Epic Tales with Samrudhi V kadam

Now that the Pandavas were alive, Duryodhana became fearful that they would reclaim their throne. Duryodhana, along with Shakuni and Karna, devised many plans against them.

He first thought of creating a rift among the Pandavas, but realised that it would not be possible because they were protected by their virtues and strong bond with one another.

Duryodhana then proposed bribing King Drupada to turn against the Pandavas, but Karna interrupted and said that King Drupada was not greedy for wealth and would never commit such an act. Duryodhana then began thinking of attacking the Pandavas.  

Karna, however, reminded him of the Pandavas’ alliance with Krishna, and said that as long as they had Krishna’s support and remained united, Duryodhana’s schemes were unlikely to succeed.  

Meanwhile, in the Kuru court, Bhishma said that he had never supported the idea of hostility towards the Pandavas and Gandhari also wished for peace. He strongly warned Dhritarashtra that conflict within the Kuru dynasty would destroy the family.

After the marriage, news spread across Aryavarta that the Pandavas were alive and had married the princess of Panchala, Draupadi, and their marriage astonished many kingdoms.

Soon, the news reached Hastinapura and and the Kuru court learned that the Pandavas were alive.

Vidura learnt that Draupadi had married the Pandavas and that the pride of the Kauravas had been humbled, and he was filled with joy. He exclaimed to Dhritarashtra that the Kurus were flourishing.

Dhritarashtra assumed that Duryodhana had won Draupadi, and he became pleased and ordered many jewels and ornaments to be brought for her.

But Vidura clarified that the Pandavas were alive, had married Draupadi and had formed a powerful alliance with King Drupada.

Dhritarashtra then said that the sons of  were dear to him as his own sons.

Duryodhana, his brothers, and Shakuni, were filled with envy because they believed that the Pandavas had perished in the Lakshagriha fire.

Duryodhana and Shakuni felt distressed because the Pandavas had now gained a powerful ally in Panchala, and they could challenge Duryodhana’s claim to the throne.

After Drupada accepted the marriage of Draupadi with the Pandavas, priests were called, Vedic hymns were chanted, and the sacred fires were prepared. The marriage was conducted according to traditions.

Draupadi was married to the five Pandavas sequentially according to proper rituals over consecutive days; she was first married to Yudhishthira, then Bhima, then Arjuna, then Nakula, and finally Sahadeva.

The priests blessed Draupadi, saying that she would regain her maiden purity each day.

Rules were then established to maintain harmony among the brothers. The rule was that Draupadi would stay with one Pandava for a year and during that time, no other brother should enter her private chamber.

If any brother entered the chamber of Draupadi when she was with another brother, then he would have to undergo exile for 12 years.

King Drupada gifted the Pandavas a hundred chariots adorned with gold, and each chariot was drawn by four horses.

Having completed the wedding, the Pandavas dwelt happily in the city of the King of Panchala.

The Mahabharata, originally written by Sage Veda Vyasa, briefly mentions Draupadi’s previous birth and Shiva’s boon. But a few folklores have expanded this as the story of Nalayani.

In Draupadi’s previous birth, she was Nalayani, a woman who desired a husband who possessed noble qualities. She believed that no ordinary man possessed these noble qualities, so she decided to perform severe penance.

Nalayani performed severe penance and prayed to Lord Shiva for many years and one day, pleased by her devotion and dedication, Lord Shiva appeared before her and offered her a boon.

Nalayani wished for a husband who was righteous, physically strong, skilled in archery, handsome, and patient. Lord Shiva smiled, and said that no ordinary man could possess all these qualities together, and declared that in her next birth, Nalayani would be wedded to five men who possessed the great qualities she desired.

Because of the boon she received from Lord Shiva, she was born as Draupadi and destiny eventually led her to become the wife of the five Pandavas.

When Yudhishthira revealed that Draupadi would become the wife of all five Pandavas, Drupada and Dhrishtadyumna were shocked.

Drupada questioned how one woman could be married to five men and how such a marriage could be proper according to dharma. Dhrishtadyumna also questioned this proposal because it was against tradition.

Just as everyone was in a deep dilemma, one of the great sages, Veda Vyasa, arrived at the palace. Everyone honoured him and then put forth the situation of Draupadi.

Vyasa then explained that this marriage was destined and the birth of Draupadi was for a divine purpose. He later mentions that in Draupadi’s previous birth, she had performed severe penance to Lord Shiva for a husband possessing many great qualities and this led to her destiny of five husbands.

