Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 10 Chapter 83:10-19

Book 10: Eighty-three (Latter Half)

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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 10: Chapter 83: Verses 10-19


Jambavatf said : (Draupadi,) my father (Jambavan, the lord of bears,) was unaware that my Lord was the same as Sri Rama, (his own lord and deity). (Therefore,) he fought the Lord. for twenty-seven days. After this test when he recognized the Lord (to be Sri Rama Himself), he took hold of His feet and offered me as a present, together with the jewel. May I continue to be His slave (from birth to birth, is my only prayer to the Lord). Kalindi said : (Draupadi !) when the Lord came to know that I was practising austerities in the hope of obtaining the privilege to touch His feet, He came with his friend (Arjuna), and espoused me. I have now the privilege of sweeping His house. Mitravinda said : (Draupadi !) my father called an assembly of kings at his capital to enable me to elect my own partner in life. The Lord too attended the assembly and, vanquishing all the kings (in battle), took me away to His capital (Dwaraka), which is the abode of all excellence and beauty,- even as the lion carries away his prey from a pack of dogs. My brothers, who offered Him resistance, with a view to delivering me from His hands and thereby injuring me, were equally worsted in the fight. I now seek that in every life I may get the privilege of washing His feet. Satya said : (Draupadi !) in order to test the strength of the kings (who had assembled to seek my hand), my father had secured seven oxen endowed with inordinate strength and energy and very sharp horns. These oxen had shattered the pride of many a valiant warrior; but the Lord playfully and quickly took hold of them, (put strings through their noses) and brought them under His power in no time, even as children deal with kids.
Thus winning me as a reward for His strength, my Lord carried me to Dwaraka with all my attendant maids under the protection of a strong army. He conquered on the way all the princes who tried to intercept. (0 queen, my only desire now is that) I may (always) get the opportunity of serving Him. Bhadra said : Draupadi, Bhagavan Sri Krsna is the son of my maternal uncle. Knowing that I had given my heart to Him, my father sent for Sri Krsna of his own accord and bestowed me on Him, with an army consisting of one Aksauhini and many maids-of-honour. I now consider that my highest good lies in obtaining in every birth the touch of His feet, wherever 1 may be thrown by the force of my Karma. Laksmana said : 0 queen, Devarsi Narada frequently sings the story of the descent and sports of the Lord on earth. Having heard those songs and duly considering the fact that Laksmi, the goddessof wealth, rejecting (Indra and) the (other) guardians of the world, had chosen Him as her consort, I set my heart on the Lord. 0 virtuous lady ! my father, who is known by the name of Brhatsena, loved me intensely. When he came to know of my mind, he contrived a plan for carrying it into effect: O queen, just as on the occasion of your self-choice of a husband your father invented the device of a fish in order to get Arjuna for you, my father too invented a similar device, with this difference that the fish was totally screened externally and only its reflection could be seen in the water.

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