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Core-Pancharatra: Pandavas disclose themselves and wish to wed Draupadi as per dharma.
Vaiśampāyana said.
Then Draupadī called the prince Yudhishthira, and having embraced him in a sacred manner, the greatly radiant one (Yudhishthira) was thus received.
The one with an undepressed spirit questioned Kuntī's radiant son: "How can we recognize your Kṣatriyas and Brāhmaṇas?"
Vaiśyas, or those possessing virtues, or those born of Śūdra origin; having taken to illusion, or perfected beings, roam in all directions.
Please tell us the truth about those who have come from heaven for Kṛṣṇā's sake and wish to be seen; for we have a great doubt here.
May satisfaction of mind come to us here at the end of our doubts; may auspicious things destined for us indeed be ours, O scorcher of foes.
Speak the truth out of desire; truth is esteemed among kings. By sacrifices and charitable works also, likewise, one should not speak falsehood.
O subduer of enemies, having truly heard your words, O godlike one, I will certainly undertake the marriage arrangements according to the prescribed rules.
Yudhishthira said.
O king, do not be disheartened, O son of Pāñcālī; let there be affection for you. The wish you desired has certainly come to pass, without any doubt.
O king, we are kṣatriyas, the sons of the noble Pāṇḍu. Know me as the eldest, the son of Kuntī, and these two as Bhīmasena and Arjuna, by whom your sons were defeated in the royal assembly.
O king, the two sons of Yama, where Kṛṣṇā is present, let your sorrow pass away. We are kṣatriyas, O best of men. Like a lotus-lady, your daughter has moved from one lake to another.
Thus, O great king, I declare all this truth to you. For you are indeed our teacher, the supreme and our ultimate refuge.
Vaiśampāyana said.
Then King Drupada, his eyes brimming with both joy and agitation, was unable to give a fitting reply to Yudhishthira at that moment.
But he, the king who scorches his foes, controlled his joy with effort and then replied appropriately to Yudhishthira.
The righteous one asked him how they had fled before. The Pāṇḍava then recounted everything to him in sequence.
Having heard that, King Drupada, after listening to the words of Kuntī's son, then censured Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the lord of men.
He consoled Yudhiṣṭhira, the son of Kuntī. Drupada, the best among speakers, also promised the kingdom.
Then Kuntī, Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī), Bhīmasena, Arjuna, and the two sons of Yama (Nakula and Sahadeva), having been instructed by the king, entered the great mansion.
There, they stayed, honored by King Jñasena. After reassuring them, the king addressed them along with his sons.
O joy of the Kurus, let him take her hand according to the prescribed rites today itself. On this auspicious day, let mighty-armed Arjuna perform the ceremony at this very moment.
Then King Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, said to him: "My marriage alliance too must be arranged, O lord of men, as is appropriate."
Drupada said.
You may, according to proper custom, take my daughter's hand yourself, or, O hero, indicate Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī) to whomever you think suitable.
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
O king, Draupadī will be the queen of all of us. For thus it was formerly declared by my mother, O lord of the people.
I, as well as the unsettled Bhīmasena, the Pāṇḍava, have been conquered by Pārtha; and this daughter of yours has become a jewel.
O king, this is our time to dine together with the jewel, and we do not wish to give up that time, O best of kings.
Kṛṣṇā, according to dharma, will be the queen of all of us. Let her, in due order, accept the hand of each of us in the fire.
Drupada said.
O Kurunandana, a single man may have many wives, but a single woman is never permitted to have many husbands.
O son of Kunti, you are righteous and pure; you should not perform what is opposed to the world and the Veda. Why has your mind become like this?
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
O great king, dharma is subtle; we do not know its course. We follow the path traversed in succession by our predecessors.
My speech has never uttered falsehood, nor is my mind set on unrighteousness. Thus my mother speaks, and this is also what is in my heart.
O king, this dharma is certain; act upon it without hesitation. Do not let any doubt arise in you here in any way, O king.
Drupada said.
You, Kuntī, the son of Kuntī, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, and my son—let them discuss what should be done; tomorrow, at the appointed time, let us act accordingly.
Vaiśampāyana said.
After they had all gathered and were speaking, O Bhārata, then Vyāsa, O king, happened to arrive there by chance.
