Swayamvara of Draupadi
Many kings came to Panchala for the grand Swayamvara of Draupathi / Draupadi. Duryodhana, Karna, Sisupala, Salya and Jarasandha participated. Lord Krishna and Lord Balarama also attended the Swayamvara. All of them were invited with due respect by King Drupada, the beloved father of Draupathi.
A lot of entertainment shows including music and dance were arranged throughout the city in a festive environment. Attractive flags and festoons were seen at all places. Though Drupada wished that Draupathi should marry only Arjuna, he never made his intention public. There was already a rumour that the Pandavas and Kunti were alive.
At the same time, he never forgot the humiliation suffered by him at the hands of Dronacharya. His main expectation was that Arjuna would somehow participate in the Swayamvara and emerge victorious. The Pandavas disguised as Brahmanas also entered the magnificently decorated assembly where the Swayamvara of the beautiful princess was to take place. They saw the galaxy of distinguished princes belonging to various kingdoms from all over Bharata Desa who wanted to marry Draupadi, charmed by her enchanting beauty.
The Pandavas saw a hefty bow located in the Swayamvara mandapa along with sharp arrows. A rotating object was seen at a much higher location which was set as the target to be hit. A lot of spectators from various walks of life including the citizens, learned Brahmanas and Rishis were there eagerly waiting to see the grand Swayamvara. The opulence of the Panchala kingdom was so visible throughout the place with pomp and glory.
Garlands of fragrant flowers, flags, festoons, rich carpets and sandalwood paste were seen all over the place. They beheld Dhrishtadyumna the valourous brother of Draupathi and the exquisitely decorated Princess Draupathi. The holy Brahmanas started the yajna rituals with their auspicious Vedic benedictions marking the propitious beginning of the Swayamvara.
Dhrishtadyumna – Son of Drupada
Dhrishtadyumna gently held the hand of Draupadi and led her gracefully to the central assembly hall. He cordially welcomed all the royal princes and kings as well as the guests who have assembled there. Thereafter the musical instruments stopped playing and there was absolute silence. Dhrishtadyumna began to address the assembled royal personalities as follows:-
“Please listen now, Oh, Kings and Princes! This is the Bow and these are the five sharp arrows. Shoot the target placed inside the revolving object through the orifice by using these arrows. Whomsoever accomplishes this remarkable feat will alone be eligible to marry Draupathi, my beautiful sister.”
Dhrishtadyumna introducing to Draupathi
Having declared so, Dhrishtadyumna started introducing to Draupathi the names and the accomplishments of each of the royals assembled in the Swayamvara mandapa. Thereafter he mentioned the names of those eminent monarchs present there and said to Draupathi that she would choose the one among them who could shoot the target set there. Lord Krishna spotted the Pandavas sitting in the galaxy of Brahmanas and hinted to Balarama confidentially. Balarama felt happy and was greatly relieved to see them.
In the fond hope of winning the hands of the most attractive Draupathi, each of the valorous, young and determined princes assembled there and tried their best to lift and string the bow. But they failed in their attempts, felt ashamed and returned to their seat with utmost disappointment. Each one envied the other when the other one went to try his luck to lift the bow.
Duryodhana, Karna, Asvathama, Kratha, Sunitha and a host of other reputed kings and princes tried in vain to string the bow.
Sisupala, the king of Chedis tried but he fell on his knees. The mighty Jarasandha too failed and fell flat on the ground. Thereafter Salya, the king of Madra came to string the bow but he also fell on his knees. When all the great royal princes and kings assembled they were unsuccessful, they felt ashamed and concluded that hitting the target after stringing the bow was an impossible feat. There was a huge uproar in the assembly.
Arjuna Hitting the target
Suddenly from the assemblage of the Brahmanas Arjuna in disguise stood up with all his might and lustrously moved towards the place where the Bow and arrows were kept. Seeing this the kings and princes were shocked and spellbound. Even among the Brahmanas, some wondered and shouted that when the greatest of the kings have failed to string the bow, how could this young Brahmana succeed?
They felt that in that case the Brahmanas would also get humiliated. However, another section of the Brahmanas who saw the awesome prowess of Arjuna which excelled that of a mighty elephant, wished him well and encouraged him to go ahead in proving his skills in archery.
Arjuna walked confidently, took the bow by his arm so firmly, strung the bow gently and used the five arrows to hit the revolving target by piercing through the hole at lightning speed, which fell on the ground. There was a loud uproar all around. The royal kings and princes were awestruck as they could not believe it. The celestials showered flowers on the disguised Arjuna.
Arjuna and Draupathi
The entire hall was filled with sweet melodious music and the beating of victory drums. The highly learned Brahmanas assembled hailed the victorious Arjuna. Lord Krishna moved swiftly towards Arjuna the brave son of Kunti and garlanded him. Draupadi very happily garlanded Arjuna and both of them looked so enchanting like Manmatha and Rathi. They started moving out of the Swayamvara Mandapa.
