(Swayamvara Parva continued)
" said, 'Then those bulls among Brahmanas shaking their deer-skins and water-pots made of cocoanut-shells exclaimed, 'Fear not, we will fight the foe!' smilingly addressing those Brahmanas exclaiming thus, said, 'Stand ye you aside as spectators (of the fray) Showering hundreds of arrows furnished with straight points even I shall check, like snakes with mantras, all those angry monarchs.' Having said this, the mighty taking up the bow he had obtained as dower accompanied by his brother stood immovable as a mountain. And beholding those Kshatriyas who were ever furious in battle with ahead, the heroic brothers rushed fearlessly at them like two elephants rushing against a hostile elephant. Then those monarchs eager for the fight fiercely exclaimed, 'The slaughter in battle of one desiring to fight is permitted.' And saying this, the monarchs suddenly rushed against the Brahmanas. And endued with great energy rushed against for fight. And the mighty king of Madra rushed against like an elephant rushing against another for the sake of a she-elephant in heat; while and others engaged with the Brahmanas, skirmished with them lightly and carelessly. Then the illustrious beholding , the son of Vikartana (), advancing towards him, drew his tough bow and pieced him with his sharp arrows. And the impetus of those whetted arrows furnished with fierce energy made () faint. Recovering consciousness attacked with greater care than before. Then and , both foremost of victorious warriors, desirous of vanquishing each other, fought madly on. And such was the lightness of hand they both displayed that (each enveloped by the other's shower of arrows) they both became invisible (unto to the spectators of their encounter). 'Behold the strength of my arms.'--'Mark, how I have counteracted that feat,'--those were the words--intelligible to heroes alone--in which they addressed each other. And incensed at finding the strength and energy of 's arms unequalled on the earth, , the son of , fought with greater vigour. And parrying all those impetuous arrows shot at him by , sent up a loud shout. And this feat of his was applauded by all the warriors. Then addressing his antagonist, said, 'O thou you foremost of Brahmanas, I am gratified to observe the energy of thy your arms that knoweth knows no relaxation in battle and thy your weapons themselves fit for achieving victory. Art thou you the embodiment of the science of weapons, or art thou you Rama that best of Brahmanas, or himself, or 's younger brother called also , who for disguising himself hath has assumed the form of a Brahmana and mustering such energy of arms fighteth fights with me? No other person except the husband himself of Sachi or , the son of , is capable of fighting with me when I am angry on the field of battle.' Then hearing those words of his, replied, saying, 'O , I am neither the science of arms (personified), nor Rama endued with superhuman powers. I am only a Brahmana who is the foremost of all warriors and all wielders of weapons. By the grace of my preceptor I have become accomplished in the and the Paurandara weapons. I am here to vanquish thee you in battle. Therefore, O hero, wait a little.'
" continued, 'Thus addressed (by ), the adopted desisted from the fight, for that mighty chariot-fighter thought that Brahma energy is ever invincible. Meanwhile on another part of the field, the mighty heroes and , well-skilled in battle and possessed of great strength and proficiency, challenging each other, engaged in fight like two elephants in rut. And they struck each other with their clenched fists and knees. And sometimes pushing each other forward and sometimes dragging each other near, sometimes throwing each other down; face downward, and sometimes on the sides, they fought on, striking, each other at times with their clenched fists. And encountering each other with blows hard as the clash of two masses of granite, the lists rang with the sounds of their combat. Fighting with each other thus for a few seconds, the foremost of the Kuru heroes taking up on his arms hurled him to a distance. And , that bull amongst men, surprised all (by the dexterity of his feat) for though he threw on the ground he did it without hurting him much. And when was thus thrown down and was struck with fear, the other monarchs were all alarmed. And they hastily surrounded and exclaimed, 'Surely these bulls amongst Brahmanas are excellent (warriors)! Ascertain in what race they have been born and where they abide. Who can encounter , the , in fight, except Rama or , or , the son of ? Who also can encounter in battle except , the son of Devaki, and , the son of Saradwan? Who also can overthrow in battle , that first of mighty warriors, except the hero or , the son of , or the heroic ? Let us, therefore, desist from this fight with the Brahmanas. Indeed, Brahmanas, however offending, should yet be ever protected. And first let us ascertain who these are; for after we have done that we may cheerfully fight with them.'
" continued, 'And , having beheld that feat of , believed them both to be the son of . And gently addressing the assembled monarchs, saying, 'This maiden hath has been justly acquired (by the Brahmana),' he induced them to abandon the fight. Accomplished in battle, those monarchs then desisted from the fight. And those best of monarchs then returned to their respective kingdoms, wondering much. And those who had come there went away saying. 'The festive scene hath has terminated in the victory of the Brahmanas. The princess of Panchala hath has become the bride of a Brahmana.' And surrounded by Brahmanas dressed in skins of deer and other wild animals, and passed with difficulty out of the throng. And those heroes among men, mangled by the enemy and followed by , on coming at last out of that throng, looked like the full moon and the sun emerging from the clouds.
