DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.638#0290
FIRST EXILE OF THE PANDAVAS 211
Having heard these words, Pritha desired to journey
towards Panchala, and she and her sons took leave of
their host. Ere they went away, the high-souled ascetic
said that Draupadi had been destined to become a Pan-
dava queen.
Pritha and her sons wandered from the banks of the
Ganges and went northwards, and soon they fell in with
great numbers of people all going the same way. Yud-
hishthira spake to a troop of Brahmans, and asked them
whither they were bound, and they answered saying that
Drupada of Panchala was observing a great festival, and
that all the princes of the land were hastening to the
swayamvara of his peerless and slender-waisted daughter,
the beautiful Draupadi.
In that great and increasing company were Brahmans
who were to perform the sacred rites, and youths who
were to take part in joyous revelry—dancers and jugglers,
boxers and wrestlers, and those who displayed feats of
strength and skill at arms; there were also bards there
and singers to chant the praises of heroes.
The Brahmans praised the beauty of Draupadi, and
said to the Pandava brethren: " Come with us to the
festival and the sports and the swayamvara; you will
be feasted and will receive gifts. You are all as comely
as princes and as fair as the bright gods; mayhap Drau-
padi may choose from among ye this stalwart and noble
youth, strongly armed and of fearless bearing, and if he
should perform mighty feats, the garland may be thrown
upon his shoulders."
Said Yudhishthira: "So be it. We will hasten
with you to the swayamvara and share banquet and
bounty."
So the Pandavas went towards Panchala with the
troop of Brahmans, When they reached the city they
Having heard these words, Pritha desired to journey
towards Panchala, and she and her sons took leave of
their host. Ere they went away, the high-souled ascetic
said that Draupadi had been destined to become a Pan-
dava queen.
Pritha and her sons wandered from the banks of the
Ganges and went northwards, and soon they fell in with
great numbers of people all going the same way. Yud-
hishthira spake to a troop of Brahmans, and asked them
whither they were bound, and they answered saying that
Drupada of Panchala was observing a great festival, and
that all the princes of the land were hastening to the
swayamvara of his peerless and slender-waisted daughter,
the beautiful Draupadi.
In that great and increasing company were Brahmans
who were to perform the sacred rites, and youths who
were to take part in joyous revelry—dancers and jugglers,
boxers and wrestlers, and those who displayed feats of
strength and skill at arms; there were also bards there
and singers to chant the praises of heroes.
The Brahmans praised the beauty of Draupadi, and
said to the Pandava brethren: " Come with us to the
festival and the sports and the swayamvara; you will
be feasted and will receive gifts. You are all as comely
as princes and as fair as the bright gods; mayhap Drau-
padi may choose from among ye this stalwart and noble
youth, strongly armed and of fearless bearing, and if he
should perform mighty feats, the garland may be thrown
upon his shoulders."
Said Yudhishthira: "So be it. We will hasten
with you to the swayamvara and share banquet and
bounty."
So the Pandavas went towards Panchala with the
troop of Brahmans, When they reached the city they