Vyasa explains that the Pandavas also possessed divine qualities and this marriage was not against dharma.

Hearing Vyasa’s words, Drupada finally accepted the marriage as Draupadi’s destiny.

After being invited by King Drupada, the Pandavas arrived at King Drupada’s palace along with their mother, Kunti, and Draupadi.. They were treated with great honour.

King Drupada observed the disguised Brahmanas, their appearance, confidence, discipline, and warrior-like qualities. Slowly, he became more and more convinced that they were the Pandavas, the princes of Hastinapur.

King Drupada asked them who they truly were and whether they were Brahmanas or Kshatriyas. Yudhishthira answered truthfully that they were the sons of Pandu and had survived the Lakshagriha fire.

Hearing the revelation, Drupada was overjoyed and the entire Kingdom of Panchala rejoiced since the Pandavas who were believed to be dead after the Lakshagriha fire were alive.

King Drupada began preparing for the marriage of his daughter, Draupadi, to Arjuna and that’s when Yudhishthira revealed that Draupadi would become the wife of all five Pandavas.

The words spoken by Kunti left everyone in deep confusion. After a long silence, Yudhishthira stepped forward and said that a mother’s words should never become false, and dharma stood above everything else.

Meanwhile, King Drupada was curious about the identities of the Brahmanas because the strength they displayed in the swayamvara made him suspicious that they could not be ordinary Brahmanas. So, he sent his son, Dhrishtadyumna, secretly to follow them.

Dhrishtadyumna followed the disguised Pandavas and Draupadi to the potter’s hut and observed them. He heard them speak about warfare, weapons and military matters. Because of this, Dhrishtadyumna became convinced that these Brahmanas were actually the Pandavas.

Dhrishtadyumna returned to Drupada and informed him of everything he had heard and seen. King Drupada was overjoyed because he had long desired for his daughter to marry Arjuna and he immediately sent his messengers to respectfully invite the Pandavas to the palace.

After seeing the unmatched strength and skills of the Brahmanas, the kings grew suspicious and slowly withdrew from the battle.

The battle eventually came to an end, and the disguised Pandavas were ready to leave the swayamvara hall.

The Pandavas, along with Draupadi, returned to the potter’s house where they had been staying in disguise with their mother, Kunti, in Kampilya.

Soon, they arrived at the potter’s house and happily called out to their mother, telling her to see what alms they had brought home.

Kunti assumed it was their usual daily alms and, not knowing that the alms they mentioned was a princess, she answered casually out of habit, “Share equally among yourselves whatever you have brought.”

When Kunti came outside and saw Draupadi standing before her, she realised what she had said unknowingly had placed her in deep trouble because her words could not easily be ignored. The Pandavas and Draupadi stood frozen and silent, uncertain about what should be done next.

As Draupadi put the garland around Arjuna’s neck, the kings and princes became furious as they felt insulted because a Brahmana had won Draupadi.

They argued that Draupadi must not be wedded to a Brahmana and that the swayamvara had dishonoured them. The angry kings prepared to attack. Bhima stepped forward and uprooted a huge tree.

Soon, a fight broke out in the swayamvara hall. Arjuna and Bhima fiercely fought many warriors.

While everyone gathered in the assembly fought, Krishna remained calm and observed silently, knowing the truth about the Pandavas.

Karna fought the disguised Arjuna briefly and during the battle, he became suspicious as the Brahmana had extraordinary skills in archery. He wondered if this could truly be an ordinary Brahmana.

The extraordinary skills of the Brahmanas made many in the assembly suspicious and became the first hint that the Pandavas were still alive.

The entire assembly looked at Arjuna stunned, as the greatest warriors of Aryavarta had struggled to lift the divine bow, yet a Brahmana lifted it with ease and began to string the bow.

Arjuna, calm and composed, slowly picked up the arrow and placed it on the bowstring. His gaze was fixed upon the reflection of the fish.

Looking at the reflection, Arjuna released the arrow. The arrow shot through the air piercing the eye of the moving fish with perfect precision.

The entire hall stood frozen in shock. The Brahmanas rejoiced, while the kings and princes stared in disbelief. The impossible challenge had finally been completed.

Krishna smiled knowingly, that the Brahmana was one of the greatest archer, Arjuna. Drupada and Dhrishtadyumna’s face was filled with relief and amazement.

Slowly, Draupadi approached Arjuna carrying the garland and she placed the garland around his neck, accepting him as the winner of the Swayamvara.