The Mahabharata
Book 1: Adi Parva
Kisari Mohan Ganguli, tr.
[1883-1896]
SECTION CXII
(Sambhava Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana said. 'The large-eyed daughter of Kuntibhoja, Pritha by name,
was endued with beauty and every accomplishment. Of rigid vows, she was devoted
to virtue and possessed of every good quality. But though endued with beauty and
youth and every womanly attribute, yet it so happened that no king asked-for her
hand. Her father Kuntibhoja seeing this, invited, O best of monarchs, the princes
and kings of other countries and desired his daughter to select her husband from
among her guests. The intelligent Kunti, entering the amphitheatre, beheld Pandu--the
foremost of the Bharatas--that tiger among kings--in that concourse of crowned
heads. Proud as the lion, broad-chested, bull-eyed, endued with great strength,
and outshining all other monarchs in splendour, he looked like another Indra in
that royal assemblage. The amiable daughter of Kuntibhoja, of faultless features,
beholding Pandu--that best of men--in that assembly, became very much agitated.
And advancing with modesty, all the while quivering with emotion, she placed the
nuptial garland about Pandu's neck. The other monarchs, seeing Kunti choose Pandu
for her lord, returned to their respective kingdoms on elephants, horses and cars,
as they had come. Then, O king, the bride's father caused the nuptial rites to
be performed duly. The Kuru prince blessed with great good fortune and the daughter
of Kuntibhoja formed a couple like Maghavat and Paulomi (the king and queen of
the celestials). And, O best of Kuru monarchs, king Kuntibhoja, after the nuptials
were over, presented his son-in-law with much wealth and sent him back to his
capital. Then the Kuru prince Pandu, accompanied by a large force bearing various
kinds of banners and pennons, and eulogised by Brahmanas and great Rishis pronouncing
benedictions, reached his capital. And after arriving at his own palace, he established
his queen therein.'"
