SECTION 196
(Vaivahika Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana continued, 'The messenger said, 'King Drupada
hath, in view of his daughter's nuptials prepared a good feast for the
bride-groom's party. Come ye thither after finishing your daily rites.
Krishna's wedding will take place there. Delay ye not. These cars adorned with golden
lotuses drawn by excellent horses are worthy of kings. Riding on them, come ye
into the abode of the king of the Panchalas.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Then kauntheyas, dismissing the
priest and causing Kunti and Krishna to ride together on one of those cars,
themselves ascended those splendid vehicles and proceeded towards Drupada's
place. Meanwhile, hearing from his priest the words that Yudhishthira had said,
king Drupada, in order to ascertain the order to which those heroes belonged,
kept ready a large collection of articles required by the ordinance for the wedding
of each of the four orders. And he kept ready fruits, sanctified garlands, and
coats of mail, and shields, and carpets, and kine, and seeds, and various other
articles and implements of agriculture. And the king also collected, every article
appertaining to other arts, and various implements and apparatus of every kind
of sport. And he also collected excellent coats of mail and shining shields,
and swords and scimitars, and beautiful chariots and horses, and first-class
bows and well-adorned arrows, and various kinds of missiles ornamented with
gold. And he also kept ready darts and rockets and battle-axes and various
utensils of war. And there were in that collection beds and carpets and various
fine things, and cloths of various sorts. When the party went to Drupada's
abode, Kunti taking with her Krishna entered the inner apartments of the king.
The ladies of the king's household with joyous hearts worshipped Kunti.
Beholding, kauntheyas, with deer-skins for their upper garments, broad shoulders,
and long-hanging arms like unto the bodies of mighty snakes, the king, and the
king's ministers, and the king's son, and the king's friends and attendants,
all became exceedingly glad. They sat on excellent seats, furnished with
footstools without any awkwardness and hesitation. And they sat with perfect
fearlessness on those costly seats one after another according to the order of
their ages. After they were seated, well-dressed servants male and female, and
skilful cooks brought excellent and costly viands worthy of kings on gold and silver
plates. Then they dined on those dishes and became well-pleased. And after the
dinner was over, they, passing over all other articles, began to observe with
interest the various utensils of war. Beholding this, Drupada's son and Drupada
himself, along with all his chief ministers of state, understanding they be all
of royal blood became exceedingly glad.'"
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