Draupadi Swayamvara ~ Mahabharata
Draupadi Swayamvara -After escaping alive from Lakshagriha, the Pandavas, along with their mother Kunti, went to Ekachakra town from there and started living in a Brahmin’s house under the guise of Muni. It is here that Bhima killed a demon named Buck.
When the Pandavas had spent some time living in the city of Ekchakra, one day a Brahmin came to visit them. The Pandavas treated him appropriately and asked- “Dev! Where are you coming from?”
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The Brahmin replied – “I am coming from Panchal, the city of Maharaja Drupada. There have been King-Maharaja of many countries for Draupadi’s daughter, Draupadi’s daughter.” After the departure of that Brahmin, Ved Vyas arrived to meet the Pandavas. Ved Vyas ordered the Pandavas that you people go to Panchal. There Drupada is going to be the swayamvara of the girl Panchali. That girl is absolutely worthy of you, because the previous birth. I did penance of Lord Shankar and pleased with his penance, Shiva gave him the boon of having five good husbands in the next life. That devaswaroopa girl is worthy of you all the way. You go there and get her . ” After saying this, Ved Vyas left from there.
On the way to Panchal, the Pandavas met a Brahmin named Dhaumya and disguised as a Brahmin with him and reached the Swayamvara of Draupadi. In the Swayamvara Sabha, kings and emperors of many countries were present. On one hand, Shri Krishna was seated with his elder brother Balarama and distinguished Yaduvanshis. There he went and sat in the row of Brahmins.
Shortly after, Princess Draupadi arrived at the meeting with her brother Dhritadhyumna with a garland in her hand. Addressing the gathering, Dhrishtadyum said – “O kings and emperors and other dignitaries who have come from different countries! In this pavilion, pay attention to the rotating machine made above the pillar. A fish is hanging in that machine and the machine Moving along. You have to aim the eye of the fish by moving the arrow while looking at the image of the fish in the oilplate placed under the column. My sister Draupadi will be married to a successful piercing of the fish eye. ”
One after the other, all the kings and princes tried to target the fish, but success did not materialize and they returned to their places without any trouble.
These unsuccessful people included Jarasandha, Shalya, Shishupala and Duryodhana, Kauravas etc. When the Kauravas failed, Karna, the best friend of Duryodhana, raised the bow to target the fish, but Draupadi said looking at them – “This is a thread, so I cannot recite it.”
Hearing Draupadi’s words, Karna was ashamed and put a bow arrow. After that Arjuna rose from the line of Brahmins and lifted the bow to aim. Seeing a Brahmin eager for the princess’s swayamvara, the people present there were very surprised, but due to the Brahmins being superior to the Kshatriyas, no one could stop them.
Seeing the image of the fish in the oil tank, Arjuna pierced the eye of the fish with a single arrow. Draupadi went ahead and put varmala on Arjun’s neck. Seeing Draupadi putting a garland on the neck of a Brahmin, all the Kshatriya kings-Maharajas and princes got angry and attacked Arjuna. The remaining Pandavas also came to Arjuna’s help and a fierce battle ensued between the Pandavas and the Kshatriya kings. Sri Krishna had already recognized Arjuna, so he intervened to calm the war. Duryodhana also guessed that the target Arjun must have been the one and the remaining Pandavas supporting him. He was very surprised when Pandavas escaped from Lakshagraha of Varanavat.