Week 6 Story: Draupadi's Choice
Draupadi's Choice
Arjuna impressing Draupadi with his skill
Web Source: Wikimedia
Every princess has dreamed of finding her Prince Charming since she was a young girl. This dream was no different for Princess Draupadi, as she participated in a sacred Indian tradition called swayamvara where she would be able to choose her husband. Yes, you read that right. The princess was able to choose her prince.
It was the morning of the swayamvara and Princess Draupadi woke early in order to properly prepare herself for the event. Princess Draupadi dressed in her best clothes and was layered in the palace's most treasured jewels. She was ready to find her true love.
Finally, it was mid day and the event had begun. Numerous suitors from around the world showed up to showcase their skills, in hopes that Princess Draupadi would choose them.
The first contender for her heart was up and his talent was making music out of water filled glasses.
The princess was unimpressed and sent the suitor on his way.
The next suitor was just as dull and so were the next few following. The princess began to worry that she would never find someone to live up to her standards.
Suddenly she spotted Arjuna and called him to showcase his talent. Arjuna came prepared and whipped out his bow. The princess was impressed with his archery because she too was an archer. Although his skill was not comparable to hers, she was happy to see a man that shared interests with her.
After the swayamvara had ended, she sent word to Arjuna that he was her chosen suitor. However, before they wed, she wanted to set forth a few rules.
Rule #1: He could not tell her what to wear
Rule #2: She was allowed to continue working even after they have children
Rule #3: He could not speak to her in a rude tone
Princess Draupadi was happy when Arjuna agreed to these terms and Arjuna quickly returned home to inform his brothers of the good news.
All of his brothers, except one, were overjoyed with this news. The eldest felt that the princess should be his because he is the eldest. He then devised a plan to meet with her dad, the king and plead his case.
The king heard the eldest brother's pleas and agreed that the eldest should wed his daughter. The king then sent a messenger to spread the word and when the princess was informed of this decision, she was furious.
The princess immediately stomped her way into her father's chambers and demanded an explanation behind this decision. The king informed her that Arjuna's eldest brother conspired behind him and the princess called all the brothers to report to the palace so that she may take her husband in marriage.
When the brothers arrived, they were in for a surprise. The princess demanded their silence and informed them that she is the keeper of her body and NO MAN shall have any decision over it. The princess banished the eldest brother from the palace and took Arjuna to be her husband.
After their wedding, the princess made it law that no man shall control who a woman can marry and love.
Author's Note:The princess was unimpressed and sent the suitor on his way.
The next suitor was just as dull and so were the next few following. The princess began to worry that she would never find someone to live up to her standards.
Suddenly she spotted Arjuna and called him to showcase his talent. Arjuna came prepared and whipped out his bow. The princess was impressed with his archery because she too was an archer. Although his skill was not comparable to hers, she was happy to see a man that shared interests with her.
After the swayamvara had ended, she sent word to Arjuna that he was her chosen suitor. However, before they wed, she wanted to set forth a few rules.
Rule #1: He could not tell her what to wear
Rule #2: She was allowed to continue working even after they have children
Rule #3: He could not speak to her in a rude tone
Princess Draupadi was happy when Arjuna agreed to these terms and Arjuna quickly returned home to inform his brothers of the good news.
All of his brothers, except one, were overjoyed with this news. The eldest felt that the princess should be his because he is the eldest. He then devised a plan to meet with her dad, the king and plead his case.
The king heard the eldest brother's pleas and agreed that the eldest should wed his daughter. The king then sent a messenger to spread the word and when the princess was informed of this decision, she was furious.
The princess immediately stomped her way into her father's chambers and demanded an explanation behind this decision. The king informed her that Arjuna's eldest brother conspired behind him and the princess called all the brothers to report to the palace so that she may take her husband in marriage.
When the brothers arrived, they were in for a surprise. The princess demanded their silence and informed them that she is the keeper of her body and NO MAN shall have any decision over it. The princess banished the eldest brother from the palace and took Arjuna to be her husband.
After their wedding, the princess made it law that no man shall control who a woman can marry and love.
For
this story, I decided to put a spin on the original and give the princess all
of the power. In the original story, she is just standing idly by as the men
make all of the decisions for her. They debate between themselves who she will
marry when she already picked her husband during the swayamvara. It was
annoying that her original decision was never taken into account and the men of
this story debated what to do with her like she was a toy. In my version, I
wanted to empower the princess and give her a voice. I think in old, more
seasoned society, women are often told what to do and are expected to follow
orders without question. I hope that after reading my story, women can walk
with their head held a little higher. Women had no voice in the older days and
were expected to stay home, care for their kids, and allow for the men to do
all of the heavy lifting. When recreating this story, I wanted to make my version
a little less miserable for the women and more realistic. Although arranged
marriages do still happen, it is not the normal and should not be accepted so
easily.
Bibliography:
Wife of the Five Pandavas
Author: Donald Mackenzie
Web Source: Mahabharata Online
That is some powerful storytelling right there. "No man should have any decision over her body." I liked that statement. It made the story so powerful. Within various stories I have read, many outside of this class, it bothered me that women are viewed as possessions. I liked how you changed up the story and gave Draupadi the ability to do what she wants with her own body.
ReplyDeleteA great twist to a tale that needs your kind of revision and re-telling. I think my wife and daughters could probably add a few more to your list of rules, particularly because of how my boys can be. But, the young men are learning fast! In all seriousness, it is very sad that, even in today's world, it is still necessary for these simple, common courtesy's to feel like they need to be rules, but unfortunately in some places they do!
ReplyDeleteI love the message you conveyed in this story. Everyone has a right to their own body and the decisions they make with it. No one should ever be forced to do something that they do not want to do. Marriage should be a mutual agreement between both partners. I enjoyed that Princess Draupadi was not going to let anyone push her around. She was quite strong in a situation where it is not always easy to be strong. Well done!
ReplyDeleteHey Adriana!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this story a lot. Especially the progressive take and rules that Princess Draupadi implemented. It is such a good story and so fun to read. I like how strong the lead is. I look forward to seeing more from you! It was also a fun twist to the original story!
Hi again, Adriana! With that being said, I would like to begin by saying that I absolutely loved reading your story. Furthermore, I really like how you changed the fact that Draupadi could pick her own husband. In the original story, I think that a lot of people were upset that Draupadi had to marry five husbands, in which she had to participate in a swayamvara where the winner of the tradition would win her hand in marriage.
ReplyDelete