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(The Bride's Choice)
THE mutual jealousies of the princes increased from day to day, and when
Yudhishthir, the eldest of all the princes and the eldest son of the late
Pandu, was recognised heir-apparent, the anger of Duryodhan and his brothers
knew no bounds. And they formed a dark scheme to kill the sons of Pandu.
The sons of Pandu were induced with their mother to pay a visit to a distant
town called Varanavata. A house had been built there for their residence,
constructed of inflammable materials. At the appointed time fire was set to the
house; but the five brothers and their mother escaped the conflagration through
a subterranean passage, retired into forests, and lived in the disguise of
Brahmans.
In course of time they heard of the approaching celebrations of the marriage
of the princess of Panchala, an ancient kingdom in the vicinity of modern
Kanouj. All the monarchs of Northern India were invited, and the bride would
choose her husband from among the assembled kings according to the ancient Swayamvara
custom. The five sons of Pandu decided to go and witness the ceremony.
The portion translated in this Book formed Sections clxxxiv. to cxxxix. of
Book i. of the original text.
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