"Meanwhile seeing that her sons were late in returning from their eleemosynary round, was filled with anxiety. She began to think of various evils having overtaken her sons. At one time she thought that the sons of having recognised her sons had slain them. Next she feared that some cruel and strong Rakshasas endued with powers of deception had slain them. And she asked herself, 'Could the illustrious himself (who had directed my sons to come to Panchala) have been guided by perverse intelligence?' Thus reflected in consequence of her affection for her offspring. Then in the stillness of the late afternoon, , accompanied by a body of Brahmanas, entered the abode of the potter, like the cloud-covered sun appearing on a cloudy day.'"
(Swayamvara Parva continued)
" said, 'Then those illustrious sons of , on returning to the potter's abode, approached their mother. And those first of men represented unto to their mother as the alms they had obtained that day. And who was there within the room and saw not her sons, replied, saying, 'Enjoy ye you all (what ye you have obtained).' The moment after, she beheld and then she said, 'Oh, what have I said?' And anxious from fear of sin, and reflecting how every one could be extricated from the situation, she took the cheerful by the hand, and approaching said, 'The daughter of king upon being represented to me by thy your younger brothers as the alms they had obtained, from ignorance, O king, I said what was proper, viz., 'Enjoy ye you all what hath has been obtained. O thou you bull of the Kuru race, tell me how my speech may not become untrue; how sin may not touch the daughter of the , and how also she may not become uneasy.'
" continued, 'Thus addressed by his mother that hero among men, that foremost scion of the Kuru race, the intelligent king (), reflecting for a moment, consoled , and addressing , said, 'By thee you, O , hath has been won. It is proper, therefore, that thou you shouldst should wed her. O thou you withstander of all foes, igniting the sacred fire, take thou you her hand with due rites.'
", hearing this, replied, 'O king, do not make me a participator in sin. Thy your behest is not conformable to virtue. That is the path followed by the sinful. Thou you shouldst should wed first, then the strong-armed of inconceivable feats, then myself, then , and last of all, endued with great activity. Both and myself, and the twins and this maiden also, all await, O monarch, thy your commands. When such is the state of things, do that, after reflection, which would be proper, and conformable virtue, and productive of fame, and beneficial unto to the . All of us are obedient to thee you. O, command us as thou you likest like.'
" continued, 'Hearing these words of , so full of respect and affection, the Pandavas all cast their eyes upon the princess of Panchala. And the princess of Panchala also looked at them all. And casting their glances on the illustrious , those princes looked at one another. And taking their seats, they began to think of alone. Indeed, after those princes of immeasurable energy had looked at , the God of Desire invaded their hearts and continued to crush all their senses. As the lavishing beauty of who had been modelled by himself, was superior to that of all other women on earth, it could captivate the heart of every creature. And , the son of , beholding his younger brothers, understood what was passing in their minds. And that bull among men immediately recollected the words of . And the king, then, from fear of a division amongst the brothers, addressing all of them, said, 'The auspicious shall be the common wife of us all.'
" continued, 'The sons of , then, hearing those words of their eldest brother, began to revolve them in their minds in great cheerfulness. The hero of the Vrishni race ( suspecting the five persons he had seen at the Swayamvara to be none else than the heroes of the Kuru race), came accompanied by the son of Rohini (), to the house of the potter where those foremost of men had taken up their quarters. On arriving there, and beheld seated in that potter's house Ajatasanu () of well developed and long arms, and his younger brothers passing the splendour of fire sitting around him. Then approaching that foremost of virtuous men--the son of --and touching the feet of that prince of the Ajamida race, said, 'I am .' And the son of Rohini () also approaching , did the same. And the Pandavas, beholding and , began to express great delight. And, O thou you foremost of the Bharata race, those heroes of the race thereafter touched also the feet of , their father's sister. And , that foremost of the Kuru race, beholding , enquired after his well-being and asked, 'How, O , hast have thou you been able to trace us, as we are living in disguise?' And , smilingly answered, 'O king, fire, even if it is covered, can be known. Who else among men than the Pandavas could exhibit such might? Ye you resisters of all foes, ye you sons of , by sheer good fortune have ye you escaped from that fierce fire. And it is by sheer good fortune alone that the wicked son of and his counsellors have not succeeded in accomplishing their wishes. Blest be ye you! And grow ye you in prosperity like a fire in a cave gradually growing and spreading itself all around. And lest any of the monarchs recognise ye you, let us return to our tent.' Then, obtaining 's leave, of prosperity knowing no decrease, accompanied by , hastily went away from the potter's abode.'"