(Chaitraratha Parva)

After this citizens returned to their respective houses and the Pandavas continued to dwell at Ekachakra as before.

“Janamejaya said, ’O Brahmana, what did those tigers among men, the Pandavas, do after they had slain the Rakshasa Vaka?’

“Vaisampayana said, ’The Pandavas, O king, after slaying the Rakshasa Vaka, continued to dwell in the abode of that Brahmana, employed in the study of the Vedas.  Within a few days there came a Brahmana of rigid vows unto the abode of their host to take up his quarters there.  Their host, that bull among Brahmanas, ever hospitable unto all guests, worshipping the newly-arrived Brahmana with due ceremonies, gave him quarters in his own abode.  Then those bulls among men, the Pandavas, with their mother Kunti, solicited the new lodger to narrate to them his interesting experiences.  The Brahmana spake to them of various countries and shrines and (holy) rivers, of kings and many wonderful provinces and cities.  And after this narration was over, that Brahmana, O Janamejaya, also spoke of the wonderful self-choice of Yajnasena’s daughter, the princes of Panchala, and of the births of Dhrishtadyumna and Sikhandi, and of the birth, without the intervention of a woman, of Krishna (Draupadi) at the great sacrifice of Drupada.

“Then those bulls among men, the Pandavas, hearing of these extraordinary facts regarding that illustrious monarch (Drupada), and desiring to know the details thereof, asked the Brahmana, after his narration was concluded, to satisfy their curiosity.  The Pandavas said, ’How, O Brahmana, did the birth of Dhrishtadyumna the son of Drupada, take place from the (sacrificial) fire?  How also did the extraordinary birth of Krishna take place from the centre of the sacrificial platform?  How also did Drupada’s son learn all weapons from the great bowman Drona?  And, O Brahmana, how and for whom and for what reason was the friendship between Drona and Drupada broken off?’

“Vaisampayana continued, ’Thus questioned, O monarch, by those bulls among men, the Brahmana narrated all the particulars about the birth of Draupadi.’”

SECTION CLXVIII

(Chaitraratha Parva continued)

“The Brahmana said, ’At that region where the Ganga entered the plains there lived a great Rishi, devoted to the austerest of penances.  Of rigid vows and great wisdom, he bore the name Bharadwaja.  One day, on coming to the Ganga to perform his ablutions, the Rishi saw the Apsara Ghritachi, who had come before, standing on the bank after her ablutions were over.  And it so happened that a wind arose and disrobed the Apsara standing there.  And the Rishi beholding her thus disrobed, felt the influence of desire.  Though practising the vow of continence from his very youth, as soon as he felt the influence of desire, the Rishi’s vital fluid came out.  And as it came out, he held it in a pot (drana), and of that