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MBK: 1.10: Draupadi's Svayamvara
Chapter 10 Draupadi's Svayamvara
After a few days journey the forest paths brought the Pandavas and Dhaumya onto the
road leading to Panchala. As they made their way along that broad stone highway, they met
a group of Brahmins. The Brahmins asked, "Who are you and where are you going?" Yudhisthira
replied that they were five brahmacaris, celibate students, who had come from Ekacakra along
with their teacher. The Brahmins then exhorted the brothers to attend Draupadi's svayamvara.
"Accompany us. We are going straight there. The magnanimous King Drupada will be distributing
vast wealth to the Brahmins on his divine daughter's behalf."
Again the Pandavas heard of the extraordinary birth and beauty of Draupadi, as well as details
of her impending svayamvara. All of Kampilya would be celebrating. There would be actors,
singers, dancers and expert reciters of the ancient Vedic histories. Powerful wrestlers
would compete, and athletes would give wonderful displays. Food and drink of the best quality
would be served in abundance. And at the end of the celebration Draupadi would then select
a husband from among the kings and princes, who had been assembling from all parts of
the world. The Brahmins told the Pandavas that they had heard that Drupada had set a
most difficult task for the man who would win his daughter's hand. The kings who were
coming to compete would also be distributing much charity to the Brahmins in hopes of invoking
auspiciousness for themselves and obtaining victory at the svayamvara.
The Brahmins laughed as they spoke. They pointed to the simple cloth the Pandavas were wearing.
"It seems you boys could use some new cloth. Follow us. Having received all that you require,
you may return with us or go wherever you will." Inviting the five brothers to travel
with them, the Brahmins continued, "Who knows? The princess may even select one of you boys,
all as handsome as the celestials." They pointed to Bhima. "This godlike youth has a body like
a thunderbolt. Surely he will win much wealth if he enters the wrestling competitions."
Yudhisthira smiled. "We shall all accompany you to Kampilya. Pray lead the way!"
The party proceeded. They traveled by day and at night stopped in roadside woods or
on lakeshores. With their gentle speech and amiable behavior the Pandavas endeared themselves
to whomever they met, but no one recognized them. As they reached the outskirts of the
city they came to a small village. Walking from house to house to find accommodations,
they were soon admitted by a potter and his family. The brothers settled there and lived
by begging, just as they had done in Ekacakra. They learned from the villagers that the svayamvara
was to take place in a few days. The king had set a stiff test for winning Draupadi.
A small target had been placed on top of a tall pole. Beneath it was a rotating plate
with one small hole in it. An arrow had to be shot through that hole at the moment it
was aligned with the target. The king had also determined that a particular bow should
be used, one which an ordinary man could barely lift. Only an extraordinary warrior would
be able to pass the test and win the divine Draupadi's hand.
Arjuna was enlivened. He prayed to Krsna that he might have the chance to try for the princess.
From Vyasadeva's words it seemed that she was destined to be the wife of one of them,
and by such a union the brothers would gain the friendship and alliance of the powerful
Drupada. That would probably prove useful in the future. Arjuna eagerly awaited the
svayamvara.
Drupada had made lavish preparations for the ceremony. A huge stadium had been constructed.
In its massive sandstone walls were one hundred gates, each one inlaid with gold and precious
gems. Each gate was wide enough to admit crowds passing through. Within the stadium were gently
sloping terraces made of coral and lapis lazuli. At the front of these terraces were hundreds
of jewel-encrusted thrones arranged for the many monarchs in attendance. All around the
stadium the king had built white mansions for their residence. The buildings were many-storied
and looked like the cloud-kissing peaks of Mount Kailasa. The windows of those mansions
were covered with gold lattices and the walls studded with diamonds and emeralds. Costly
rugs were spread on their marble floors.
When the day of the svayamvara arrived, the kings were invited into the stadium. They
came through the northern gate and took their seats on the golden thrones. As the monarchs
entered, thousands of trumpets blared and kettledrums resounded throughout the stadium.
Many rsis, all of them shining like the sun, entered through the eastern gate. The terraces,
adorned with countless wreaths and garlands, were filled with Panchala's citizens. As they
flooded into the stadium the colorfully dressed people made a sound like the roar of the ocean.
The scent of black aloe and frankincense wafted throughout the stadium as everyone settled
into their places.
