TWENTY-ONE
The next morning1, the Pandavas rose before the sun. As they used to, when they were masters of the earth and for the first time since they were exiled, they bathed in scented water. They dressed themselves like kings, in silks and put on the royal ornaments the sairandhri had kept secretly for them. Before the Matsya king came to his court, the five brothers and Draupadi entered that sabha. The flower girl also wore finery now and she was every bit a queen of queens.
Yudhishtira climbed up to Virata's throne and sat in it. Draupadi sat beside him in Sudeshna's place and Bheema, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva stood around them. That sabha had never been so resplendent.
Shortly, Virata arrived with his courtiers. He saw the Pandavas and cried, "Kanka, how dare you! Explain yourself, gambler, if you value your life."
But the spectacle before his eyes was so regal, he could not be as angry as he might. He was confused, more than angry. Yudhishtira did not answer, only smiled mysteriously at the Matsya king. His confusion mounting, Virata drew his sword. He said, "Explain yourself, Kanka!"
1. Ganguli has it as the third day after Arjuna's battle.
Arjuna replied quietly, "Virata, be careful how you speak to this man. Your throne is blessed that he sits on it, for he is fit to sit upon the throne of the king of the Devas. This man, my lord, is the greatest soul born in this age. He is an embodiment of dharma."
A tumult in his chest, Virata said, "Who is he?"
"Yudhishtira, whose fame will last in the world as long as the sun rises over it."
Virata gasped, "Yudhishtira?"
Arjuna said, "Do you still think he should not sit on your throne?"
Gaping at them, the Matsya king breathed, "If he is Yudhishtira, where are the other Pandavas? Where is Draupadi?" knowing what the answer would be, the truth dawning on him. But he must hear it from them.
"Your cook Ballava is Bheema, the wind's son. Your daughter's dance-teacher Brihannala is Arjuna. Your equerry Damagranthi is Nakula and Tantripala, the cowherd, is Sahadeva."
His heart pounding, Virata turned his gaze to Draupadi, her skin like night, softened with moonbeams. Arjuna said, "Your queen's sairandhri is Drupada's daughter Panchali."
Virata was speechless. Just then, Uttara Kumara came in. He took his father's hand and said, "My lord, this is Arjuna. He is the Devaputra who humbled the Kauravas yesterday. I was his sarathy."
With a moan, Virata fell at Yudhishtira's feet. "God has blessed me! You lived in my palace for a whole year. No wonder such fortune has come to my kingdom. Noble Yudhishtira, forgive me, forgive me a thousand times! Forgive every offence of mine. Have mercy, O Pandava; I never knew who you were. My kingdom is yours to rule and I am your servant. Only, forgive me for all the indignity you have endured in my palace."
Yudhishtira took Virata's hand, "My lord, I am not angry. No, I am grateful to you. This last year of our exile was the hardest to think of, since we had to hide ourselves behind disguises. Your kindness made this the happiest year. Let me thank you with all my heart, there is nothing to forgive."
Yudhishtira embraced Virata. Uttara Kumara said, "Father, yesterday you said you would give Uttaraa to the Devaputra who routed the Kurus. Shall I fetch my sister? What greater honor for us than Arjuna marrying her?"
Without waiting for Virata's reply, the prince ran off and brought Uttaraa back with him. She was startled at the spectacle that greeted her in her father's court. Then she was overjoyed and amused, as well, to learn who her dance-teacher was!
Virata brought his daughter to Yudhishtira and, kneeling before him, said, "I beg you again to forgive us if we wronged you in any way. And to show that you do, I ask you to take this child of mine to be your brother Arjuna's wife." He turned to Arjuna, "Greatest of kshatriyas, she has been your pupil for a year and she loves you. Now take her to be your bride and with her take my kingdom for your own."
Arjuna said, "My lord, the Pandavas do not want your kingdom, but we must have your support when the war begins. As for Uttaraa, I thank you for the love that prompts you to offer her to me. But she has been my sishyaa for a year and like a daughter to me. How can I marry her now?"
He saw the disappointment on Virata's face, on Uttara Kumara's and the princess', too. Arjuna took Utaraa's hand and said, "She has been my daughter all these months and let her always be. I accept your princess, Virata, to be my son Abhimanyu's wife! He is Subhadra's son and Krishna's nephew and he has grown in Dwaraka. He will make the perfect husband for my favorite pupil."
Arjuna kissed Uttaraa's cheek and said, "From now on, sweet child, you are truly my daughter."
Then they heard voices raised in the passage outside and the guard announced a messenger from Hastinapura. A dark-faced, shifty-eyed man entered. Squinting at the sabha, he delivered his message. "My lord Duryodhana sends this message through me. He says to the Pandavas, 'We saw Arjuna before the ajnatavasa had ended. You must go into exile for another twelve years.' So says my master Duryodhana."
Now Yudhishtira laughed at his cousin's audacity. He told the messenger, "Take my reply to your master. Tell him his cousin Yudhishtira says let our Pitama Bheeshma decide if Arjuna showed himself before or after the ajnatavasa ended. Tell Duryodhana, also, that I will send my own messenger to him in a few days with a question. Let him be prepared to give me an answer. Until then, let him send no more messages, but leave us in peace."