The Swayamvara of Draupadi🔊

Once upon a time, in the kingdom of Panchala, King Drupada organized a grand swayamvara for his beautiful daughter Draupadi. The tale of Draupadi’s beauty and intelligence spread afar and kings, princes, and mighty warriors from all over Bharatvarsha were arriving to try their luck in this grand event.

The Swayamvara had an impossible challenge, 'the test of the rotating fish'. In the middle of the court hung a spinning wheel with a metal fish on top. Below, in the reflective water pool, its mirrored image could be seen. The challenge was to hit the eye of the fish by targeting its reflection.

The court hovered with a sense of anticipation as many brave and gallant warriors attempted, but failed. Amidst, there was a humble Brahmin, his true identity concealed under a simple robe, who stood quietly observing every failed attempt. He was none other than the noble Arjuna, the Pandava prince in disguise.

The grand court was stunned into silence, as Arjuna requested for an attempt. Disapproval was evident on faces as they failed to see a warrior in this simple Brahmin. But when Arjuna successfully hit the eye of the spinning fish, a wave of astonishment swept across the court. Draupadi, impressed by his skills, willingly garlanded Arjuna, signifying her choice.

The proceedings of the swayamvara underwent a tumultuous turn with the revelation of the humble Brahmin's true identity - Arjuna, the Pandava prince. This led to an outburst of rage as Duryodhana, who had also been a participant of the swayamvara, felt deceived.

Then there was Karna, the loyal friend of Duryodhana. Unaware of his true royal lineage, he was not just snubbed but insulted due to his supposed low birth. Draupadi herself had refused him an attempt, stating she will not wed a charioteer’s son. The deep-seated wound in Karna's heart at this rejection was evident. This did not just act as a catalyst for the epic war of Kurukshetra later, but also led to Draupadi’s infamous disrobing incident.

So, this is the tale of Draupadi's swayamvara - an event that led to her marriage to the five Pandavas, steered by destiny. It saw the triumphant skill of Arjuna, the unmasked partiality of Draupadi, the bruised pride of Karna, and the unforgetful scorn of Duryodhana. The ripple effects of which were felt long after, shaping the saga of the Mahabharata.