While the Brahmanas waved their upper garments with utmost happiness, the unsuccessful monarchs plunged into great grief and despair. They could not digest a Brahmana winning the hands of Draupathi.
When Drupada, the king conveyed his happiness and willingness to get his beloved daughter Draupathi married to the disguised Brahmana, the anger of the monarchs assembled there knew no bounds. They retorted that by doing so, Drupada had indeed insulted the royal kings and princes invited for the Swayamvara which was meant only for the Kshatriyas and not for the Brahmanas. The assembled monarchs took their swords, maces, bows and arrows and charged towards King Drupada to kill him.
The mighty Arjuna and Bhima disguised as innocent Brahmanas took their weapons and drove them away. Bhima in a fit of rage uprooted a large tree and smashed the kings and made them run for their lives. Both Bhima and Arjuna demonstrated their prowess beyond doubt and drove away all the fighting monarchs.
All the Brahmanas greeted and supported both of them. Yudhishthira, Nakula and Sahadeva cheered their mighty brothers. Karna fought fiercely against Arjuna while Salya (Brother of Madri) rushed towards Bhima. Duryodhana and others fought against the Brahmanas. Salya was thrown away by Bhima and Karna got scared at the prowess of Bhima.
Lord Krishna – Stopping the Fight
Amid the chaos, Lord Krishna addressed the gathering and stated eloquently that the Brahmana had won Draupathi in a fair and just manner and that the needless fight should be stopped forthwith. The monarchs based on the sane advice of Lord Krishna stopped the fight and started to return to their kingdoms. Now Draupadi, the amazing princess has become the bride of Arjuna disguised as a Brahmana.
In the meantime, Kunti residing in the house of the potter was deeply worried about the safety of the Pandavas as it was getting late. Arjuna, the real hero accompanied by numerous Brahmanas wearing deerskin walked towards the potter’s house flanked by the beautiful princess Draupathi. When Arjuna and Bhima told their beloved mother Kunti that they had brought the alms won by them, Kunti who was inside told them to share the alms among themselves.
When she came out and noticed that what they meant as alms was indeed the enchanting bride Draupathi, Kunti realized her mistake. In the meantime, Krishna and Balarama met Kunti and after conveying their respects to her left the place. Kunti approached Yudhishthira for a final decision about Draupathi’s marriage. As Draupathi was won only by the valour of Arjuna, Yudhishthira told him to marry her.
Arjuna said that it was not proper for him to marry before his elder brothers and requested Yudhishthira to suggest a righteous resolution. Yudhishthira realized that all the five Pandavas were equally attracted by the enchanting beauty of Draupathi. On further reflection and deep contemplation, he announced that Draupathi would be the common wife of all the five Pandavas. All of them including Draupathi agreed to this suggestion so that the words of Kunti would never become false.
Dhrishtadyumna Secretly following
Dhrishtadyumna, the beloved brother of Draupathi secretly followed them up to the Potter’s house and heard all the above conversations. He inferred that the five were not Brahmanas as their conversations were more about weapons and he came to the conclusion that they could be Kshatriyas. He immediately rushed to his father Drupada and apprised him about what had happened in the potter’s house. The Pandavas and Kunti were invited to the palace.
Later on, Yudhishthira confirmed to Drupada that they were indeed Pandavas in disguise. Drupada was very happy that the Brahmana who strung the bow and hit the revolving target was none other than Arjuna. However, on hearing the proposal that Draupathi was to get married to all five Pandavas, Drupada felt very bad and was reluctant to agree to this unusual practice.
Finally, he was convinced by the exalted sage Vyasa, who explained to him secretly the previous births of the Pandavas, their divinity and how Draupathi was pre-ordained to be the wife of five husbands.
Thereafter the king conducted the marriage of Draupathi to the five Pandavas in a grand manner by following the Vedic rituals in the presence of the learned Brahmanas and headed by Dhaumya the illustrious priest of the Pandavas. Draupathi was adorned with glittering precious ornaments and rich robes which made her look like an enchanting celestial princess.
King Drupada gave many gifts to the Pandavas in terms of gold studded horses and elephants carrying heaps of golden ornaments, precious gems, beautifully decorated female servants, costly robes and varied kinds of unimaginable wealth.
Excellent food was served to all the distinguished guests with amazing hospitality. Thus, the wedding of Draupathi with the Pandavas was marked by glittering royal opulence. Lord Krishna sent precious gifts in the form of gold, diamonds, gems, elephants, horses and servants as marriage gifts to the Pandavas.
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Draupadi or Draupathi are used in the article and both are the same characters
