Stories of the Great Bharata - A Retelling Arc 2 - Go-Harana Parva Chapter 8 - Revelation and Celebrati

Vaiśampāyana continued:

Hearing his son’s words, Virāṭa, lord of the Matsyas, cald his wrath and turned to soothe the son of Dharma—Yudhiṣṭhira, who sat silent as fire smoldering in ashes. Seeking pardon, the king bowed low and said:

“Forgive, O noble one!”

The son of Pāṇḍu, ever gentle, replied:

“O king, long ago did I forgive this blow. Anger I bear none. Had the blood from my nostrils touched the earth, thy kingdom would have been consud with thee. Yet I do not bla thee, O monarch, for the powerful oft act in haste, striking without reason.”

When his bleeding ceased, Vrihannalā entered the council, saluted both the king and Kanka, and stood quietly aside. Virāṭa, relieved, turned again to praise Uttara, though in truth he spoke in Arjuna’s hearing, unknowing of the truth.

“O enhancer of the joy of thy mother, in thee I truly behold a son! Never have I had, nor shall I have, one equal to thee. How couldst thou, O child, stand against Karṇa, who strikes a thousand marks without missing even one? How couldst thou confront Bhīṣma, peerless among n? How endure Droṇa, master of celestial weapons, revered preceptor of princes, twice-born sage and warrior in one? How couldst thou et his son Aśvatthāman, fierce as Death? Or Duryodhana, who pierces mountains with his shafts?

Behold, my foes lie scattered, my wealth restored! A delicious breeze fans my brow, sweet as victory’s breath. Surely it is thou, O bull among n, who hast routed the Kurus and snatched back my kine, as prey torn from the jaws of a tiger.”

Uttara then spoke with candor before his father, bowing his head:

“The kine were not recovered by ,

nor did I rout the Kuru host.

All was achieved by one of celestial birth,

a youth whose strength strikes like Indra’s thunderbolt.

Beholding flee in fear,

he checked my flight,

mounted my car,

and with lion’s heart faced the storm.

By him were the kine recovered,

by him were the Kurus broken.

He who with shafts repelled Kripa and Droṇa,

and Aśvatthāman of terrible energy,

and Karṇa the Suta’s son,

and Bhīṣma of unfailing might.

It was he who turned Duryodhana back,

as that prince fled like a tusker wounded in the chase.

Standing upon the field he cried—

‘Son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra,

safety is not thine even in Hastināpura’s walls!

Protect thy life if thou canst.

Not by flight shalt thou escape .

Choose now—fight and win earth’s sovereignty,

or fall and ascend to heaven.’

At his words the Kuru king,

sighing like a serpent smitten,

turned back and poured his arrows in wrath.

But that youth, firm as the lion,

pierced the host and laughed amidst their ranks,

plundering their raint, stripping them of pride.

Six great car-warriors of the Kurus,

were vanquished by him alone,

as a single roaring tiger scatters the forest herd.”

Hearing this, Virāṭa’s heart leapt with wonder. He cried aloud:

“Where is that mighty-ard youth,

that son of heaven,

that savior of my kine?

Bring him before ,

that I may behold and honor him!”

Uttara replied softly, concealing the truth:

“That mighty son of the gods

vanished from sight when the battle was done.

I think, father, he will reveal himself

tomorrow, or the day after.”

Vaiśampāyana continued:

Thus did Virāṭa, lord of the Matsyas, remain blind to the truth of the Pāṇḍava concealed before him, whom Uttara described as one of divine origin. Permitted by the noble king, Pārtha himself, with hands that had wielded the celestial bow, presented the garnts won from the Kurus to Princess Uttara. And she, radiant as Lakṣmī herself, received them with joy, sharing her delight with her brother, the prince of the Matsyas.

Vaiśampāyana said:

On the third day, when the vows of concealnt were complete, the sons of Pāṇḍu prepared themselves for revelation. Bathed, clad in spotless white, and adorned with gleaming ornants, they ca forth together, five lions of n. With Yudhiṣṭhira at their head, they entered the gates of Virāṭa’s palace, majestic as intoxicated elephants striding into the forest.

Stolen novel; please report.

Entering the council-hall, they seated themselves upon the royal thrones reserved for kings. There they shone resplendent, like five sacrificial fires blazing upon a single altar.

Then ca Virāṭa, lord of the Matsyas, to hold his council. Beholding before him those five, radiant as suns in their splendour, the king paused in wonder. Anger, however, clouded his heart, and turning to Kanka—who now sat resplendent, robed and crowned like Indra himself—he said harshly:

"A gambler at dice I employed as my courtier! How darest thou, clad in royal robes and decked in ornants, to sit upon a throne reserved for kings?"

