Archive for ‘4_Draupadi's wedding’
17 items.
Having reached Kampilya, the Panchala Capital, to attend Draupadi’s wedding, the Pandavas who are disguised as Brahmins, find temporary housing at the house of a potter.
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On the sixteenth day of the celebrations, Draupadi, bedecked with ornaments and holding a golden goblet, appeared to the audience. Dhrishtadyumna introduced his sister to the audience. The rules of the bridegroom-choice are as follows. To win the bride, one should lift up and harness the specially constructed hardwood bow and hit the [...]
An array of eligible esteemed warriors have assembled for the wedding.
Some of them are young and some are old. Virata of Matsya are there with his two sons, Sankha and Uttara. Bhagiratha, Chitrangada, Akrura, and Satyaki, all well known barons and kings of kingdoms far and near are there. A whole battalion of Kaurava princes, [...]
Two new guests have joined the attendees. One is a skinny looking, dark skinned person. He has a peacock feather on his head. He is Krishna. The other is a burly, medium complexioned person, holding a plough on his shoulders. He is Krishna’s step brother, Balarama. Pandavas are the first cousins of Krishna. Kunti, the [...]
Full of hope, each of the warrior kings, including Duryodhana and Karna, tries their hands at harnessing the bow. They cannot not cord the bow with the string. The hardwood bow would recoil and topple the person who is trying.
Since no Kshatriyas, (warrior caste) succeeded in hitting the target, let alone harnessing the bow properly, the contest was now open to Brahmins.
As Arjuna, disguised as a Brahmin, lifted and corded the bow with the bowstring properly, and took aim, the audience gasped.
Arjuna hits the target. The audience applauds.
Amidst widespread uproar of joy from the crowd, Draupadi smilingly walks up to Arjuna and garlands him with a simple festoon of flowers.
Seeing a benign Brahmin steal the show, (Arjuna’s identity was still unknown)
the other warrior kings raised ruckus and threatened action against the Panchala king.
Brandishing the bow he got as his dowry, Arjuna enters the fray. He fights with Karna for a while. Karna is still under the impression that Arjuna is a Brahmin from nowhere and underestimates his ability. Consequently Karna is taken by surprise as Arjuna hits him and injures him.