Reading Notes: PDE Mahabharata, Part B

Part B

Draupadi and the Pandavas

Web Source: Wikipedia

• The Pandavas or five acknowledged sons of Pandu, told their mother Kunti that they have a great gift for her
• Kunti is selfless and tells the Pandavas to share the gift between them
• The Pandavas informed their mother that the gift was a Princess named Draupadi who Arjuna won over at the swayamvara
• An ancient Indian practice where the women are presented with numerous suitors and are able to choose a husband
• Kunti however, is not phased and reiterates what she says about sharing the gift between them
• Basically, she tells them to figure out a way to share this woman without wronging each other 
• Yudhishthira thought deeply about this and finally told Arjuna that since he won the Princess fairly, it is his right to take her as his bride
• Arjuna however, declines this and tells Yudhishthira that since he is the eldest, the Princess is for him to wed
• However, each of the five Pandavas wanted to wed the Princess, but kept this secret
• The Princess' father sent her brother, Dhrishtadyumna to follow after her and look after her
• When her brother arrived, he discovered that the Pandavas were only posing as brahmins
• Dhrishtadyumna returned to his royal sire and informed him of this new knowledge
• The king was pleased with this knowledge because the Pandavas were not brahmni, but instead were kshatriyas
• The king sent an invitation to the brethren to come to the palace for a feast and they delightfully accepted this invitation
• The brethren were welcomed and King Drupada demanded that the brethren reveal themselves
• Yudhishthira informed the King that his brother, Arjuna, had won the Princess
• He also compared the Princess to a lotus flower and claimed that she had been transferred from one lake to another
• The King was pleased and the brethren were entertained for more days
• The King also spoke to the eldest brother and informed him that he is the eldest, so if it is his desire, he can have the Princess to wed
• Eventually, after much debate, the eldest brother and King came to a conclusion where the Princess could become the bride of all five Pandavas and bestowed many gifts upon the brethren 

Bibliography:

Wife of the Five Pandavas

Author: Donald Mackenzie

Web Source: Mahabharata Online