The Mahabharata

Book 1: Adi Parva

Kisari Mohan Ganguli, tr.

[1883-1896]

SECTION CXIII

(Sambhava Parva continued)

“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Some time after, Bhishma the intelligent son of Santanu
set his heart upon getting Pandu married to a second wife. Accompanied by an army
composed of four kinds of force, and also by aged councillors and Brahmanas and
great Rishis, he went to the capital of the king of Madra. And that bull of the
Valhikas–the king of Madra–hearing that Bhishma had arrived, went out to receive
him. And having received him with respect, he got him to enter his palace. Arriving
there, the king of Madra offered unto Bhishma a white carpet for a seat; water
to wash his feet with, and usual oblation of various ingredients indicative of
respect. And when he was seated at ease, the king asked him about the reason of
his visit. Then Bhishma–the supporter of the dignity of the Kurus–addressed
the king of Madra and said, ‘O oppressor of all foes, know that I have come for
the hand of a maiden. It hath been heard by us that thou hast a sister named Madri
celebrated for her beauty and endued with every virtue; I would chose her for
Pandu. Thou art, O king, in every respect worthy of an alliance with us, and we
also are worthy of thee. Reflecting upon all this, O king of Madra, accept us
duly.’ The ruler of Madra, thus addressed by Bhishma, replied, ‘To my mind, there
is none else than one of thy family with whom I can enter into an alliance. But
there is a custom in our family observed by our ancestors, which, be it good or
bad, I am incapable of transgressing. It is well-known, and therefore is known
to thee as well, I doubt not. Therefore, it is not proper for thee to say to me,–Bestow
thy sister. The custom to which I allude is our family custom. With us that is
a virtue and worthy of observance. It is for this only, O slayer of foes, I cannot
give thee any assurance in the matter of thy request.’ On hearing this, Bhishma
answered the king of Madra, saying, ‘O king, this, no doubt,’ is a virtue. The
self-create himself hath said it. Thy ancestors were observant of custom. There
is no fault to find with it. It is also well-known, O Salya, that this custom
in respect of family dignity hath the approval of the wise and the good.’ Saying
this Bhishma of great energy, gave unto Salya much gold both coined and uncoined,
and precious stones of various colours by thousands, and elephants and horses
and cars, and much cloth and many ornaments, and gems and pearls and corals. And
Salya accepting with a cheerful heart those precious gifts then gave away his
sister decked in ornaments unto that bull of the Kuru race. Then the wise Bhishma,
the son of the oceangoing Ganga, rejoiced at the issue of his mission, took Madri
with him, and returned to the Kuru capital named after the elephant.

“Then selecting on auspicious day and moment as indicated by the wise for the
ceremony, King Pandu was duly united with Madri. And after the nuptials were over,
the Kuru king established his beautiful bride in handsome apartments. And, O king
of kings, that best of monarchs then gave himself up to enjoyment in the company
of his two wives as best he liked and to the limit of his desires. And after thirty
days had elapsed, the Kuru king, O monarch, started from his capital for the conquest
of the world. And after reverentially saluting and bowing to Bhishma and the other
elders of the Kuru race, and with adieus to Dhritarashtra and others of the family,
and obtaining their leave, he set out on his grand campaign, accompanied by a
large force of elephants, horses, and cars, and well-pleased with the blessings
uttered by all around and the auspicious rites performed by the citizens for his
success. And Pandu, accompanied by such a strong force marched against various
foes. And that tiger among men–that spreader of the fame of the Kurus–first
subjugated the robber tribes of asarna. He next turned his army composed of innumerable
elephants, cavalry, infantry, and charioteers, with standards of various colours
against Dhirga–the ruler of the kingdom of Maghadha who was proud of his strength,
and offended against numerous monarchs. And attacking him in his capital, Pandu
slew him there, and took everything in his treasury and also vehicles and draught
animals without number. He then marched into Mithila and subjugated the Videhas.
And then, O bull among men, Pandu led his army against Kasi, Sumbha, and Pundra,
and by the strength and prowess of his arms spread the fame of the Kurus. And
Pandu, that oppressor of foes, like unto a mighty fire whose far-reaching flames
were represented by his arrows and splendour by his weapons, began to consume
all kings that came in contact with him. These with their forces, vanquished by
Pandu at the head of his army, were made the vassals of the Kurus. And all kings
of the world, thus vanquished by him, regarded him as the one single hero on earth
even as the celestials regard Indra in heaven. And the kings of earth with joined
palms bowed to him and waited on him with presents of various kinds of gems and
wealth, precious stones and pearls and corals, and much gold and silver, and first-class
kine and handsome horses and fine cars and elephants, and asses and camels and
buffaloes, and goats and sheep, and blankets and beautiful hides, and cloths woven
out of furs. And the king of Hastinapura accepting those offerings retraced his
steps towards his capital, to the great delight of his subjects. And the citizens
and others filled with joy, and kings and ministers, all began to say, ‘O, the
fame of the achievements of Santanu, that tiger among kings, and of the wise Bharata,
which were about to die, hath been revived by Pandu. They who robbed before the
Kurus of both territory and wealth have been subjugated by Pandu–the tiger of
Hastinapura–and made to pay tribute.’ And all the citizens with Bhishma at their
head went out to receive the victorious king. They had not proceeded far when
they saw the attendants of the king laden with much wealth, and the train of various
conveyances laden with all kinds of wealth, and of elephants, horses, cars, kine,
camels and other animals, was so long that they saw not its end. Then Pandu, beholding
Bhishma, who was a father to him, worshipped his feet and saluted the citizens
and others as each deserved. And Bhishma, too, embracing Pandu as his son who
had returned victorious after grinding many hostile kingdoms, wept tears of joy.
And Pandu, instilling joy into the hearts of his people with a flourish of trumpets
and conchs and kettle-drums, entered his capital.'”