Source
Texts:
Draupadî
Meets the Queens of Krishna
Text
1
S'rî
S'uka said: 'The Supreme Lord, the spiritual master and goal of
the gopîs, this way showing His favor, then
with
Yudhishthhira inquired
after the welfare
of all [of His family] and His
well-wishers.
S'ukadeva
Gosvâmî said: Thus Lord Krishna, the spiritual
master of the gopîs and the very purpose of their
life, showed them His mercy. He then met with Yudhishthhira
and all His other relatives and inquired from them about
their welfare.
Text
2
They,
by seeing His feet having their sins destroyed, thus questioned
by the Lord of the World felt very honored and replied
gladly:
Feeling
greatly honored, King Yudhishthhira and the others, freed of
all sinful reactions by seeing the feet of the Lord of the
universe, gladly answered His inquiries.
Text
3
'From
where would there be inauspiciousness to those who of Your
lotuslike feet ever drank the intoxicating nectar poured out by
the minds and mouths of the great souls, to those who with the
drinking cups of their ears drank to their fill, o Master,
Destroyer of the forgetfulness about the Doer of the materially
embodied.
[Lord
Krishna's relatives said:] O master, how can misfortune
arise for those who have even once freely drunk the nectar
coming from Your lotus feet? This intoxicating liquor pours
into the drinking cups of their ears, having flowed from the
minds of great devotees through their mouths. It destroys
the embodied souls' forgetfulness of the creator of their
bodily existence.
Text
4
Indeed
by the light of Your personal form are the three material
conditions [or the miseries, originating from oneself,
others and nature] as created by material consciousness
dispelled, and are we, totally immersed, of spiritual
happiness, having bowed down to You, the goal of the perfected
saint [the paramahamsa], who for the protection of the
unlimited and ever fresh vedic knowledge under the threat of
time, by the power of Your illusion has assumed this
form.'
The
radiance of Your personal form dispels the threefold effects
of material consciousness, and by Your grace we become
immersed in total happiness. Your knowledge is indivisible
and unrestricted. By Your Yogamâyâ potency You
have assumed this human form for protecting the Vedas, which
had been threatened by time. We bow down to You, the final
destination of perfect saints.
Text
5
The
great sage said: 'As His people were thus glorifying the crest
jewel of all personalities hailed in the scriptures, met the
women of the Andhaka and Kaurava clans to discuss among one
another the topics of Govinda sung in the three worlds; please
listen as I describe them to you.
The
great sage S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: As
Yudhishthhira and the others were thus praising Lord
Krishna, the crest jewel of all sublimely glorified
personalities, the women of the Andhaka and Kaurava clans
met with one another and began discussing topics about
Govinda that are sung throughout the three worlds. Please
listen as I relate these to you.
Text
6-7
S'rî
Draupadî said: 'O Vaidarbhî
[Rukminî], Bhadrâ, Jâmbavatî
and Kaus'alâ [Nâgnajitî]; o
Satyabhâmâ, Kâlindî, S'aibyâ
[Mitravindâ],
Rohinî
[see 10.61*]
and Lakshmanâ [Mâdrâ] and other wives
of Krishna, please tell us this: how was it that Acyuta, the
Supreme Lord Himself, by His own mystic power following the
ways of the world, got married to you?
S'rî
Draupadî said: O Vaidarbhî, Bhadrâ and
Jâmbavatî, O Kaus'alâ,
Satyabhâmâ and Kâlindî, O
S'aibyâ, Rohinî, Lakshmanâ and other wives
of Lord Krishna, please tell me how the Supreme Lord Acyuta,
imitating the ways of this world by His mystic power, came
to marry each of you.
Text
8
S'rî
Rukminî said: 'Like a lion taking his share from a herd
of goats and sheep, took He who puts the dust of His feet upon
the heads of invincible fighters, me away when the kings with
their bows stood ready in order to offer me to
S'is'upâla; may the feet of Him, the abode of S'rî,
be my object of worship [see 10.52-54].
