Haughty servants
A day or two later, king Virata was surprised, while entering into his assembly, to find a few well dressed strangers seated on high thrones. On closer look the king recognized his servants Kanka and Valala. He was annoyed by the audacity of his usually polite assistants. The king addressed Kanka in a raised voice: “how is it that you sit on thrones, reserved for royal dignitaries?”
It was Arjuna who replied to the king. He revealed the true identity of his brothers and of himself. He also went into the circumstances that lead to their life incognito.
The Matsya king was a mixture of several emotions at that moment. He was, naturally, in a state of shock and was sorry for treating the eminent Pandava princes as servants. He was also delighted to have the Pandavas, of whom he had heard a lot, with him in the palace.
Gift of daughter
The immediate thought of Virata was how to suitably honour his eminent guests. He thought of giving his daughter, Uttara, to Arjuna as his best gift to the worthy Pandava. But, Arjuna turned that offer down. He said. “I have taught your daughter music and dancing for the past twelve months. As my student she is more like a daughter to me. I do not mind accepting her as wife to my son, Abhimanyu. Moreover, I have lived with the ladies of the harem all these months. If I marry your daughter, rumour might spread that will be a blot on my name and on that of your daughter”.
Abhimanyu was the son of Arjuna born in Subhadra, the sister of Krishna. We have come across this prince of great valour briefly before.
Both Yudhishthira and King Virata were happy with the proposal. A date was fixed for the marriage. Invitations were sent to friends and relations of Pandavas and Matsyas. Krishna and the Panchala king were the noteworthy invitees on the Pandavas side. They all came with suitable gifts for the bride and groom. The marriage was conducted with great pomp and ceremony.
With this, the “Chapter on Marriage (Vaivahika Parvam)” comes to an end. Also ends the “Book on life in the Virata kingdom (Virata Parvam)”.
