Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v1.c5.261

v1.c5.261

off at once with her chosen man (i, 188.28 ; 190.41 ff. ; 191 ; 192 ; 193.4, 6). In the brother's lodging she is then treated by Kuntī at once as the wife of her sons ; she shares out the alms they bring home, and sleeps at the foot of the Pāṇḍavas. The father of the bride meanwhile is trembling with deadly anxiety ; for he does not know whether even a Vaiçya or a Çūdra may not have won his daughter, and so he himself been disgraced for all time. But his son Dhṛiṣṭadyumna has followed the two as they secretly went off, overhears them in the potter's workshop, and listens how they speak only of battles, arms, chariots, and elephants, and so can bring joyful news to his waiting sire. The house priest is sent off to the brothers to learn more particulars, and then a messenger bidding them to the feast. Outside before the abode of the Pāṇḍavas the most splendid chariots are waiting. They all enter, and drive to the royal palace. Kuntī goes with Draupadī to the womenfolk. Meanwhile the sons of Pāṇḍu are put to a further trial : tools and implements and things needed in the various callings have been brought together, but the heroes go by everything and straight on to the arms.¹ Lastly Drupada has another conversation with Yudhishṭhira, and asks him who he is, whether he is a warrior or a Brahman, a Vaiçya or a Çūdra, and now learns they are really the sons of Pāṇḍu, as he has so longed for. Draupadī is again lodged in one house with the five brothers, just as though she were already given in marriage, and after the difficulty has been met which is found in the planned polyandric marriage of the princess, she is then entrusted on each of five days one after the other to one of the Pāṇḍavas.