S'rî
Rukminî said: When all the kings held their bows at
the ready to assure that I would be presented to
S'is'upâla, He who puts the dust of His feet on the
heads of invincible warriors took me from their midst, as a
lion forcibly takes his prey from the midst of goats and
sheep. May I always be allowed to worship those feet of Lord
Krishna, the abode of Goddess S'rî.
Text
9
S'rî
Satyabhâmâ said: 'To my father whose heart was
distressed with the death of his brother, returned He, being
accused, to clear His name, the jewel back after defeating the
king of the bears [Jâmbavân]; afraid
because of this offered my father me to the Lord although I was
spoken for already [see 10.56].
S'rî
Satyabhâmâ said: My father, his heart tormented
by his brothers death, accused Krishna of killing him. To
remove the stain on His reputation, the Lord defeated the
king of the bears and took back the Syamantaka jewel, which
He then returned to my father. Fearing the consequences of
his offense, my father offered me to the Lord, even though I
had already been promised to others.
Text
10
S'rî
Jâmbavatî said: 'The maker of this body unaware of
Him, the Husband of Sîtâ , as being his master
and worshipable deity, fought for twenty-seven days with Him.
Having come to his senses recognizing Him he presented me
together with the jewel taking hold of His feet; I'm His
maid-servant [see also 10.56].
S'rî
Jâmbavatî said: Unaware that Lord Krishna was
none other than his own master and worshipable Deity, the
husband of Goddess Sîtâ, my father fought with
Him for twenty-seven days. When my father finally came to
his senses and recognized the Lord, he took hold of His feet
and presented Him with both me and the Syamantaka jewel as
tokens of his reverence. I am simply the Lord's
maidservant.
Text
11
S'rî
Kâlindî said: 'Knowing that I with the desire of
touching His feet was executing penances, came He together with
His friend [Arjuna] and took He my hand; I am the one
cleaning His residence [10.58:
12-23].
S'rî
Kâlindî said: The Lord knew I was performing
severe austerities and penances with the hope of one day
touching His lotus feet. So He came to me in the company of
His friend and took my hand in marriage. Now I am engaged as
a sweeper in His palace.
Text
12
S'rî
Mitravindâ said: 'During my svayamvara coming forward
stole He me away the way the enemy of the elephants [a
lion] claims his share from a pack of dogs; after defeating
the kings and my brothers insulting Him, took He me to His
capital where S'rî resides; may there for me, life after
life, be the service of washing His
feet
[10.58:
31].
S'rî
Mitravindâ said: At my svayam-vara ceremony He came
forward, defeated all the kings present - including my
brothers, who dared insult Him - and took me away just as a
lion removes his prey from amidst a pack of dogs. Thus Lord
Krishna, the shelter of the goddess of fortune, brought me
to His capital city. May I be allowed to serve Him by
washing His feet, life after life.
Text
13-14
S'rî
Satyâ said: 'Seven great bulls most strong and vital with
the sharpest horns, by my father arranged to test the prowess
of the kings, destroyed the pride of the heroes; but they were
quickly subdued and tied up by Him with the ease of children
playing with young goats. This way paying for me with His valor
took He me, protected by maid-servants, with Him, with an army
of four divisions along the road defeating the kings; may there
be my servitude to Him [10.58:
32-55].
S'rî
Satyâ said: My father arranged for seven extremely
powerful and vigorous bulls with deadly sharp horns to test
the prowess of the kings who desired my hand in marriage.
Although these bulls destroyed the false pride of many
heroes, Lord Krishna subdued them effortlessly, tying them
up in the same way that children playfully tie up a goat's
kids. He thus purchased me with His valor. Then He took me
away with my maidservants and a full army of four divisions,
defeating all the kings who opposed Him along the road. May
I be granted the privilege of serving that Lord.
