And Krishna beholding the mark shot and beholding Partha
also like unto Indra himself, who had shot the mark, was filled with joy,
and approached the son of Kunti with a white robe and a garland of flowers.
And Arjuna the accomplisher of inconceivable feats, having won Draupadi by
his success in the amphitheatre, was saluted with reverence by all the
Brahmanas. And he soon after left the lists followed close by her who thus
became his wife.'"
SECTION CLXLI
(Swayamvara Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana said, 'When the king (Drupada) expressed his desire of
bestowing his daughter on that Brahmana (who had shot the mark), all those
monarchs who had been invited to the Swayamvara, looking at one another,
were suddenly filled with wrath. And they said, 'Passing us by and
treating the assembled monarchs as straw this Drupada desireth to bestow
his daughter--that first of women,--on a Brahmana! Having planted the tree
he cutteth it down when it is about to bear fruit. The wretch regardeth us
not: therefore let us slay him. He deserveth not our respect nor the
veneration due to age. Owing to such qualities of his, we shall, therefore,
slay this wretch that insulteth all kings, along with his son. Inviting
all the monarchs and entertaining them with excellent food, he
disregardeth us at last. In this assemblage of monarchs like unto a
conclave of the celestials, doth he not see a single monarch equal unto
himself? The Vedic declaration is well-known that the Swayamvara is for
the Kshatriyas.
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