The Pandavas entered with the Brahmins and took their place in their midst, unnoticed
by anyone. They looked around the arena. At the head of all the assembled kings sat Duryodhana
and his brothers, resembling a blazing planet surrounded by a hundred bright stars. Bhima
felt his anger rising but Yudhisthira checked him with a glance. They could not risk being
discovered末yet.
The ceremony had begun. Actors and dancers were entertaining the crowd. Brahmins were
performing fire sacrifices. Drupada was distributing charity. All of this continued for fifteen
days and, with each day, the attendance swelled. The Pandavas were astonished to see Drupada's
affluence. The Panchala king was distributing heaps of gold and gems to the Brahmins. Although
dressed as Brahmins, the Pandavas did not go forward to collect charity, but remained
in their places, awaiting the day when Draupadi would appear.
On the sixteenth day the princess, dressed in robes of shining yellow silk and adorned
with brilliant ornaments, entered the arena. In her hands she held a golden dish containing
the nuptial garland, which she would place around the neck of the man who successfully
passed the test her father had set. Gentle music from the flute, tabor and vina played
as Draupadi walked toward her seat next to her father. Seeing her beauty, the kings and
princes suddenly stood up and brandished their weapons. They boasted to one another in loud
voices: "I shall win this princess!" "None can equal my strength and prowess!" "Draupadi
will be mine!"
That host of princes seemed like an agitated ocean as they rose and boasted of their power.
Afflicted by the god of love and staring at one another in jealousy, they slapped their
arms and held aloft their bows and swords, looking like so many Himalayan elephants maddened
by desire while in rut.
The celestial chariots of the gods末led by the guardians of the four quarters of the
universe, Yamaraja, Indra, Kuvera and Vayu末settled above the arena. Siddhas, Caranas, Nagas,
Rudras, Daityas, Danavas and Guhakas assembled in the canopy of the sky, curious to witness
Drupada's sacrifice and the selection of Draupadi's husband. The great rsis, headed by Narada,
Angira and Parvatya, stood in the sky among the gods, appearing like suns.
When the five Pandava brothers saw Draupadi's dark and lovely face, they felt their hearts
pierced as if by darts. They stood up from their seats and gazed at her exquisite form
as she moved gracefully to her father's side. On the opposite side of the arena were the
Yadavas from Mathura. Sitting in their midst, Krsna noticed the Pandavas stand. He looked
closely at the five brothers and, turning to Balarama, said, "In My opinion, those five
men over there are the Pandavas." Krsna indicated the brothers with a slight nod of His head.
"I heard a rumor that My cousins survived the fire in Varanavata. This now seems true.
What is Your opinion, Rama?"
Balarama carefully observed each of the five brothers. There was no doubt. They were Kunti's
sons. He turned and smiled at Krsna, who returned His smile, but They remained silent about
Their discovery.
By now, all the princes were gazing only at Draupadi and her father. None of them noticed
the Pandavas in their midst. Drupada waved to them and, biting their lips in anger and
envy toward one another, they sat down. As celestial flowers fell from the sky, the sound
of countless conches and kettledrums filled the stadium. Draupadi's brother Drstadyumna
stood up like a golden flagstaff raised in honor of Indra. The stadium fell silent as
he announced the names of all the kings and princes present. He first named the princes
from Hastinapura, then those from Mathura, then all those attending from hundreds of
other countries and provinces.
Drstadyumna held his sister's arm and said in a voice that rumbled like thunder, "This
princess will be won today by he who can hit the mark." The prince pointed to the huge
bow lying on a golden table. "There is the bow and the arrows you must use. Truly do
I say that whoever shoots an arrow through the device and into the target will win Draupadi's
hand. Only one of noble birth and great prowess will be capable of this feat."
Drstadyumna sat down near his father. Drupada instructed his priest to kindle the sacrificial
fire for the svayamvara ceremony. The sounds of thousands of Brahmins reciting Vedic prayers
filled the arena. The king looked around at the assembled princes. He was not impressed.
None of these proud monarchs looked like a suitable match for his daughter. The king
thought of Arjuna. If only that prince were still alive. He had heard a rumor that the
Pandavas had escaped the fire, but where were they now? This test could only be passed by
someone of Arjuna's ability. Drupada had deliberately devised a test that only Arjuna could pass
in hopes that the Pandava might appear. Yaja had promised him he would obtain a daughter
from his sacrifice who would become Arjuna's wife. How could the rsi's words prove false?
