Draupadee's Marriage

Vaishampaayan Jee said - "Dhrishtdyumn told everything to his father what he saw and heard. He said - "Soon who shot the mark was surrounded by Braahman and was admired by them. Krishnaa also followed him holding his deer skin. Some kings rose to fight but he defeated them all. Then they went to a potter's house. there was a lady in potter's house. They touched her feet and they asked Krishnaa too to do the same. Then they left Krishnaa with that lady and went around for alms. When they came back, Krishnaa took one portion of that offered to God and gave another portion to Braahman, and whatever remained she gave a part of that to that lady and then rest to the five young men. She took only a little and ate it in the last. Then they all laid down on Kush graas, that lady along their heads and Krishnaa along their feet. Then they talked for long time. From their talk I made out that they were neither Shoodra, nor Vaishya, nor Braahman. They were certainly Kshatriya because they were talking about military. I hope we are successful, because I have heard that Paandav have escaped that Laakshaa palace. The way they behaved, shooting the mark, fighting with kings, talking among themselves, it seems sure that they are Kuntee and Her sons."

Hearing all this Drupad got exceedingly happy, he immediately sent his priest to find out who were they. The Priest went there and asked them their introduction. He said - "Paandu was a good friend of Drupad, and Drupad always wanted to give his daughter to Paandu as his daughter-in-law. You are perfectly faultless, but Drupad always wanted to marry his daughter to Arjun." Hearing this Yudhishthir asked Bheem to wash his feet because he was Drupad's Priest that was why he was worthy to be worshipped. Bheem obeyed his brother. Yudhishthir said - "Drupad has married his daughter according to his condition, not freely, so there is no question of family or race. He should not regret it. In fact he has answered all the queries by shooting the mark. King's desire should be accomplished. No weak person could string the bow and nobody of a low birth could have shot the mark. Tell the king Drupad that he should not regret for what is happening because shooting the mark cannot be reverted." While Yudhishthir was saying this Drupad's Priest, another messenger came from Drupad saying that the feast was ready."

Paandav are Recognized

Vaishampaayan Jee continued - "He said - "Please come after finishing your daily chores, the King has arranged a feast in the honor of the groom and his party. Krishnaa's wedding will be celebrated there today. He has sent these adorned chariots also for you to come there." So Paandav bade farewell to the Priest, asked Kuntee and Draupadee to ascend on one chariot and they themselves ascended on others and set off towards Drupad's palace. In the meantime, Drupad had got articles ready for the four Varn along with garlands, fruits, dresses, shields, carpets, cows, beds etc etc. The ladies of Drupad's palace worshipped Kuntee. Paandav were still wearing their deer skin. Seeing them all became very happy. Food was served and after eating Paandav looked at the war materials with interest. Seeing this Drupad and his people understood that they were of royal blood."

Drupad then asked - "Are we to know you as Kshatriya or Braahman or celestials who have come here to take Krishnaa? Tell us the truth, then I will make the arrangements of wedding according to your order (Varn)." Yudhishthir said - "O King, Be happy, your long cherished desire has been fulfilled. We are Kshatriya and are Paandu's sons. I am the eldest one Yudhishthir, and they are Bheem and Arjun who have won your daughter from amidst the kings; and the twins and Kuntee are waiting with Krishnaa. We are Kshatriya, so your lotus like daughter has been transferred only from one lake to another. This is the whole truth."

Hearing this Drupad got extremely happy, he could not speak for a few moments. When he had gathered himself, he asked them how they escaped from Baaranaavat Laakshaa Grih. Yudhishthir told them everything in detail. Hearing this Drupad rebuked Dhritraashtra and promised to regain their paternal kingdom. Drupad said - "Let Arjun marry my daughter." Yudhishthir said - "I also have to marry her." Drupad said - "If it pleases you you may take her with due rites, or give her to any of your brother you like." Yudhishthir replied - "Your daughter will be our common bride, as our mother has said. I am still unmarried, and Beem too. Draupadee has been won by Arjun, but this is our rule that a jewel must be enjoyed by all. We cannot abandon this rule. So let us take her hands one by one."

Drupad said - "It has been heard that a man can have many wives but it has never been heard that a woman has several husbands. Since you know all rules of morality, you should not commit any act of immorality." Yudhishthir said - O King, Morality is subtle. We do not know its course, so let us follow the path our elders have followed. I have never spoken any lie, even my heart has ever set on any sinful act. My mother commanded it and my heart approves it, that is why it is conformable to virtue, so do accordingly and do not fear at all." Drupad said - "Your mother Kuntee, my son Dhrishtdyumn and you yourself settle the matter and tell me about it tomorrow. I will do what is proper." So all three sat down to consider the matter, that Vyaas Jee also came there wandering around."

Vaishampaayan Jee said - "All greeted Vyaas Jee and after he had seated comfortably Drupad asked him about his daughter's marriage - "How can a woman become wife of many without being attached to sin?" Vyaas Jee said - "This practice has been opposed by Ved and so has become obsolete. I want to hear you all on this issue." First of all Drupad spoke - "In my opinion it is sinful. I have never heard even the old people doing this." Then Dhrishtdyumn spoke - "O Rishi, How can an elder brother go to the wife of a younger brother? The paths of morality are always subtle that is why we do not know them. We cannot say what is conformable to morality and what is not, so we should always choose the most common path. That is why I cannot say that Draupadee should be the wife of five brothers."

Yudhishthir said - "I never tell lies, and my heart never sets on sins. It is said in Puraan that a lady named Jatilaa married seven Rishi. So also a daughter of an ascetic, born from a tree, married 10 brothers - Prachetaa Gan. Who know the rules of morality, obedience of elders is always good for them. And among elders the mother is the most superior. She has commended us to enjoy her as we enjoy our alms, that is why I regard this act virtuous." Kuntee said - "I fear the untruth, how can I be saved from speaking untruth?"

