"Virata said, 'Why, O best among the Pandavas, dost thou not wish to
accept as wife this my daughter that I bestow upon thee?'
"Arjuna said, 'Residing in thy inner apartments, I had occasion always
to behold thy daughter, and she too, alone or in company trusted me as
her father. Well-versed in singing and dancing, I was liked and regarded
by her, and, indeed, thy daughter always regardeth me as her protector.
O king, I lived for one whole year with her though she had attained the
age of puberty. Under these circumstances, thyself or other men may not
without reason, entertain suspicions against her or me. Therefore, O
king, myself who am pure, and have my senses under control, beg to thee,
O monarch, thy daughter as my daughter-in-law. Thus do I attest her
purity. There is no difference between a daughter-in-law and a daughter,
as also between a son and son's own-self. By adopting this course,
therefore, her purity will be proved. I am afraid of slanderous and
false accusations. I accept, therefore, O king, thy daughter Uttara as
my daughter-in-law. Surpassing all in knowledge of weapons, resembling a
celestial youth in beauty, my son, the mighty-armed Abhimanyu is the
favourite nephew of Vasudeva, the wielder of the discus. He, O king, is
fit to be thy son-in-law and the husband of thy daughter.'
"Virata said, 'It behoveth the best of the Kurus, Dhananjaya, the son of
Kunti, who is so virtuous and wise, to say this. O son of Pritha, do
thou carry out what thou thinkest should be done after this. He that
hath Arjuna for the father of his son-in-law, hath all his desires
gratified.'"
Vaisampayana continued, "The monarch having said this, Yudhishthira, the
son of Kunti, gave his assent to what was thus agreed upon between the
Matsya king and Arjuna. And, O Bharata, the son of Kunti sent
invitations to Vasudeva and to all his friends and relatives, and Virata
also did the same. And then, after the expiry of the thirteenth year,
the five Pandavas took up their abode in one of Virata's towns called
_Upaplavya_, and Vibhatsu, the son of Pandu, brought over Abhimanyu and
Janardana, and also many people of the Dasarha race from the Anarta
country. And the king of Kasi, and also Saivya, being very friendly to
Yudhishthira, arrived there, each accompanied by an _Akshauhini_ of
troops. And the mighty Drupada, also with the heroic sons of Draupadi
and the unvanquished Sikhandin, and that foremost of wielder of weapons,
the invincible Dhrishtadyumna came there with another _Akshauhini_ of
troops. And all the kings that came were not only lords of _Akshauhini_,
but performers of sacrifices with gifts in profusion to Brahmanas,
conversant with the _Vedas_ endued with heroism, and ready to die in
battle. And beholding them arrived, that foremost of virtuous men, the
king of the Matsyas, adored them duly, and entertained their troops and
servants and carriers of burdens. And he was highly pleased to bestow
his daughter upon Abhimanyu. And after the kings had come there from
different parts of the country, there came Vasudeva decked in floral
garlands, and Halayudha, and Kritavarman, the son of Hridika, and
Yuyudhana, the son of Satyaki, and Anadhristi and Akrura, and Samva and
Nisatha. And these repressers of foes came there bringing with them
Abhimanyu and his mother. And Indrasena and others, having lived at
Dwaraka for one whole year, came there, bringing with them the well
adorned cars of the Pandavas. And there came also ten thousand elephants
and ten thousand cars, and hundred millions of horses and hundred
billions of foot-soldiers, and innumerable Vrishni and Andhaka and Bhoja
warriors of great energy, in the train of that tiger among the Vrishnis,
Vasudeva of great effulgence. And Krishna gave unto each of the
illustrious sons of Pandu numerous female slaves, and gems and robes.
And then the nuptial festival set in between the families of the Matsya
king and the Pandavas. And then conchs and cymbals and horns and drums
and other musical instruments appointed by the Pandavas, began to play
in the palace of Virata. And deer of various kinds and clean animals by
hundreds were slain. And wines of various kinds and intoxicating juices
of trees were profusely collected. And mimes and bards and encomiasts,
versed in singing and legendary lore, waited upon the kings, and chanted
their praises and genealogies. And the matrons of the Matsyas of
symmetrical bodies and limbs, and wearing ear-rings of pearls and gems,
headed by Sudeshna, came to the place where the marriage knot was to be
tied. And amongst those beautiful females of fair complexion and
excellent ornaments, Krishna was the foremost in beauty and fame and
splendour. And they all came there, leading forth the princess Uttara
decked in every ornament and resembling the daughter of the great Indra
himself. And then Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, accepted Virata's
daughter of faultless limbs on behalf of his son by Subhadra. And that
great king, Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, who stood there like Indra,
also accepted her as his daughter-in-law. And having accepted her, the
son of Pritha, with Janardana before him, caused the nuptial ceremonies
to be performed of the illustrious son of Subhadra. And Virata then gave
him (as dowry) seven thousand steeds endued with the speed of the wind
and two hundred elephants of the best kind and much wealth also. And
having duly poured libations of clarified butter on the blazing fire,
and paid homage unto the twice-born ones, Virata offered to the Pandavas
his kingdom, army, treasury, and his own self. And after the marriage
had taken place, Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, gave away unto the
Brahmanas all the wealth that had been brought by Krishna of unfading
glory. And he also gave away thousands of kine, and diverse kinds of
robes, and various excellent ornaments, and vehicles, and beds,
delicious viands of various kinds, and cardinal drinks of diverse
species. And the king also made gifts of land unto the Brahmanas with
due rites, and also cattle by thousands. And he also gave away thousands
of steeds and much gold and much wealth of other kinds, unto persons of
all ages. And, O bull of the Bharata race, the city of the Matsya king,
thronged with men cheerful and well-fed, shone brightly like a great
festival."
_The end of Virata Parva._