"The son of charioteer cannot compete for my hand in marriage". Thus spoke Draupadi when Karna was about to try the task.
Pandavas were present there in the guise of the Bhramins. As per some folklore, Krishna is also present and recognizes the Pandavas. He even smiles at Arjuna. All the princes try their hand but they are unsuccessful. The task was to string the heavy metal bow, hit the eye of the rotating wooden fish on the ceiling by looking at its reflection on the water in the pot below.
After all the princes attempt and failt it, Karna stands up to perform the feat. He did this only because he did not want Hastinapur, Duryodhana's kingdom, to be insulted by the princes' failures. Karna had started to string the bow with ease (which other princes were unable to do) when Draupadi humiliated and rejected him. Drupada had planned this task for Arjuna itself. In some folklore, it is Krishna who gestures Draupadi to reject Karna. When everyone failed, Drupada compromised and let the brahmins try it.
Arjuna, disguised as a Brahmin, completed the task with ease. Yuddhistira then left with Nakula and Sahadeva leaving Bhima in charge of protecting Arjuna. As expected, the other princes started protesting against this. Bhima broke a pillar and stood between Arjuna and the others.
This was one of the first insults Draupadi threw in this epic. This particular one shows the prevalent caste system being followed by Draupadi. Karna was a warrior though not known while Arjuna was a warrior disguised as a brahmin. It is fine for a woman to marry a man of the higher caste but they cannot go lower. Also, it again shows that you should not judge a person based on his birth or but by his actions. Caste is determined by actions only.
When Arjuna and Bhima returns with Draupadi to their hut in the forest, they jokingly call out to their mother "Mother Kunti, See what alms we got today". Kunti was busy with some kitchen work and without looking orders them to distribute whatever it is between the brothers equally. By then, Yuddhistira and the twins are there. As per some folklore, it is said that Kunti saw the lust in the eyes of Yuddhistira and the other brothers. She knew that the Pandavas are strong only if they are united. Hence, she did her greatest political masterstroke and ensured that Draupadi is shared between the brothers. It is said that Kunti knew well enough that the Pandavas had gone to the Swayamwar and knew that Arjuna or any of her sons will win the event. Hence, she acted as if she did not know about what "alms" the brothers were speaking about. Yuddhistira then also raised a precedent of Vidula who had married the ten Prachetas brothers. In some folklore, Yuddhistira desired Draupadi and took the advantage of Kunti's words. He stated that one never knows what destiny came out and made Mother Kunti speak so.
Later Krishna consoled Draupadi by sharing the knowledge of her past life. In an earlier life, Draupadi had invoked Shiva for a husband who was honest, husband who was strong, husband who was very skilled, husband who was handsome and husband who was a knowledgeable. Shiva had granted her this wish literally and provided her with 5 husbands. In some retellings, Shiva states that one man cannot have such qualities so she will have to marry 5 men.
Normally, Shiva grants boons easily and then Vishnu has to manage and rectify the result out of it. So it is said that Krishna had actually sent such a man with all those qualities. It was none other than Karna. But Draupadi herself rejected gim. Hence, now she married a man who did not object to sharing her with his brothers. This was in a way result of her own action of rejecting Karna. Maybe, that is why Draupadi loved Arjuna the most but always desired Karna. Was her decision autonomous or assisted by Krishna (as he knew that Karna will side with Duryodhana), I don't know. But her decision then had a great bearing on the future events. The other thing that needs to be noted is that Draupadi never objected to being shared. Also, later in many retellings, Draupadi's desire and attraction to the respective qualities of Arjuna come into the foreground.
Prince Dhrishtadyumna had followed the brahmin who had won her sister in Swayamwara and was thrilled to learn that it was no one else but Arjuna. He and Drupada did not though agree to her being shared by the 5 brothers. Yuddhistira again debated here and ensured that they agree. This shows Yuddhistirs debating skill on Dharma and also maybe a prevalent culture of polyandry.