Drupada looked on anxiously as each king and prince was called to try the test.
With their crowns and golden earrings glinting in the warm sunshine, the kings and princes
strode up one by one to the bow. It was only with considerable effort that they were able
to even lift the massive weapon from the table. Having somehow managed that, and finally getting
it upright, they then had to bend and string it. These kings could not manage the task
even in their imaginations. The bow would bend slightly, then spring back with great
force. The princes were thrown to the ground, their bodies bruised and their crowns and
garlands scattered. As they each took their turn and were, in turn, humiliated, they returned
to their fine golden thrones, straightening their shining ornaments as they walked. Panting
for breath, their romantic ardor dispelled, the princes sat silently shaking their heads.
Karna's turn came. Seeing him march toward the bow like a golden mountain entering the
arena, the Pandavas considered that the target had been struck and the princess won. As he
approached the bow, however, Draupadi stood up and said in a loud voice, "I shall not
accept a charioteer's son as my husband."
Knowing that Karna was the son of Adhiratha, leader of the sutas who generally acted as
chariot drivers, Draupadi exercised her prerogative and denied him the opportunity to attempt
the test.
Karna blushed deeply and laughed in vexation. Glancing at the sun, he turned and strode
back to his seat. He ground his teeth and wrung his hands in anger, but said nothing.
The powerful king of the Cedis, Sisupala, was next. With great effort he bent the bow
into a semi-circle, then lost his grip as he tried to string it. He was thrown onto
his back and lay there exhausted for several moments before returning to his seat, defeated.
Then Jarasandha, lord of the Magadha country and scourge even of the gods, took his turn.
He bent the bow and held it in one hand while trying to string it with the other. Again
the bow resisted and he was thrown to his knees.
Sneering at the other monarchs' weakness, Duryodhana strode up. A silence fell upon
the assembly as the king of Hastinapura bowed to Drupada. The king nodded slightly and Duryodhana
lifted the bow. He strung it deftly and placed on its string one of the golden-shafted arrows.
Taking careful aim he loosed the arrow. It sped upwards and passed cleanly through the
rotating hole but missed the target by a hair's breadth. The prince angrily threw down the
bow and returned to his seat.
Knowing that it was Draupadi's destiny to marry Arjuna, none of the Yadava kings, including
Krsna and Rama, attempted the test. They simply watched and laughed as the bow hurled each
of the princes to the ground. They breathed a sigh of relief when Duryodhana's arrow whistled
past the target. That wicked man did not deserve a prize like Draupadi. But where was Arjuna?
Only Krsna and Balarama felt no apprehension. They looked across at the Brahmins' compound.
Now all the kings had tried and failed. Draupadi was still holding the bright red garland on
its golden dish. Drstadyumna called for any last contestants. Arjuna looked at Dhaumya
who smiled and nodded. The prince stood up and walked into the center of the arena. The
assembled Brahmins roared in joy and waved their deerskins. Maybe a simple Brahmin would
succeed where even the proud, mighty kings of the earth could not. And if any Brahmin
could succeed, it would be this one. Arjuna looked like a dark cloud as he advanced toward
the bow. He moved like a lion.
Not all the Brahmins agreed. Some of the elder Brahmins were doubtful. Fearing that Arjuna
would humiliate the Brahmin class by this rash act, they spoke out loudly. "How can
one untrained in arms and lacking strength succeed where even the lords of this world
have failed? Stop that youth! It is merely out of childish impetuosity or vanity that
he is attempting this impossible task. We shall all be made to look ridiculous."
Other Brahmins demurred. "Just look more closely at this boy. His arms and thighs resemble
the trunks of mighty elephants. His shoulders are broad and he appears as powerful as a
maddened lion. He may well succeed. Surely he would not have gone forward if he lacked
energy and power."
Some of them described the power of Brahmins. Whether possessed of physical strength or
not, Brahmins were always powerful by virtue of their spiritual strength. No Brahmin should
ever be disregarded. Once all the earth's warriors had been annihilated by Parasurama,
who was a Brahmin. The great Rsi Agastya had drunk the entire ocean. There was nothing
a Brahmin could not achieve. This youth should not be checked. "Yes! Let him go forward.
He will easily string the bow and strike down the target."
The elders replied, "So be it," and again took their seats.
