Mahabharata Condensed in the Poet's Own Words /230

214
 
THE MAHABHARATA
 
"Luckily have you all come from the forest

hale and healthy. Let Arjuna, (the archer)
who shoots arrows

who shoots arrows with both hands, accept
as wife Uttara ( my
daughter ) ; this best of
men is the proper
 
with both hands, accept
daughter ) ; this best of
husband for her."
 

 
एवमुक्तां धर्मराजः पार्थमैक्षद्धनञ्जयम् ।

ईक्षितं चार्जनो शाज्ञात्वा मात्स्यं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥
 

So told, Yudhisthira looked at Arjuna.

Understanding the look, Arjuna said these

words to the Matsya king :
 

 
'प्रतिगृहाह्णाम्यहं राजन् स्नुषां दुहितरं तव ।

अन्तः पुरेऽहमुषितो विश्वस्ता पितृवन्मयि ।

आचार्यवच्च मां नित्यं मन्यते दुहिता तव ।

स्वस्त्रीयां वासुदेवस्य साक्षाद्देवसुतो यथा ।

अभिमन्युर्महाबाहुः पुत्रो मम विशांपते ।

जामाता तव युक्तो वै भर्ता च दुहितुस्तव ॥'
 

King I shall accept your daughter as

my daughter-in-law. I have lived in the

harem and she has moved with me in
 

confidence as with a father; also, your