large eyes, and decorated with floral wreaths, he
always liveth on the breasts of mountains. The
dark and handsome young man, the scourge of his enemies,
standing at the edge of that tank, is the son of Suvala
of the race of Ikshwaku. And if, O excellent
lady, thou hast ever heard the name of Jayadratha,
the king of Sauviras, even he is there at the head
of six thousand chariots, with horses and elephants
and infantry, and followed by twelve Sauvira princes
as his standard-bearers, named Angaraka, Kunjara, Guptaka,
Satrunjaya, Srinjaya, Suprabiddha, Prabhankara, Bhramara,
Ravi, Sura, Pratapa and Kuhana, all mounted on chariots
drawn by chestnut horses and every one of them looking
like the fire on the sacrificial altar. The brothers
also of the king,
viz., the powerful Valahaka,
Anika, Vidarana and others, are among his followers.
These strong-limbed and noble youths are the flowers
of the Sauvira chivalry. The king is journeying
in the company of these his friends, like Indra surrounded
by the Maruts. O fine-haired lady, do tell us
that are unacquainted (with these matters), whose wife
and whose daughter thou art.”
Vaisampayana continued, “The princess Draupadi,
thus questioned by that ornament of Sivi’s race,
moved her eyes gently, and letting go her hold of
the Kadamva blanch and arranging her silken apparel
she said, I am aware, O prince, that it is not proper
for a person like me to address you thus, but as there
is not another man or woman here to speak with thee
and as I am alone here just now, let me, therefore,
speak. Know, worthy sir, that being alone in
this forest here, I should not speak unto thee, remembering
the usages of my sex. I have learned, O Saivya,
that thou art Suratha’s son, whom people know
by the name of Kotika. Therefore, on my part,
I shall now tell thee of my relations and renowned
race. I am the daughter of king Drupada, and people
know me by the name of Krishna, and I have accepted
as my husbands, five persons of whom you may have
heard while they were living at Kahandavaprastha.
Those noble persons, viz., Yudhishthira, Bhimasena,
Arjuna, and the two sons of Madri, leaving me here
and having assigned unto themselves the four points
of the horizon, have gone out on a hunting excursion.
The king hath gone to the east, Bhimasena towards
the south, Arjuna to the west, and the twin brothers
towards the north! Therefore, do ye now alight
and dismiss your carriages so that ye may depart after
receiving a due welcome from them. The high-souled
son of Dharma is fond of guests and will surely be
delighted to see you!’ Having addressed Saivya’s
son in this way, the daughter of Drupada, with face
beautiful as the moon, remembering well her husband’s
character for hospitality, entered her spacious cottage.”
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