not yours.’  And soon they were under the influence of rage.  Maddened by the beauty of the damsel, they soon forgot their love and affection for each other.  Both of them, deprived of reason by passion, then took up their fierce maces.  Each repeating, I was the first, I was the first,’ (in taking her hand) struck the other.  And the fierce Asuras, struck by each other with the mace, fell down upon the ground, their bodies bathed in blood, like two suns dislodged from the firmament.  And beholding this, the women that had come there, and the other Asuras there present, all fled away trembling in grief and fear, and took refuge in the nether regions.  The Grandsire himself of pure soul, then came there, accompanied by the celestials, and the great Rishis.  And the illustrious Grandsire applauded Tilottama and expressed his wish of granting her a boon.  The Supreme Deity, before Tilottama spoke, desirous of granting her a boon, cheerfully said, ’O beautiful damsel, thou shalt roam in the region of the Adityas.  Thy splendour shall be so great that nobody will ever be able to look at thee for any length of time!’ The Grandsire of all creatures, granting this boon unto her, establishing the three worlds in Indra as before, returned to his own region.’

“Narada continued, ’It was thus that Asuras, ever united and inspired by the same purpose slew each other in wrath for the sake of Tilottama.  Therefore, from affection I tell you, ye foremost ones of Bharata’s line, that if you desire to do anything agreeable to me, make some such arrangements that you may not quarrel with one another for the sake of Draupadi.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ’The illustrious Pandavas, thus addressed by the great Rishi Narada, consulting with one another, established a rule amongst themselves in the presence of the celestial Rishi himself endued with immeasurable energy.  And the rule they made was that when one of them would be sitting with Draupadi, any of the other four who would see that one thus must retire into the forest for twelve years, passing his days as a Brahmacharin.  After the virtuous Pandavas had established that rule amongst themselves, the great Muni Narada, gratified with them, went to the place he wished.  Thus, O Janamejaya, did the Pandavas urged by Narada, established a rule amongst themselves in regard to their common wife.  And it was for this, O Bharata, that no dispute ever arose between them.’”

SECTION CCXV

(Arjuna-vanavasa Parva)

“Vaisampayana said, ’The Pandavas, having established such a rule, continued to reside there.  By the prowess of their arms they brought many kings under their sway.  And Krishna became obedient unto all the five sons of Pritha, those lions among men, of immeasurable energy.  Like the river Saraswati decked with elephants, which again take pleasure in that stream, Draupadi took great delight in her five heroic husbands and they too took delight in her.  And in consequence of the illustrious Pandavas being exceedingly virtuous in their practice, the whole race of Kurus, free from sin, and happy, grew in prosperity.