SECTION 112
(Sambhava Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana said. 'The large-eyed daughter of Kuntibhoja,
Pritha by name, was endued with beauty and every accomplishment. Of rigid vows,
she was devoted to virtue and possessed of every good quality. But though endued
with beauty and youth and every womanly attribute, yet it so happened that no
king asked-for her hand. Her father Kuntibhoja seeing this, invited, the
princes and kings of other countries and desired his daughter to select her
husband from among her guests. The intelligent Kunti, entering the
amphitheatre, beheld Pandu--the foremost of the Bharatas--that tiger among
kings--in that concourse of crowned heads. Proud as the lion, broad-chested,
bull-eyed, endued with great strength, and outshining all other monarchs in splendour,
he looked like another Indra in that royal assemblage. The amiable daughter of
Kuntibhoja, of faultless features, beholding Pandu--that best of men--in that
assembly, became very much agitated. And advancing with modesty, all the while
quivering with emotion, she placed the nuptial garland about Pandu's neck. The
other monarchs, seeing Kunti choose Pandu for her lord, returned to their
respective kingdoms on elephants, horses and cars, as they had come. Then, O
king, the bride's father caused the nuptial rites to be performed duly. The
Kuru prince blessed with great good fortune and the daughter of Kuntibhoja
formed a couple like Maghavat and Paulomi (the king and queen of the
celestials). And, king Kuntibhoja, after the nuptials were over, presented his
son-in-law with much wealth and sent him back to his capital. Then the Kuru
prince Pandu, accompanied by a large force bearing various kinds of banners and
pennons, and eulogised by Brahmanas and great Rishis pronouncing benedictions,
reached his capital. And after arriving at his own palace, he established his
queen therein.'"
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