Chapter 16 – Draupadi’s Swayamvara

The Pandavas reached Panchala and took shelter in a Brahmin’s house. The next day, they went to attend the Swayamvara of Draupadi, the princess of Panchala. There, they seated themselves with the Brahmins. There was a big crowd and a lot of valiant warriors, kings and princes from various kingdoms had come to try and win the hand of Draupadi. They saw Duryodhana, Sishupala, Krishna, Balarama and many other kings they know in the crowd.

Draupadi walked into the Swayamvara hall with her brother, Dhrishtadyumna in a little while. She looked as radiant as a bride. Dhrishtadyumna then got everyone’s attention away from Draupadi by announcing the start of the Swayamvara. He pointed to a revolving fish tied to a flag post above a water pond and said whoever targets and shoots five arrows to the eye of the fish by just looking at the reflection of the fish in the pond could win his sister’s hand. The Kings when they heard of the task were all initially hesitant to try the impossible task. Then slowly one by one started trying. But none could aim the target right. Then Karna stood up to try the task. Everyone knew that Karna could be the only one in the hall who can hit the target.  However, Draupadi stood up before Karna could try and refused to marry Karna who was from a low caste.

Then a Brahmin stood up in the crowd and asked if a Brahmin could try and Draupadi nodded. The Brahmin was none other than Arjuna. He went to the bow placed in the centre and aimed the 5 arrows and shot exactly in the fish’s eye by looking at the reflection. Everyone applauded the Brahmin for his feat and at the same time were equally shocked to see a Brahmin do the impossible. Draupadi garlanded Arjuna happily.

 Arjuna was then challenged by all the Kings in the hall and a fight broke out. Bhima and Arjuna easily fought all the Kings. Krishna identified the Brahmins as the Pandavas and helped them take Draupadi with them to Kunti.

When the Pandavas reached home, Yudhishtra called out to his mother and said, “Mother, Look at what we have brought today”. Kunti, thinking that they were talking about the alms, told them “Please share it among yourselves”. The Pandavas were shocked.  When Kunti turned, she saw the bride and was told that she was Arjuna’s wife. Kunti was very unhappy at what she had said. The Pandavas always obeyed every word of their mother and hence Draupadi would have to become the wife of all five brothers.

Krishna arrived at their hut by then. He told Kunti and Draupadi that in her previous life, Draupadi had worshipped Shiva to get a husband with five qualities – honesty, strength, fierce warrior, handsome and intelligence.. But Shiva had given her a boon that in her next life she would marry five men each having one quality.” On hearing this Kunti felt satisfied and Draupadi accepted to become the wife of all five Pandavas.

Dhrishtadyumna had followed the Brahmins to find their true identity. He was happy that the Brahmins were the Pandavas of Hastinapur and informed his father. Drupada was overjoyed since he had always wanted Draupadi to be married to Arjuna and now , she had been married to all the Pandavas. He immediately made preparations for the royal marriage ceremony and welcomed the Pandavas and Draupadi. The Pandavas dressed themselves as Princes and revealed their true identity to the world. The marriage took place with a great splendor.

Thus Draupadi got married to the Pandavas.

The Upcoming chapters now will get very interesting as the Great War will slowly begin.

Previous Chapter 15 – Ekachakra

Next Chapter 17 – Indraprastha : The New Pandava Land