Vaivahika Parva — The marriage of Abhimanyu

Virata said O foremost of Pandavas, why do you not wish to accept, as your wife, my daughter whom I wish to confer upon you?

Arjuna said Living in your inner apartment, I always saw your daughter. Alone or before all, she always used to confide in me as her father.

Well-versed in dancing and singing, I was always loved and much liked by her. Your daughter always regards me as her preceptor.

O king, I lived for one year with her who is youthful. O lord, you or your men may therefore suspect me.

O king, I, therefore, wish to have your daughter as my daughter-in-law-pure, selfcontrolled, I am. I thus prove her purity.

There is no difference between a daughter and a daughter-in-law as that between one's ownself and a son. I do not find any fear in it-for by it purity will be proved.

O king, I am afraid of curses and false accusation. O king, I shall therefore accept your daughter Uttara as my daughter-in-law.

A nephew of Vasudeva, like a very celestials boy-my son, who has mastered all weapons, is the favourite of the holder of discus.

O king, my son is the mighty-armed Abhimanyu. He is a proper son-in-law for you and husband for you daughter.

Virata said It is indeed proper for the foremost of Kurus, Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, always virtuous and wise, to say this.

O Partha, do what you think proper after this. He, who has a relationship with Arjuna, has all his desires fulfilled.

Vaishampayana said After the king had said this, Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, gave his assent to the alliance between Matsya and Partha.

O descendant of Bharata, then the son of Kunti sent invitations to all his friends and Vasudeva, and so did the king Virata.

Thus after the expiration of the thirteenth year, the five Pandavas took up their quarters in Virata's town called Upaplavya.

Bibhatsu then brought over Abhimanyu, Janardana and many members of the Dasharha family from the Anarta country.

The king of Kashi and Shaivya, who were great friends of Yudhishthira, came there, each accompanied by an Akshauhini of soldiers.

There came as also the mighty powerful Yajnasena with an Akshauhini of soldiers, the heroic sons of Draupadi and the invincible Shikhandi.

Chivalrous Dhrishtadyumna, the best weaponer and expert in war-craft were also with them. Apart from these, numerous other kings commanding one Akshauhini army each, observer of offering, generous in the matter of Dakshina for offerings arranged and ready to die for the cause of Pandavas.

The king, the foremost of the virtuous, duly worshipped them all along with their servants and troops. And having given away his daughter, he was pleased.

There came Vasudeva, decked with garlands, Halayudha, Kritavarman, Hridika, Yuyudhana, the son of Satyaki, Anadhrishti, Akrura, Samba, Nishath-all these repressors of foes came there with Abhimanyu and his mother. Indrasena and others came with their cars-having lived there for one whole year. There came also ten thousand elephants and ten millions of horses, ten billions of cars and one Nikharva of infantry and many other highly energetic Vrishni, Andhaka and Bhoja heroes-following the highly effulgent Vasudeva-the foremost of Vrishnis.

Lord Srikrishna made a gift of several maids, various type gems and a pile of garments separately in the form of dowry or invitation to great Pandavas. Then there took place duly the nuptial tie between the Matsya and the Pandu families.

Then conchs, cymbals, drums, trumpets and various other musical instruments were played in the palace of Virata. Various deer and animals were slain. Wines and various celestials drinks were procured and there came also many songsters, panegyrists and actors.

The singers, the fabulists, acrobats and the magic-mongers began chanting pray and psalms for Pandavas in company of soothsayers and Magadhas (clowns) there.

Many dainsel, beautiful and adorned, with jeweled ear-rings, of whom Draupadi was the foremost, came there leading the princess Uttara adorned with many ornaments and resembling the accepted that all-beautiful daughter of Virata for his son Abhimanyu, begotten on Subhadra. There stood the great king, in beauty-like Indra. Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, accepted her for his daughter-inlaw.

Thus, Partha accepted Uttara for his son Abhimanyu in the presence of lord Krishna and their marriage was solemnised.

The king Virata made a gift of seven thousand horses as speedy as the air, two hundred mighty elephants and considerable money in the form of dowry to bridegroom party when he duly honoured Brahmins and made offering in fire in course of solemnising the marriage of his daughter. He assigned with them the throne, army and everything including treasury as also surrendered himself for their service.

On completion of the conjugal ceremony, Yudhishthira, an incarnate to Dharma, made a gift of the major part of money received from lord Krishna to Brahmanas.

He offered several thousand cows, gems, various type of garments, ornaments, cardinal vehicles, bed, eatables and several type of drinks also. O Janamejaya! The city of Matsyaraja crowded with thousands of lakhs hale and hearty people was being seen as a great festivity in live feature. Thus ends the seventy-second chapter, the marriage of Abhimanyu in the Vaivahika of the Virata Parva.