Maha-bharata | Page 7

every winning charm!
Then a Brahman versed in mantra, ancient priest of lunar race, Lights
the Fire, with pious offerings seeks its blessings and its grace,
Whispered words of benediction saints and holy men repeat, Conch and

trumpet's voice is silent, hushed the lofty war-drum's beat,
And there reigns a solemn silence, and in stately pomp and pride,
Drupad's son leads forth his sister, fair Panchala's beauteous bride!
In his loud and lofty accents like the distant thunder's sound, Drupad's
son his father's wishes thus proclaims to all around:
"Mark this bow, assembled monarchs, and the target hung an high,
Through yon whirling piercéd discus let five glist'ning arrows fly!
Whoso born of noble lineage, hits the far suspended aim, Let him stand
and as his guerdon Drupad's beauteous maiden claim!"
Then he turns unto Draupadi, tells each prince and suitor's name, Tells
his race and lofty lineage, and his warlike deeds of fame.
IV
The Suitors
"Brave Duryodhan and his brothers, princes of the Kuruland, Karna
proud and peerless archer, sister! seek thy noble hand,
And Gandhara's warlike princes, Bhoja's monarch true and bold, And
the son of mighty Drona, all bedecked in gems and gold!
King and prince from Matsya kingdom grace this noble wedding-feast,
Monarchs from more distant regions north and south and west and east,
Tamralipta and Kalinga on the eastern ocean wave, Pattan's port whose
hardy children western ocean's dangers brave!
From the distant land of Madra car-borne monarch Salya came, And
from Dwarka's sea-girt regions Valadeva known to fame,
Valadeva and his brother Krishna sprung from Yadu's race, Of the
Vrishni clan descended, soul of truth and righteous grace!

This is mighty Jayadratha come from Sindhu's sounding shore, Famed
for warlike feats of valour, famed alike for sacred lore,
This is fair Kosala's monarch whose bright deeds our heralds sing,
From the sturdy soil of Chedi, Sisupala peerless king,
This is mighty Jarasandha, come from far Magadha's land, These are
other princely suitors, sister! eager for thy hand!
All the wide earth's warlike rulers seek to shoot the distant aim,
Princess, whoso hits the target, choose as thine that prince of fame!"
Decked with jewels, young and valiant, all aflame with soft desire,
Conscious of their worth and valour, all the suitors rose in ire,
Nobly born, of lofty presence, full of young unyielding pride, Like the
tuskers wild and lordly on Himalay's wooded side!
Each his rival marks as foeman as in field of deadly strife, Each regards
the fair Draupadi as his own his queenly wife,
On the gorgeous field they gather by a maddening passion fired, And
they strive as strove the bright gods, when by Uma's love inspired!
And the gods in cloud-borne chariots came to view the scene so fair,
Bright ADITYAS in their splendour, MARUTS in the moving air,
Winged suparnas, scaly nagas, deva-rishis pure and high, For their
music famed, gandharvas, fair apsaras of the sky!
Valadeva armed with ploughshare, Krishna chief of righteous fame,
With the other Yadu chieftains to that wondrous bridal came,
Krishna marked the sons of Pandu eager for the queenly bride, Like
wild tuskers for a lotus, like the fire that ashes hide,
And he knew the warlike brothers in their holy Brahman guise, Pointed
them to Valadeva, gazing with a glad surprise!

But the other chiefs and monarchs with their eyes upon the bride,
Marked nor knew the sons of Pandu sitting speechless by their side,
And the long-armed sons of Pandu smitten by KANDARPA'S dart,
Looked on her with longing languor and with love-impassioned heart!
Bright immortals gaily crowding viewed the scene surpassing fair,
Heavenly blossoms soft descending with a perfume filled the air,
Bright celestial cars in concourse sailed upon the cloudless sky, Drum
and flute and harp and tabor sounded deep and sounded high!
V
Trial of Skill
Uprose one by one the suitors, marking still the distant aim, Mighty
monarchs, gallant princes, chiefs of proud and warlike fame,
Decked in golden crown and necklace, and inflamed by pride and love,
Stoutly strove the eager suitors viewing well the target above,
Strove to string the weapon vainly, tough unbending was the bow,
Slightly bent, rebounding quickly, laid the gallant princes low!
Strove the handsome suitors vainly, decked in gem and burnished gold,
Reft of diadem and necklace, fell each chief and warrior bold,
Reft of golden crown and garland, shamed and humbled in their pride,
Groaned the suitors in their anguish, sought no more Panchala's bride!
Uprose Karna, peerless archer, proudest of the archers he, And he went
and strung the weapon, fixed the arrows gallantly,
Stood like SURYA in his splendour and like AGNI in his flame,--
Pandu's sons in terror whispered, Karna sure must hit the aim!
But in proud and queenly accents Drupad's queenly daughter said:
"Monarch's daughter,