Hearing these words, Arjuna—smiling gently, as one who conceals thunder within laughter—spoke in jest, yet with unveiled truth:

"This man, O king, is worthy of Indra’s very seat.

Devoted to the Brahmanas, versed in the Vedas,

indifferent to pleasure, steadfast in vow,

he is the living embodint of Dharma.

Among all beings—gods, Asuras, n, Yakṣas, Gandharvas, or serpents—

none may equal him in knowledge of weapons or mastery of self.

In foresight, in intelligence, in strength,

he is like Bṛhaspati among counsellors,

like Manu among kings.

Kind to the lowly, protector of the helpless,

he governs the world as a righteous sage upon a throne.

Once, when he dwelt among the Kurus,

ten thousand elephants trumpeted in his train,

thirty thousand golden chariots wheeled at his command,

and bards in glittering earrings sang his praises

as Ṛṣis hymn Indra in heaven.

The earth’s lords bowed to him as the gods to Kubera.

His fa spread abroad like the rays of the risen sun,

while his wealth rivalled the treasury of heaven.

Eighty-eight thousand learned Snātakas

lived by his bounty,

and the blind, the maid, the aged, and the destitute

he cherished as a father his children.

Such is Yudhiṣṭhira, son of Dharma and of Pāṇḍu,

bull among kings,

whose very virtues are innurable,

whose patience and truth afflict Duryodhana and Karṇa

like scorching fire afflicts the withered grass.

Tell , O Virāṭa,

does not such a sovereign

deserve to sit upon a royal seat?”

Vaiśampāyana said:

Then Virāṭa, lord of the Matsyas, gazed upon the resplendent five, and with a voice tinged by doubt and awe, asked:

"If indeed this be Yudhiṣṭhira, son of Kuntī and king of the Kurus, then tell , which among these is Arjuna the mighty, which the lion-hearted Bhīma,and which the twin sons of Mādrī, Nakula and Sahadeva?

And where is Draupadī, the fad daughter of Drupada? For after the ga of dice, no man has seen the sons of Pṛthā upon earth."

Then Arjuna, smiling gently, revealed the truth:

"This one, O king, whom thou callest Vallava the cook,

is none other than Bhīmasena of dreadful arms and furious might,

the slayer of the Rākṣasas on Gandhamādana,

the bringer of celestial blossoms for Kṛṣṇā,

the lion who crushed Kīcaka and his brood.

He who guarded thy steeds in disguise is Nakula,

lord of horses, a warrior radiant as the Aśvins.

And this, the keeper of thy kine, is Sahadeva,

seer among princes, master of ons,

a lion among n in battle.

And she who moved in thy palace as Sairindhrī,

slender-waisted, lotus-eyed,

for whose sake Kīcaka t his doom—

is none other than Draupadī, daughter of Drupada,

wife of the five sons of Pāṇḍu.

As for , O king, I am Arjuna, son of Pṛthā,

known in the world as Dhanañjaya,

junior to Bhīma, elder to the twins.

We have dwelt in thy halls unseen,

as embryos hidden in the womb,

until the appointed ti has ripened."

Vaiśampāyana continued:

Hearing these words, Uttara, son of Virāṭa, pointed them out one by one, describing their splendour to his father:

"This golden-hued lion, broad of face and coppery-eyed, is none but Yudhiṣṭhira the just, lord of Dharma.

That one, broad-shouldered and fierce as an elephant, is Bhīma, breaker of hosts.

Beside him stands dark-hued Arjuna, tar of celestial weapons, like an elephant-king amidst the herd.

The two bright youths, twin as Viṣṇu and Indra, are Nakula and Sahadeva,matchless in beauty and in valour.

And behold Draupadī, golden as Lakṣmī herself, blue-lotus hued, smiling like the dawn."

And Uttara added, speaking of Arjuna:

"This is the one who crushed the Kaurava host,

who split the great elephant with a single shaft,

who robbed the princes of their silken garnts

and scattered them like deer before a lion.

It was by him, and not by ,

that the kine were recovered,

that Bhīṣma and Droṇa and Karṇa were vanquished."

Vaiśampāyana said:

Then Virāṭa, struck with wonder and weighed down by remorse, said to his son:

"I have wronged the sons of Pāṇḍu in ignorance.

Now is the ti to honour them.

If it pleases thee, let give my daughter Uttara

to Arjuna, that celestial hero,

as wife and queen."

But Arjuna, glancing at Yudhiṣṭhira, replied with folded hands:

"O king, thy words are worthy.