Pandavas were present there in the guise of the Bhramins. As per some folklore, Krishna is also present and recognizes the Pandavas. He even smiles at Arjuna. All the princes try their hand but they are unsuccessful. The task was to string the heavy metal bow, hit the eye of the rotating wooden fish on the ceiling by looking at its reflection on the water in the pot below.
After all the princes attempt and failt it, Karna stands up to perform the feat. He did this only because he did not want Hastinapur, Duryodhana's kingdom, to be insulted by the princes' failures. Karna had started to string the bow with ease (which other princes were unable to do) when Draupadi humiliated and rejected him. Drupada had planned this task for Arjuna itself. In some folklore, it is Krishna who gestures Draupadi to reject Karna. When everyone failed, Drupada compromised and let the brahmins try it.
Arjuna, disguised as a Brahmin, completed the task with ease. Yuddhistira then left with Nakula and Sahadeva leaving Bhima in charge of protecting Arjuna. As expected, the other princes started protesting against this. Bhima broke a pillar and stood between Arjuna and the others.
This was one of the first insults Draupadi threw in this epic. This particular one shows the prevalent caste system being followed by Draupadi. Karna was a warrior though not known while Arjuna was a warrior disguised as a brahmin. It is fine for a woman to marry a man of the higher caste but they cannot go lower. Also, it again shows that you should not judge a person based on his birth or but by his actions. Caste is determined by actions only.
When Arjuna and Bhima returns with Draupadi to their hut in the forest, they jokingly call out to their mother "Mother Kunti, See what alms we got today". Kunti was busy with some kitchen work and without looking orders them to distribute whatever it is between the brothers equally. By then, Yuddhistira and the twins are there. As per some folklore, it is said that Kunti saw the lust in the eyes of Yuddhistira and the other brothers. She knew that the Pandavas are strong only if they are united. Hence, she did her greatest political masterstroke and ensured that Draupadi is shared between the brothers. It is said that Kunti knew well enough that the Pandavas had gone to the Swayamwar and knew that Arjuna or any of her sons will win the event. Hence, she acted as if she did not know about what "alms" the brothers were speaking about. Yuddhistira then also raised a precedent of Vidula who had married the ten Prachetas brothers. In some folklore, Yuddhistira desired Draupadi and took the advantage of Kunti's words. He stated that one never knows what destiny came out and made Mother Kunti speak so.
Later Krishna consoled Draupadi by sharing the knowledge of her past life. In an earlier life, Draupadi had invoked Shiva for a husband who was honest, husband who was strong, husband who was very skilled, husband who was handsome and husband who was a knowledgeable. Shiva had granted her this wish literally and provided her with 5 husbands. In some retellings, Shiva states that one man cannot have such qualities so she will have to marry 5 men.
Normally, Shiva grants boons easily and then Vishnu has to manage and rectify the result out of it. So it is said that Krishna had actually sent such a man with all those qualities. It was none other than Karna. But Draupadi herself rejected gim. Hence, now she married a man who did not object to sharing her with his brothers. This was in a way result of her own action of rejecting Karna. Maybe, that is why Draupadi loved Arjuna the most but always desired Karna. Was her decision autonomous or assisted by Krishna (as he knew that Karna will side with Duryodhana), I don't know. But her decision then had a great bearing on the future events. The other thing that needs to be noted is that Draupadi never objected to being shared. Also, later in many retellings, Draupadi's desire and attraction to the respective qualities of Arjuna come into the foreground.
Prince Dhrishtadyumna had followed the brahmin who had won her sister in Swayamwara and was thrilled to learn that it was no one else but Arjuna. He and Drupada did not though agree to her being shared by the 5 brothers. Yuddhistira again debated here and ensured that they agree. This shows Yuddhistirs debating skill on Dharma and also maybe a prevalent culture of polyandry.
No comments:
Post a Comment