Then the greatly effulgent Panchala king addressed prince Yudhishthira in the form applicable to Brahmanas; he cheerfully inquired of that illustrious son of Kunti, (saying). "Are we to know you as Kshatriyas or Brahmanas,

Or accomplished Vaishyas or men born of Shudras? Or are we to know you as celestials who have assumed the disguise of Brahmanas by their power of Maya (delusion) and who are roaming over the earth and who have come here for the hand of Krishna? O Sir, tell us the truth, we are in great doubt.

Shall we not be happy when our doubts will be removed? O chastiser of foes, have the Fates been propitious to us?

Tell us the truth willingly. Truth becomes monarchs better then sacrifices and dedications of tanks. Therefore, do not speak the untruth.

O celestials like hero, O chastiser of foes, hearing your reply, I shall then make arrangements for the marriage according to the order to which you belong.

Yudhishthira said : O Panchala king, be not cheerless. Be cheerful. There is no doubt, your desire has been fulfilled.

O king, we are Kshatriyas and we are the sons of the illustrious Pandu. Know me to be the eldest of the sons of Kunti and these two to be Bhima and Arjuna.

O king, your daughter was won by these two (heroes) in the assembly of kings. The twins (Nakula and Sahadeva) and Kunti are there where Krishna is.

O best of men, let grief be dispelled from your heart, we are Kshatriyas. Your daughter like a lotus has been transplanted from one lake to the other.

O great king, you are our revered superior and chief refuge. I have told all that is necessary to be told.

Vaishampayana said : Thereupon the king Drupada had his eyes rolling in ecstasy and he was filled with delight; he could not for some time answer Yudhishthira.

Suppressing his joy with great effort, that chastiser of foes (Drupada) replied to Yudhishthira in proper words.

The virtuous minded (king) asked how they (the Pandavas) had escaped from the city (of Varanavata). The Pandava (Yudhishthira) narrated it all in detail.

Hearing the narration of the son of Kunti, king Drupada censured that ruler of men, Dhritarashtra.

The foremost of all eloquent men, Drupada, gave every assurance to the son of Kunti, Yudhishthira and vowed to restore him to his kingdom.

At the request of the king, Kunti, Krishna, Bhima, Arjuna and the twins took up their quarters in a palace.

O king, they continued to reside there, treated by Yajnasena (Drupada) with every respect. The king (Drupada) with his sons assured by all that had happened, thus spoke (to Yudhishthira).

Drupada said : O mighty armed hero, let the Kuru prince Arjuna take today the hand of my daughter with all due rites. Today is an auspicious day.

Vaishampayana said : Thereupon the virtuous minded king Yudhishthira replied, “O great king, I shall also have to marry.

Drupada said : O hero, take the hand of my daughter you yourself in all due rites. Or give Krishna in marriage to him whom you please.

Yudhishthira said: O king, Draupadi shall be the queen of all of us. O great king, it has been thus ordered by our mother.

I am still unmarried, so is the Pandavas Bhimasena. Your jewel of a daughter has been won by Partha.

O king, this is our rule that we must equally enjoy a jewel that we obtain. O excellent king, we are not willing now to break that rule.

Krishna shall be the wedded queen of all of us. Let her take our hands before the fire one after the other according to our age.

Drupada said : O descendant of Kuru, it is ordained that a husband can have many wives, but we have never heard that a wife can have many husbands.

O son of Kunti, pure as you are and acquainted with the rules of morality, you should not commit an act that is sinful and opposed both to the Vedas and usage. Why has your understanding come to be so?

Yudhishthira said : O great king, morality is subtle, we do not know its course. Let us therefore follow the path trod by the illustrious men of former ages.

My tongue never utters an untruth; my mind never turns to that which is sinful. It has been commanded by our mother and my mind also approves of it.

O king, it is certainly comfortable to virtue. Therefore, act accordingly without any scruple. O king, do not entertain any fear in this matter.

Drupada said : O son of Kunti, my son Dhrishtaduymna, Kunti and you yourself, these three settle amongst yourselves as to what should be done. I shall do what is proper tomorrow.

Vaishampayana said : o descendant of Bharata, o king, thereupon those three (Kunti, Yudhishthira and Dhrishtaduymna) discoursed on this matter; and at that very time Dvaipayana came there (wandering over the world) at pleasure.