Arjuna reached the center of the arena and, after bowing to the king, spoke in a voice
that echoed around the stadium. "Is it permissible for a Brahmin to attempt this test?"
Drupada looked curiously at the Brahmin, then gave his assent. "It is never disgraceful
for rulers to be subordinated by the power of Brahmins," the king replied. "Indeed, they
are protected by that power even as Visnu protects the gods."
Arjuna turned to the bow and, folding his palms, bowed low before it. Within his mind
he prayed to Krsna. Having walked respectfully around the bow three times, he took it up
in his right hand. In moments he had strung it and placed a golden arrow on the string.
A complete hush fell over the stadium as Arjuna stood absolutely still with the bow drawn
to a full circle. He knelt and aimed upwards at the target. Suddenly he released the arrow
and it shot up with blinding speed. Passing cleanly through the hole it struck the target
in its center. As the target clattered to the ground with the arrow sticking from it,
the stadium erupted. The people rose to their feat and cheered, while musicians played innumerable
instruments. Drums, trumpets and conches resounded and bards immediately composed poems glorifying
Arjuna's achievement. The gods praised Arjuna and sent down showers of celestial flowers.
The Brahmins rose in a body, waving their garments and water pots and leaping about
in joy. But the kings and princes were seized with shame and they uttered exclamations of
grief and despair. Drupada, his eyes expanded in happiness, gazed in wonder as the mysterious
Brahmin walked toward the royal dais. Who was he? Could it actually be Arjuna? The king
noticed the other monarchs becoming agitated. There was clearly going to be a fight. Drupada
turned to his chief minister and commanded that his army stand ready. He then told Draupadi
to accept the Brahmin as her husband.
The princess looked at Arjuna as he approached the dais. She was immediately attracted by
this god-like youth with the gentle demeanor. Maybe he was Arjuna, as Yaja had promised.
Even if he were not, there was certainly no shame in marrying him. He was a Brahmin and
Brahmins were always considered superior to the ruling class, or ksatriyas. And, although
he appeared to be a Brahmin, he was especially powerful and obviously self-controlled. This
union was surely sanctified by the presence of Krsna, the all-powerful Lord of the creation.
Draupadi approached Kunti's son and joyfully placed the garland around his neck.
Seeing Draupadi actually accept the Brahmin further infuriated the kings. Yudhisthira
decided it was time to leave. He rose up with his brothers and walked toward the stadium
gates. Arjuna followed behind with Draupadi. The Brahmins cheered and praised him as he
walked past.
From amid the enraged kings, Duryodhana called out, "How does this Drupada dare offend us
in this way? He has passed over all the lords of the earth to bestow his daughter upon a
poor and unqualified Brahmin. Brahmins should never be allowed to compete in a svayamvara,
which is meant only for the royal order. It seems Drupada invited us here only to insult
us."
The kings roared in agreement. Some of them waved their weapons. Sisupala then said, "The
Panchala king is so proud that he thinks none of us his equal. He deserves to be punished
at once. Let us act so that other svayamvaras do not end in a similar way."
The kings stood up with their weapons at the ready. They glared at Drupada and moved in
a body toward him. Seeing the overwhelming odds, Drupada backed away in fear.
Yudhisthira was observing the scene from the gate. Realizing that Drupada, now his father-in-law,
was in danger, he ordered Bhima and Arjuna to assist him. The brothers quickly ran up
to the dais and placed themselves between Drupada and the other kings. Arjuna still
held the sacrificial bow. Bhima tore up a tree from the side of the arena and brandished
it menacingly. The two princes looked like Indra and Yamaraja standing against the massed
force of Daityas and Danavas. The hundreds of kings stood back warily as they looked
at the two heroes facing them.
Krsna remained unmoved. Watching the two Pandavas preparing to fight, He turned to Balarama
and said quietly, "Any doubts there may have been about the identity of these princes should
now be gone. None but Bhima could have torn up that sal tree and who but Arjuna could
have struck down the target? O Sankarsana, these are surely the Pandavas."
Balarama looked at Bhima and Arjuna as they prepared to ward off the maddened kings. "This
is certainly true," He smiled. "It is fortunate indeed that Our aunt and her young sons have
escaped from the fire in Varanavata."
Many Brahmins ran forward to support the two Pandavas. They waved their water pots and
deerskins, crying out, "Fear not! We shall fight these arrogant monarchs."
