Mahabharata
(A Prose Narrative of the Dvapara Yuga)
Part 34-F (Continued)
By Lokanath Mishra
Panchali’s Marriage
Scene 1: Dawn at the Potter’s Hut
By then, the night had passed.
The potter rose and said to Kunti,
“Wake the sons.”
The five Pandavas rose from their beds.
The maidservants attended to Draupadi—bathing her, adorning her, and preparing her with care.
At Kunti’s instruction, Yudhishthira invoked Krishna and Vyasa in prayer.
Unseen by others, both arrived—but upon seeing King Drupada standing near the doorway, they concealed themselves.
The potter went inside and announced,
“King Drupada is waiting at the door.”
Standing outside, Drupada called out loudly:
“Who is the Brahmin inside who pierced the target and won my daughter?
Come out!
I have come to choose my son-in-law.”
The five brothers were uncertain what to do.
Drupada called again and again.
Dhrishtadyumna and Shikhandi mocked aloud,
“Are they deaf or what? Why do they not answer?”
Yudhishthira said calmly,
“Partha, open the door and go out.”
Arjuna replied,
“If I go, he will choose me alone as the groom.
How will it then be possible for all five of us to marry Panchali?”
After discussion, the brothers agreed on one course of action.
All five stepped out together.
Scene 2: The Unthinkable Proposal
Seeing the five as one form, Drupada—astonished—offered water for washing their feet and performed the rites of welcome.
Drupada declared:
“Whichever Brahmin pierced the lacquered target,
to him alone shall I give my daughter.”
Yudhishthira spoke:
“We five brothers are one soul.
Whatever one of us gains, we all share equally.”
Drupada was stunned.
“What do you mean by that?” he asked.
Yudhishthira replied:
“By our mother’s command—spoken unknowingly—
we five shall marry this maiden together.”
Drupada protested:
“A man having many wives is known in custom.
But what is this that you are saying?”
Yudhishthira answered firmly:
“Such is our vow.
One Draupadi shall be wife to five husbands.
If you wish to fulfil destiny,
give your daughter to all five—today.”
Scene 3: Mockery and Rising Fury
This proposal was unacceptable by social law.
It appeared absurd to the assembly.
Drupada and his sons hurled harsh insults.
They mocked the Pandavas as uncivilized, uneducated, and immoral.
The language crossed all bounds of dignity.
Bhima’s eyes turned blood-red.
Vyasa said softly to Krishna:
“If we delay any longer,
Bhima’s rage will become uncontrollable.
Drupada and his sons may not return to the palace alive.”
At once, Vyasa and Krishna revealed themselves.
Scene 4: The Sage Speaks
At the sight of Vyasa and Krishna, both sides were calmed.
At Vyasa’s request, all seated themselves.
Scene 5: Draupadi’s Past Life
“Listen,” Vyasa said.
“In the Satya Yuga, there lived Vishvarupa, son of the sage Tvashtha—
a being of immense wisdom and ascetic power.
Indra, then called Askhanda, feared that Vishvarupa would seize his throne.
In jealousy, Indra killed him.
Narada quickly carried this news to Tvashtha.
To avenge his son, Tvashtha performed a mighty sacrifice.
From it was born the asura Vritra.
Tvashtha advised Vritra to first perform penance to Shiva for immortality.
After many years, Shiva appeared but said:
‘Immortality is beyond my power.’
Vritra requested instead:
‘Grant me that I shall not die by any conventional weapon.’
Shiva said, ‘So be it,’ and vanished.
Vritra attacked heaven, defeated Indra, and drove him out.
Indra sought Brahma’s help.
Together they approached Narayana.
Vishnu said:
‘Only the bones of a perfectly pure sage can destroy Vritra.
There is one such sage—Dadhichi.
He must give his bones willingly.’
The gods approached Dadhichi.
Joyfully, for the sake of the gods, he gave up his life in meditation.
From his bones the Vajra was made.
With it, Indra slew Vritra.
Narada immediately informed Tvashtha of this second loss.
Enraged, Tvashtha set out to destroy Indra himself.
But Brahma warned Indra in advance.
Knowing his end was near, Indra divided his soul into five parts:
• One with Dharma
• One with Vayu
• One in the void
• Two with the Ashwini Kumaras
Only his body remained upon the throne.
Tvashtha arrived and cursed Indra:
‘You slew my son, wicked one!
May your body turn to ash!’
In rage, Tvashtha seized Indra’s throne.
Indra’s wife, Shachi, wept by the banks of the celestial Ganga.”
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(To be continued)