The pure-hearted priest of the Somakas, well-versed in sacred mantras, began the ceremony by spreading the holy grass and offering clarified butter into the fire, performing each step precisely as the ancient rites prescribed. Once the fire had been satisfied and blessings had been spoken for the Brahmins, the priest called for silence, ordering that all musical instruments be stilled throughout the arena. In that profound silence, Dhrishtadyumna, his voice resounding like thunderclouds, took his sister Krishna by the hand. He led her into the very center of the great assembly, and there, with a voice as deep and resonant as a storm, he addressed the gathered kings in clear and meaningful words. “Here stands the target, and here are the arrows,” he proclaimed for all to hear. “Let the assembled kings listen well: string your swift and piercing arrows, and send them through the aperture of the mechanism. Whoever, among those noble in lineage, beauty, and strength, accomplishes this great feat today—he shall win Krishna, my sister, as his wife. I do not speak falsely.” Having declared this, Drupada’s son turned to his sister and, in a voice that rang through the assembly, named and proclaimed to her the illustrious kings who had gathered, recounting their names, lineages, and heroic deeds. He spoke of Duryodhana, Durvishaha, Durmukha, Dushpradharshana, Vivimshati, Vikarna, Saha, and Duhshasana; Yuyutsu, Vayu-vega, Bhima-vega-rava, Ugrayudha, Balaki, Karakayu, and Virochana; Kundaka, Citrasena, Suvarcha, Kanakadhvaja, Nandaka, Bahushali, Tuhuṇḍa, and Vikaṭa. He named many other mighty sons of Dhritarashtra, all valiant heroes, who had come together with Karna for Krishna’s sake. He spoke of countless great-souled kings, foremost among warriors—Shakuni, son of Subala, Vrishaka, Brihadbala, and the sons of the king of Gandhara; Ashvatthama and Bhoja, renowned bearers of arms. There were Brihanta and Maniman, the king Dandadhara, Sahadeva, Jayasena, Meghasandhi the king, Virata with his sons Shankha and Uttara, Vardhakshemi, Susharma, Senabindu the king, Suketu with his son Sunama, and Suvarchas. He named Suchitra, Sukumara, Vrka, Satyadhriti, Suryadhvaja, Rocamana, Nila, and Chitrayudha; Amshuman, Chekitana, mighty Shreniman, Chandrasena son of Samudrasena, famed for valor, Jalasandha with his father and son, Vidaṇḍa and Danda, Paundraka Vasudeva, and the powerful Bhagadatta. There was the king of Kalinga, Tamralipta, the lord of Pattana, and Shalya, king of Madra, a great chariot-warrior, with his son. He named the heroic Rukmangada, Rukmaratha, Kauravya Somadatta and his son, three valiant men—Bhuri, Bhurishravas, and Shala—Sudakshina the Kamboja, Dṛḍhadhanvan the Paurava, Brihadbala, Sushena, Shibi, Ushinara, Pataccarani-hanta, and the lord of the Karusha. He spoke of Sankarshana, Vasudeva, the mighty son of Rukmini, Samba, Charudeshna, Pradyumna, Satyaki with his mace, Akrura, Satyaki, wise Uddhava, Kritavarma the Hardikya, Prithu, and Viprithu. There were Viduratha, Kanka, Shanku, Sagaveshana, Ashavaha, Aniruddha, Samika, Sarimejaya, Vatapati, Jhilli, Pindaraka, and the valiant Ushinara—the noble Vṛṣṇis. He named Bhagiratha, Brihatkshatra, Sindhu king Jayadratha, Brihadratha, Bahlika, Shrautayu the great warrior, Uluka, Kaitava the king, Chitrangada, Shubhangada, Vatsaraja the wise, and the lord of Kosala. The valiant Shishupala, Jarasandha, and many other rulers of various lands had come, renowned Kshatriyas from across the earth, each hoping to win Krishna’s hand by breaking the target. As the challenge was announced, the kings, adorned and radiant, wearing earrings, rose from their seats. Young and proud, each was confident in his own skill and strength, eager for the contest. They shone in their beauty, valor, noble descent, character, wealth, and youth, their pride blazing, intoxicated like mighty Himalayan elephants in rut. Watching one another in fierce rivalry, their hearts inflamed by resolve, the kings declared, “Krishna is mine!” and descended into the arena, each determined to win Drupada’s daughter. Even friends became rivals, their hearts captivated by Krishna, their bodies burning with the arrows of love. Then, as the excitement mounted, the hosts of gods arrived in their celestial chariots: the Rudras, Adityas, Vasus, Ashvins, Sadhyas, and all the Maruts, with Yama and the lord of wealth at their head. The Daityas, Suparnas, great serpents, divine sages, Guhyakas, Charanas, Vishvavasu, Narada, Parvata, and the chief Gandharvas with the Apsaras also gathered to witness the event. There stood Halāyudha and Janārdana, along with the Vṛṣṇis and Andhakas, each in their proper place, watching intently—the foremost of the Yadus, composed and dignified, following Krishna’s counsel. Amidst all this, Krishna, chief among the Yadu heroes, beheld five men, resembling mighty lordly elephants, their forms radiant like five great tuskers among lotuses, their bodies smeared with ashes like sacrificial fires. Upon seeing them, Krishna pondered deeply, reflecting on the momentous events unfolding before him.