Text
15-16
S'rî
Bhadrâ said: 'With me in love with Him, o Krishnâ
[Draupadî], gave my father, on his own accord
inviting my maternal cousin Krishna, me to Him together with
female companions and a guarding akshauhini of troops; let
there for me, birth after birth wandering of my karma, be that
betterment of myself in touching His feet
[10.58:
56].
S'rî
Bhadrâ said: My dear Draupadî, of his own free
will my father invited his nephew Krishna, to whom I had
already dedicated my heart, and offered me to Him as His
bride. My father presented me to the Lord with an akshauhini
military guard and a retinue of my female companions. My
ultimate perfection is this: to always be allowed to touch
Lord Krishna's lotus feet as I wander from life to life,
bound by my karma.
Text
17
S'rî
Lakshmanâ said: 'O Queen, time and again hearing
Nârada glorifying Acyuta's births and activities became
my heart fixed upon Mukunda, He who after due consideration in
rejection of the rulers of the world, indeed was chosen by her
[the goddess S'rî] holding the
lotus.
S'rî
Lakshmanâ said: O Queen, I repeatedly heard
Nârada Muni glorify the appearances and activities of
Acyuta, and thus my heart also became attached to that Lord,
Mukunda. Indeed, even Goddess Padmahastâ chose Him as
her husband after careful consideration, rejecting the great
demigods who rule various planets.
Text
18
My father known
as Brihatsena, o saintly lady, knowing of my state of mind
arranged being affectionate with his daughter, a means to this
end.
My
father, Brihatsena, was by nature compassionate to his
daughter, and knowing how I felt, O saintly lady, he
arranged to fulfill my desire.
Text
19
Just as
in your svayamvara, o Queen, was a fish being used [hung
high as a target] that to be won by Arjuna, hidden from
sight however, was only to be seen as a reflection in water
[in a pot below].
Just
as a fish was used as a target in your svayam-vara ceremony,
O Queen, to assure that you would obtain Arjuna as your
husband, so a fish was also used in my ceremony. In my case,
however, it was concealed on all sides, and only its
reflection could be seen in a pot of water below.
Text
20
Hearing
of this came from everywhere all the kings expert in the art of
shooting and wielding other weapons to my father's city along
with their thousands of teachers.
Hearing
of this, thousands of kings expert in shooting arrows and in
wielding other weapons converged from all directions on my
father's city, accompanied by their military
teachers.
Text
21
My
father honored in full all of them, each according his strength
and age, after which they who had set their minds upon me, in
the assembly took up their bow and arrows to take a
shot.
My
father properly honored each king according to his strength
and seniority. Then those whose minds were fixed on me took
up the bow and arrow and one by one tried to pierce the
target in the midst of the assembly.
Text
22
Some of them
after lifting [the bow] were unable to string it and
some having pulled the bowstring came to fall being hit by
it.
Some
of them picked up the bow but could not string it, and so
they threw it aside in frustration. Some managed to pull the
bowstring toward the tip of the bow, only to have the bow
spring back and knock them to the ground.
Text
23
Other
heroes, the kings of Magadha [Jarâsandha], Cedi
[S'is'upâla] and Ambashthha as well as
Bhîma, Duryodhana and Karna, managed to string but
couldn't determine its [the targets']
location.
A
few heroes - namely Jarâsandha, S'is'upâla,
Bhîma, Duryodhana, Karna and the King of Ambashthha -
succeeded in stringing the bow, but none of them could find
the target.
Text
24
Managing
to locate it, took Arjuna, aiming carefully looking at the
reflection of the fish in the water, a shot, but the arrow not
piercing, only touched it.
Then
Arjuna looked at the reflection of the fish in the water and
determined its position. When he carefully shot his arrow at
it, however, he did not pierce the target but merely grazed
it.
