Chapter 112

“Vaisampayana said. ‘The large-eyed daughter of Kuntibhoja, Pritha byname, was endued with beauty and every accomplishment. Of rigid vows, shewas devoted to virtue and possessed of every good quality.

But thoughendued with beauty and youth and every womanly attribute, yet it sohappened that no king asked-for her hand. Her father Kuntibhoja seeingthis, invited, O best of monarchs, the princes and kings of othercountries and desired his daughter to select her husband from among herguests. The intelligent Kunti, entering the amphitheatre, beheldPandu–the foremost of the Bharatas–that tiger among kings–in thatconcourse of crowned heads. Proud as the lion, broad-chested, bull-eyed,endued with great strength, and outshining all other monarchs insplendour, he looked like another Indra in that royal assemblage. Theamiable daughter of Kuntibhoja, of faultless features, beholdingPandu–that best of men–in that assembly, became very much agitated. Andadvancing with modesty, all the while quivering with emotion, she placedthe nuptial garland about Pandu’s neck. The other monarchs, seeing Kuntichoose Pandu for her lord, returned to their respective kingdoms onelephants, horses and cars, as they had come. Then, O king, the bride’sfather caused the nuptial rites to be performed duly. The Kuru princeblessed with great good fortune and the daughter of Kuntibhoja formed acouple like Maghavat and Paulomi (the king and queen of the celestials).And, O best of Kuru monarchs, king Kuntibhoja, after the nuptials wereover, presented his son-in-law with much wealth and sent him back to hiscapital. Then the Kuru prince Pandu, accompanied by a large force bearingvarious kinds of banners and pennons, and eulogised by Brahmanas andgreat Rishis pronouncing benedictions, reached his capital. And afterarriving at his own palace, he established his queen therein.'”