Part 21 (2/2)

With its quaint and festive greetings came at last the bridal day, Matsya maids were merry-hearted and the Pandav brothers gay!

Conch and cymbal, horn and trumpet spake forth music soft and sweet, In Virata's royal palace, in the peopled mart and street!

And they slay the jungle red-deer, and they spread the ample board, And prepare the cooling palm-drink, with the richest viands stored!

Mimes and actors please the people, bards recite the ancient song, Glories of heroic houses minstrels by their lays prolong!

And deep-bosomed dames of Matsya, jasmine-form and lotus-face, With their pearls and golden garlands joyously the bridal grace!

Circled by those royal ladies, though they all are bright and fair, Brightest s.h.i.+nes the fair Draupadi with a beauty rich and rare!

Stately dames and merry maidens lead the young and soft-eyed bride, As the queens of G.o.ds encircle INDRA'S daughter in her pride!

Arjun from the Matsya monarch takes the princess pa.s.sing fair, For his son by fair Subhadra, nursed by Krishna's loving care,

With a G.o.dlike grace Yudhishthir stands by faithful Arjun's side, As a father takes a daughter, takes the young and beauteous bride,

Joins her hands to Abhimanyu's, and with cake and parched rice, On the altar brightly blazing doth the holy sacrifice.

Matsya's monarch on the bridegroom rich and costly presents pressed, Elephants he gave two hundred, steeds seven thousand of the best,

Poured libations on the altar, on the priests bestowed his gold, Offered to the sons of Pandu rich domain and wealth untold!

With a pious hand Yudhishthir, true in heart and pure in mind, Made his gifts, in gold and garments, kine and wealth of every kind,

Costly chariots, beds of splendour, robes with thread of gold belaced, Viands rich and sweet confection, drinks the richest and the best,

Lands he gave unto the Brahman, bullocks to the labouring swain, Steeds he gave unto the warrior, to the people gifts and grain,

And the city of the Matsyas, teeming with a wealth untold, Shone with festive joy and gladness and with flags and cloth of gold!

BOOK VII

UDYOGA

(The Preparation)

The term of banishment having expired, Yudhishthir demanded that the kingdom of Indra-prastha should be restored to him. The old Dhrita-rashtra and his queen and the aged and virtuous councillors advised the restoration, but, the jealous Duryodhan hated his cousins with a genuine hatred, and would not cement. All negotiations were therefore futile, and preparations were made on both sides for the most sanguinary and disastrous battle that bad ever been witnessed in Northern India.

The portions translated in this Book are from Sections i., ii. iii., xciv., cxxiv., and cxxvi. of Book v. of the original text.

I

Krishna's Speech

<script>