THE STORY OF BHISHMA 313
It was at this very time, when all things were
against them, that the real greatness ot these
princes had been proved. For they had attended
the swayamvara of the daughter of Drupada, King
of Panchala, and, beggars as they seemed, had
carried off the Princess, in face of all the splendour
and wealth of India's sovereigns.
The bride, Draupadi, proved, as does always the perfect wife, to be the good star of the house into which she had thus entered. Amongst other things, it the bridal tournament itself, they had for the &rst time become aware of one whom to know and love was Hke winning the vision of the Holy Grail.
High up amongst the royal guests, beside His Uncle, the King of the Vrishnis, stood a form, dark almost as the midnight sky, and clad in yellow. It was the Lord Krishna — the Holy Knight. And He, looking down upon the five brothers, was not deceived by their humble garb, but knew at once who and what they were.
Above all, He saw in Arjuna that one soul destined to behold the wondrous vision of Himself as the Universal Form. Already there sounded in His ears the words of the hymn of adoration, that would be associated with his name through all ages.
"Hail to Thee I hail ! a thousand times, hail! and again and again, hail to Thee "Arjuna would sing, in the midst of illumination on tb« battlefield. "Victory to thee in the east, and