Arjuna smiled and gently restrained them. "Stand aside and watch," he said. "With my
sharp arrows I shall stop them just as so many snakes are checked by the power of mantras."
Karna advanced to the head of the kings. He shouted, "Although the royal order should
not attack Brahmins, it is permissible if those Brahmins stand ready for battle."
Karna stopped at a distance from Arjuna and shot arrows at him. Arjuna, who was supplied
with a large number of shafts by Drupada's soldiers, immediately countered all of Karna's
arrows with his own. King Salya of Madras fought with Bhima and they appeared like two
huge elephants colliding together. Duryodhana and the other kings contended lightly with
the other Brahmins who still challenged them. They easily held off the ascetic sages, but
did not injure them.
Arjuna sent a number of swift arrows at Karna. They pierced his limbs and stunned him with
their force. Karna looked upon his opponent with surprise. He had not expected such dexterity
and martial power. Guarding himself more carefully, he replied with hundreds of straight-flying
shafts, but Arjuna again knocked down all his arrows before they reached him. Seeing
his expertise, the other kings cheered him on. This infuriated Karna. He released thousands
of arrows. They filled the air like a flock of golden birds. Still Arjuna countered them,
invoking celestial weapons and creating a mass of arrows that sped toward Karna.
The two combatants fought with astonishing skill. As they battled they called out to
one another in the language of heroes: "Behold the strength of my arms!" "Guard yourself,
if you can." "See how I counter your moves!" "Stand ready, for I shall release even more
deadly weapons!"
The other kings stood by and watched open-mouthed, praising both warriors as they displayed their
skills.
Karna soon realized he was not to gain the upper hand in the fight, so he stopped his
attack and addressed Arjuna in a loud voice. "O best of Brahmins, I am pleased with your
prowess. Are you the science of arms personified? Perhaps you are Parasurama or Indra, or maybe
even the infallible Lord Visnu. When I am angered there are none who can fight with
me but these personalities末or the son of Kunti, Arjuna."
Arjuna smiled. "I am neither Indra nor Parasurama. Nor am I any god or divine being. Know me
to be a simple Brahmin who has become proficient in arms by his guru's grace. Having mastered
both earthly and celestial weapons, I stand here ready to vanquish you in battle."
Karna lowered his weapons and became pensive. This was no ordinary Brahmin. It would be
better to desist from the fight. A Brahmin's spiritual power was always greater than a
ksatriya's martial power. The great king Visvamitra, even though well-versed in every divine weapon,
could not overpower Vasista Rsi, and the Brahmin Parasurama single-handedly defeated all the
kings of the earth. Karna bowed to the mysterious Brahmin and turned away from the battle.
Elsewhere, Bhima and Salya were still engaged in a fierce hand-to-hand combat. Locked together,
they stamped and rolled about the arena like a pair of maddened elephants fighting for
supremacy. Their roars and the sound of their blows filled the stadium. Sometimes pushing,
sometimes dragging and sometimes throwing the other down, they fought with unflagging
energy. They struck each other with the force of thunderbolts, laughing loudly as they fought.
Suddenly Bhima lifted Salya high above his head and whirled him around. He threw the
king to a distance and left him lying stunned. Remembering him to be the brother of Madri,
Bhima did not continue his attack upon Salya.
The kings were amazed to see both Karna and Salya matched by the two Brahmins. They looked
in awe upon Bhima and Arjuna, who stood together ready for further assaults. "Surely these
two are not Brahmins. Who could fight with Karna except Drona or Arjuna? Who could throw
down Salya other than the mighty Balarama or Bhima? None could face Duryodhana except
the unconquerable Krsna. Let us establish their lineage before we continue."
The other kings agreed. It was not wise to fight with Brahmins, even if they were offensive;
but if these two proved to belong to another class, then the fight could continue with
full force.
Seeing the kings hesitating, Krsna came forward and spoke to them. "O monarchs, the maiden
has been fairly and wonderfully won by the Brahmin. There is no need for further fighting.
Let us not blight this sacred occasion by unnecessary bloodshed, especially by assaulting
the Brahmins."
With gentle words and arguments Krsna succeeded in dissuading the kings from further aggression.
Gradually they put away their weapons and left the arena. As they went out they talked
together in amazement, wondering who the two mighty-armed Brahmins might be.