DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.638#0289
2io INDIAN MYTH AND LEGEND
offered the austere Upayaja a million cows if he would
procure a son for him, and that sage sent him unto his
brother Yaja. Now Yaja was reluctant to aid the rajah
thus; but at length he consented to perform the sacrificial
rite, and prevailed upon Upayaja to help him.
So the rite was performed, and when the vital moment
came, the Brahmans called for the queen to partake in it.
But Drupada's wife was not prepared, and said: " My
mouth is still filled with saffron and my body is scented.
I am not fit to receive the libation which will bring off-
spring. Tarry a little time for me."
But the Brahmans could not delay the consummation
of the sacrificial rite. Ere the queen came, a son sprang
forth from the flames: he was clad in full armour, and
carried a falchion and bow, and a diadem gleamed brightly
upon his head. A voice out of the heavens said: " This
prince hath come to destroy Drona and to increase the fame of
the Panchalas ".
Next arose from the ashes on the altar a daughter of
great beauty. She was exceedingly dark, with long curl-
ing locks and lotus eyes, and she was deep-bosomed
and slender-waisted. A sweet odour clung to her
body.
A voice out of heaven said: " This dusky girl «"//
become the chief of all women. Many Kshatriyas must die
because of her, and the Kauravas will suffer from her. She
will accomplish the decrees of the gods."
Then the son was called Dhrishta-dyumna1 and
the daughter Draupadi.2 Drona thereafter took the
Panchala prince to his palace, and instructed him to
become an accomplished warrior. He knew that he
could not thwart destiny, and he desired to perpetuate
his own mighty deeds.
' Pron. dhrish-ta-dyum'na. * Prm. drow'pa-de«"
offered the austere Upayaja a million cows if he would
procure a son for him, and that sage sent him unto his
brother Yaja. Now Yaja was reluctant to aid the rajah
thus; but at length he consented to perform the sacrificial
rite, and prevailed upon Upayaja to help him.
So the rite was performed, and when the vital moment
came, the Brahmans called for the queen to partake in it.
But Drupada's wife was not prepared, and said: " My
mouth is still filled with saffron and my body is scented.
I am not fit to receive the libation which will bring off-
spring. Tarry a little time for me."
But the Brahmans could not delay the consummation
of the sacrificial rite. Ere the queen came, a son sprang
forth from the flames: he was clad in full armour, and
carried a falchion and bow, and a diadem gleamed brightly
upon his head. A voice out of the heavens said: " This
prince hath come to destroy Drona and to increase the fame of
the Panchalas ".
Next arose from the ashes on the altar a daughter of
great beauty. She was exceedingly dark, with long curl-
ing locks and lotus eyes, and she was deep-bosomed
and slender-waisted. A sweet odour clung to her
body.
A voice out of heaven said: " This dusky girl «"//
become the chief of all women. Many Kshatriyas must die
because of her, and the Kauravas will suffer from her. She
will accomplish the decrees of the gods."
Then the son was called Dhrishta-dyumna1 and
the daughter Draupadi.2 Drona thereafter took the
Panchala prince to his palace, and instructed him to
become an accomplished warrior. He knew that he
could not thwart destiny, and he desired to perpetuate
his own mighty deeds.
' Pron. dhrish-ta-dyum'na. * Prm. drow'pa-de«"