stood, like unto to the mace-bearing king of the dead () armed with his fierce mace, near that bull amongst men. And beholding that feat of his brother, of extraordinary intelligence, himself also of inconceivable feats, wondered much. And equal unto to himself in achievements, shaking off all fear he stood with his bow ready to receive those assailants. And beholding those feats of both and his brother, Damodara () of superhuman intelligence and inconceivable feats, addressing his brother, () of fierce energy, said, 'That hero there, of tread like that of a mighty lion, who draweth draws the large bow in his hand four full cubits in length, is ! There is no doubt, O , about this, if I am . That other hero who having speedily torn up the tree hath has suddenly become ready to drive off the monarchs is ! For no one in the world, except , could today perform such a feat in the field of battle. And that other youth of eyes like unto to lotus-petals, of full four cubits height, of gait like that of a mighty lion, and humble withal, of fair complexion and prominent and shining nose, who had, a little before, left the amphitheatre, is 's son (). The two other youths, like unto to Kartikeya, are, I suspect, the sons of the twin Aswins. I heard that the sons of along with their mother had all escaped from the conflagration of the house of lac.' Then of complexion like unto to that of clouds uncharged with rain, addressing his younger brother (), said with great satisfaction, 'O, I am happy to hear, as I do from sheer good fortune, that our father's sister with the foremost of the Kaurava princes have all escaped (from death)!'"