Yet let Uttara be not my bride,

but rather the bride of my son,

for I am as a father unto her,

her teacher in dance and song.

As daughter-in-law, let her co to us,

a jewel joining the line of Bharata with that of Matsya."

And Virāṭa, overjoyed, bowed low and said:

"So be it! An alliance of Bharata and Matsya shall endure like the eting of river and sea.

Blessed indeed am I, that the sons of Pāṇḍu, safe from exile, stand revealed before !"

Vaiśampāyana said:

Then Virāta, the Matsya king, spoke earnestly to Arjuna:

"Why, O best among the sons of Pāṇḍu, dost thou not accept my daughter as wife,whom I bestow upon thee with a heart full of joy?"

And Arjuna, bowing with modesty, replied in a voice clear as the conch:

"O king, for one whole year I dwelt in thy palace,

teaching Uttara music and dance.

She trusted , alone or in company,

as a daughter trusts her father.

Though she had ripened in age,

I beheld her with a father’s eyes,

and she regarded as guardian and guide.

Under such bonds of affection,

how could suspicion not arise

if I, her preceptor, now claid her hand?

Therefore, to shield her honour from slander,

I ask thee not as bride for myself,

but as daughter-in-law for my house.

For there is no difference between a daughter-in-law and a daughter,

no difference between a son and one’s very self.

My son Abhimanyu, lion-born of Subhadrā,

beloved of Kṛṣṇa, wielder of the discus,

resplendent as a god,

is fit to be thy daughter’s lord.

Let Uttara, shining like Lakṣmī,

beco his queen."

Hearing these words, King Virāta bowed his head and said:

"Blessed is the wisdom of Dhanañjaya,

whose heart is pure and whose counsel is righteous.

If Abhimanyu takes my daughter’s hand,

then I, in truth, gain both the sons of Pāṇḍu and the Vṛṣṇis as kin."

Vaiśampāyana continued:

Thus was the match decreed, and Yudhiṣṭhira assented. ssengers sped forth to Dvārakā and to all the allied kings. Soon the exiled Pāṇḍavas, their thirteenth year fulfilled, took up residence at Upaplavya, a city of the Matsyas.

From the Anarta land ca Vibhatsu himself, bringing Abhimanyu and Janārdana, and with them the Vṛṣṇi hosts in countless number. From Kāśī and from the country of Śaivya ca monarchs, each leading an Akṣauhiṇī of troops. From Drupada ca Draupadī’s sons, Sikhaṇḍin the unbending, and Dhṛṣṭadyumna the invincible, with yet another Akṣauhiṇī.

And behold—

all the kings who gathered were not only lords of n and bearers of arms,

but sacrificers of great rites,

givers of wealth in abundance,

and keepers of the sacred law.

Vasudeva ca adorned with garlands, with Halāyudha the plough-wielder beside him, with Kritavarman, Yuyudhāna of the Sātyakis, Akrūra, Sāmba, Niṣaṭha, and Anādṛṣṭi, bringing with them Abhimanyu and his mother Subhadrā, decked in splendour.

Ten thousand elephants, ten thousand cars, hundred millions of steeds, and a host unnumbered of footn, followed in the train of the Vr̥ṣṇis and Andhakas and Bhojas, filling the earth like a swelling ocean. And when all kings were assembled, Virāta welcod them with honour, adorning his halls with banners and garlands, slaying clean beasts for feasts, and pouring wines and sweet juices in abundance.

Mis and bards chanted praises; maidens adorned with pearls and gems, led by Queen Sudeshnā, escorted Uttara, resplendent as the daughter of Indra. Amongst them shone Draupadī, beautiful as Śrī herself, yet even her radiance was rivalled by the youthful bride decked in celestial ornants.

Then Dhanañjaya, on behalf of his son, accepted the princess Uttara, faultless in form. And Yudhiṣṭhira, standing beside Kṛṣṇa, took her hand as daughter-in-law into the house of Bharata.

And with due rites, the marriage of Abhimanyu was perford. Virāta gave in dowry seven thousand steeds swift as the wind, two hundred elephants of noble stock, and wealth beyond reckoning.

The sacrificial fire blazed with libations, and Brahmanas received gifts of kine, land, robes, gold, and gems. And the Pāṇḍava king, Yudhiṣṭhira the just, distributed in charity treasures vast as the ocean, till all Brahmanas and people of every age departed satisfied. Thus, the city of the Matsyas, filled with song, conch, and drum, thronged with rejoicing n and won, shone like the city of the gods during a heavenly festival.

Thus ends the Virata Parva.