Extra Credit Reading Notes: PDE Mahabharata Part B

Draupadi Swayamara and Marriage

Reading the story of the Swayamara reminded me of the competition in Brave where the princes compete in challenges for Merida until she enters herself in the archery competition as a tie breaker. Draupadis marriage to the five Pandavas was an interesting case of polygamy. The only other examples of polygamy I can think of involve husbands having multiple wives but never a wife having multiple husbands. I can only imagine this as "Brother Husbands" like the TV show "Sister Wives" that follows an FLDS polygamist family.

Painting of Draupadi

Swayamara Summary:

• Drupada hoped that Arjuna would become marry his daughter.
• Drupada made a powerful bow which only a strong man could bend and string and a strange target with a golden fish and revolving wheel for the swayamvara of Draupadi.
• Each suitor had five arrows to shoot the fish in the eye.
• Many men could not string the bow
• Karna successfully strung the bow
• Draupadi said she would not marry the son of a charioteer fearing he might succeed
• Arjuna strung the bow and hit the target
• The rajahs grew angry and charged Arjuna and the princess with drawn swords
• The Pandavas fought the rajahs
• Krishna soothed the angry rajahs with gentle words
• Arjuna took Draupadi away
• Krishna declared that the bride had been fairly won.

Wife of Five Summary:

• The Pandavas told their mother Kunti a gift was won
• Kunti told them to share the gift
• The Pandavas had to figure out how to obey their mother without doing another wrong
• Yudhishthira said Arjuna should marry her because he won her
• Arjuna said Yudhishthira should marry her because he is the oldest
• Yudhishtra suggests Drupada should decide who will marry his daughter
• Dhrishtadyumna made sure the brahmins were the Pandavas and relayed an invitation to come to Drupada's palace.
• At suggestion of Yudhishthira, Vyasa was brought to the palace and asked about the situation with Draupadi.
• Vyasa said gods have already decided she is to be married to all 5 Pandavas
• Vyasa tells Draupadi was the re-incarnation of a woman who prayed to Shiva five times for a husband and was promised five husbands in her next life.
• Vyasa also says the Pandava brethren were five incarnations of Indra, and thus were but as one.
• Drupada then gave consent for his daughter to become the bride of all 5 Pandavas.

Bibliography:

Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie (1913)