Text
25-26
When
the proud kings defeated in their pride had given up, did the
Supreme Lord, playfully taking up the bow, stringing it and
then fixing an arrow on it, pierce the fish with its shaft,
with the sun situated in Abhijit [in 'victory', or at
noon] only once having looked at it in the
water.
After
all the arrogant kings had given up, their pride broken, the
Supreme Personality of Godhead picked up the bow, easily
strung it and then fixed His arrow upon it. As the sun stood
in the constellation Abhijit, He looked at the fish in the
water only once and then pierced it with the arrow, knocking
it to the ground.
Text
27
Kettledrums
resounded in the sky together with the sound of 'Jaya' of the
godly on earth who overwhelmed with joy released torrents of
flowers.
Kettledrums
resounded in the sky, and on the earth people shouted "Jaya!
Jaya!" Overjoyed, demigods showered flowers.
Text
28
Next
did I, with a shy smile on my face and a wreath of flowers in
my hair, enter the arena with gently tinkling anklebells on my
feet, wearing a necklace of gold with brilliant jewels and a
pair of fine silken, new garments held together with a
belt.
Just
then I walked onto the ceremonial ground, the ankle bells on
my feet gently tinkling. I was wearing new garments of the
finest silk, tied with a belt, and I carried a brilliant
necklace fashioned of gold and jewels. There was a shy smile
on my face and a wreath of flowers in my hair.
Text
29
Lifting
my face with its many locks of hair and the cheeks effulgent of
the earrings, looked I all around at the kings with a cool
smile casting sidelong glances and placed I slowly my necklace
around the neck of Murâri who had captured my
heart.
I
lifted my face, which was encircled by my abundant locks and
effulgent from the glow of my earrings reflected from my
cheeks. Smiling coolly, I glanced about. Then, looking
around at all the kings, I slowly placed the necklace on the
shoulder of Murâri, who had captured my heart.
Text
30
At
that moment resounded conchshells, mridangas, tabors, kettle
drums and wardrums and such, and sang the singers as male and
female dancers danced.
Just
then there were loud sounds of conchshells and mridanga,
pathaha, bherî and ânaka drums, as well as other
instruments. Men and women began to dance, and singers began
to sing.
Text
31
My
thus having chosen for the Supreme Lord as my master could by
the leading kings not be tolerated, o Draupadî; they
became quarrelsome upset with a heart of abuse.
The
leading kings there could not tolerate my having chosen the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, O Draupadî. Burning
with lust, they became quarrelsome.
Text
32
At
that point lifting me in the chariot with its four gems of
horses stood He, preparing His S'ârnga and donning His
armor, on the battleground with His four arms [displayed in
full].
The
Lord then placed me on His chariot, drawn by four most
excellent horses. Donning His armor and readying His bow
S'ârnga, He stood on the chariot, and there on the
battleground He manifested His four arms.
Text
33
Before
the kings to see drove Dâruka the chariot trimmed with
gold, o Queen, as if He was the king of animals before
animals.
Dâruka
drove the Lord's gold-trimmed chariot as the kings looked
on, O Queen, like small animals helplessly watching a
lion.
Text
34
They,
the kings, like village dogs with a lion, went after Him, while
some of them to check Him on the path, stood ready with their
bows raised.
The
kings pursued the Lord like village dogs chasing a lion.
Some kings, raising their bows, stationed themselves on the
road to stop Him as He passed by.
Text
35
From
the floods of arrows shot from S'ârnga fell some of them
with their arms, legs and necks severed, while some others,
gave it up and fled.
These
warriors were deluged by arrows shot from the Lord's bow,
S'ârnga. Some of the kings fell on the battlefield
with severed arms, legs and necks; the rest gave up the
fight and fled.
Text
36
Then
entered the Lord of the Yadus like the sun reaching his abode
[or the western horizon] Dvârakâ, His city
glorified in heaven and on earth, profusely decorated with
wonderful archways and banners on flagpoles blocking the
sun.
The
Lord of the Yadus then entered His capital city,
Kus'asthalî [Dvârakâ], which is
glorified in heaven and on earth. The city was elaborately
decorated with flagpoles carrying banners that blocked the
sun, and also with splendid archways. As Lord Krishna
entered, He appeared like the sun-god entering his
abode..
Text
37
My
father honored his friends, immediate relations and other
family members with the most valuable clothing and jewelry and
with beds, thrones and other furniture.
My
father honored his friends, family and in-laws with
priceless clothing and jewelry and with royal beds, thrones
and other furnishings.
Text
38
Along
with maidservants endowed with all riches, infantry,
elephantry, chariotry and cavalry, gave he the Lord of the
Complete [Pûrnasya] out of devotion the most
valuable weapons.
With
devotion he presented the perfectly complete Lord with a
number of maidservants bedecked with precious ornaments.
Accompanying these maidservants were guards walking on foot
and others riding elephants, chariots and horses. He also
gave the Lord extremely valuable weapons.
Text
39
By
the austerity of the abrupt breaking off of our material
association have we indeed all become these maidservants in the
home of Him, the One Satisfied Within Himself.
Thus,
by renouncing all material association and practicing
austere penances, we queens have all become personal
maidservants of the self- satisfied Supreme Lord.
Text
40
The
other queens said [by mouth of Rohinî]: 'Killing
the demon Bhauma along with his followers in battle knew He us,
by him being imprisoned, as the daughters of the kings defeated
during his conquest of the earth; releasing us, constantly
remembering His lotus feet as the source of liberation from a
material existence has He, the One Fulfilled in All His
desires, married us.
Rohinî-devi,
speaking for the other queens, said: After killing
Bhaumâsura and his followers, the Lord found us in the
demon's prison and could understand that we were the
daughters of the kings whom Bhauma had defeated during his
conquest of the earth. The Lord set us free, and because we
had been constantly meditating upon His lotus feet, the
source of liberation from material entanglement, He agreed
to marry us, though His every desire is already
fulfilled.
Text
41-42
O
saintly lady, we do not desire rulership over the earth, a
heavenly kingdom, unlimited pleasures even or mystic power, to
be the supreme divinity, immortality or the abode of Hari, we
desire to carry on our heads the dust of the divine feet of the
Wielder of the Club, enriched by the fragrance of the kunkuma
from the bosom of S'rî [see also 10.47:
60 ,
**
and the s'ikshâshtaka
verse 4].
O
saintly lady, we do not desire dominion over the earth, the
sovereignty of the King of heaven, unlimited facility for
enjoyment, mystic power, the position of Lord Brahmâ,
immortality or even attainment of the kingdom of God. We
simply desire to carry on our heads the glorious dust of
Lord Krishna's feet, enriched by the fragrance of kunkuma
from His consort's bosom.
Text
43
We desire the
same as what the Pulinda women [the gopîs]
desire, as what the grass and the plants and the grazing cows
and the gopas of Vraja desire: the contact of the feet of the
Supreme Soul.'
We
desire the same contact with the Supreme Lord's feet that
the young women of Vraja, the cowherd boys and even the
aborigine Pulinda women desire - the touch of the dust He
leaves on the plants and grass as He tends His cows.
*The
one called Rohinî here is not Rohini, the mother of
Balarâma, but the one queen representing the 16000 queens
that Krishna wed next to his eight principal queens.
**
The paramparâ points out that the S'rî referred to
here is the supreme goddess of fortune as identified by the
'Brihad-gautamîya-tantra':
devî
krishna-mayî proktâ
râdhikâ para-devatâ
sarva-lakshmî-mayî sarva
kântih sammohinî parâ
"The
transcendental goddess S'rîmatî
Râdhârânî is the direct counterpart of
Lord S'rî Krishna. She is the central figure for all the
goddesses of fortune. She possesses all the attractiveness to
attract the all-attractive Personality of Godhead. She is the
primeval internal potency of the Lord."