Why Draupadee Should Have Five Husbands?

When all finished speaking Vyaas Jee said - "How can you be saved from speaking untruth? Even this is eternal virtue. Just listen that what Yudhishthir has said is conformable to virtue." Then he took Drupad inside and discoursed him on why polyandry is not a sin. He said - "In olden days, the celestials performed a great sacrifice in Naimish Aranya. At that sacrifice Yam, the son of Vivaswaan, became the slayer of sacrificial animals. He had not kill even a single human being during that period, so the number of people on the earth increased a lot. Som, Sakra, Varun, Ashwinee Kumaar etc went to Brahmaa Jee and told about this increase. Brahmaa Jee said - "You need to worry about this increase. You all are immortal." They said - "But the mortals have also become immortals. Now there is no difference between them and us." Brahmaa Jee said - "In fact even Yam is also engaged in sacrifice now a days that is why people are not dying. But when this sacrifice is over, people again will start dying - in thousands." So the celestials came back to the place of sacrifice.

Then Indra sitting near Bhaageerathee saw a golden lotus floating on her waters. Seeing it he wondered much and out of curiosity he proceeded up the course of Bhaageerathee to know its origin. There he saw a woman weeping and washing herself in the stream. Her tears were falling in the stream and were turning into golden lotus. Seeing this Indra was more surprised. He asked her - "Who are you? Why do you weep? I want to know, please tell me everything." The woman said - "O Sakra, You know me. It is unfortunate that I weep. Come with me and see for yourself." So Indra followed her. Soon they a young man sitting with a young woman on a throne on a peak of Himaalaya. They were playing dice.

Indra said to him - "This universe is under my control." But he was so engrossed in playing that he didn't listen to him. Indra repeated his statement with a little anger. Now the youth was Mahaadev. He smiled at him and cast a glance at him. That glance made Indra immediately paralyzed and he remained standing there only. When the dice game was over Mahaadev asked the weeping woman to bring Indra to him. As soon as that woman touched he fell down on the earth. Mahaadev Said - "Never ever act in this way again. Remove this stone, because you are very powerful, and enter the hole, then you will see there are many like you." Indra did this and saw four like himself in that cave. He got very sad their plight and exclaimed - "Shall I be like these?" Shiv Jee said - "O Sakra, Enter this cave immediately because you have foolishly insulted me." Indra said - "You take care of the universe." Shiv Jee said - "People like you can never get my grace. These who are in the cave were also like you at one time. Therefore you enter the cave and lie down there for some time. All will have the same fate - to take birth in the human world where you will face many difficulties and slay a large number of people. You will then gain your meritorious position again." At this all the five Indra said - "There salvation is difficult. It will be better if five of us take birth there through Dharm, Pavan, Maghaavat, and Ashwinee Kumaar."

Vyaas Jee continued - "Indra continued - "Instead of going myself, I will create a fifth one to accomplish your task." Vishwabhook, Bhootdaman, Shibi, Shaanti and Tejaswee - it is said that these are five old Indra. Shiv Jee granted their desires and he appointed that weeping woman who was Shree herself, to be their common wife of all. Then Shiv Jee went away along with those five Indra. Those Indra then were born on Prithvi. After that Hari took two hairs from his body, one black and one white, and inserted them in the wombs of Devakee and Rohinee. The white hair became Baladev and the black hair became Keshav Himself. Thus these Paandav are none other than those five Indra and Draupadee is Shree Herself. That is why I permit for this marriage. See those old Indra in these Paandav." And Vyaas Jee gave Divine sight to Drupad to see all this in Paandav. And the King saw them possessing celestial bodies resembling Indra himself and Draupadee as Shree Herself. Drupad held Vyaas Jee's feet and said - "There is nothing miraculous for you."

The Rishi then continued - "In a certain hermitage there was a Rishi's daughter, who, though handsome and chaste, could not obtain a husband. She gratified Shiv by severe ascetic penances. Shankar told her himself. 'Ask for any boon you desire." The maiden repeatedly said to the Lord, 'I desire to obtain a husband possessed of every accomplishment." Shankar gratified with her, gave her the boon she asked, saying - "You will have, five husbands." The maiden, said again, 'O Shankar, I desire to have only one husband possessed of every virtue?" Shiv Jee well-pleased with her spoke again, - "You have, addressed me five full times, repeating, 'Give me a husband Give me a husband.' Therefore, you will have what you have asked for. Blessed you. All this, however, will happen in your future life."
Vyaas Jee continued - "O Drupad, Thus this your daughter is that maiden. Indeed, the faultless Krishnaa's birth in Prishat's race hath been pre-ordained to become the common wife of five husbands. The celestial Shree has taken birth as thy daughter. It is for this that the self-create had created her. Having listened to all this, now what do you desire."

Drupad said - "If this is the order of the celestials, how can I disobey it? This is her Destiny, we cannot do anything. If Krishnaa asked her Var five times and and got five husband in this life, and Shankar has given her that boon, whether it is right or wrong, no sin is attached to me." Then Vyaas Jee said to Yudhishthir - "This day is auspicious - today the Moon has entered the Pushya Nakshatra. You marry her first then your brothers will." Hearing this Drupad made the arrangements of Draupadee's marriage. His palace was decorated in various ways. Dhaumya Rishi performed their marriage rites - first of Yudhishthir, then of other princes day by day. O King Janamejaya, I heard a very strange thing regarding this marriage that Draupadee regained her virginity every day after her previous marriage. Drupad gave them 100 chariots, each with golden standards and driven by four horses, 100 elephants, 100 young female servants all clad in costly robes and adorned with gold ornaments. After the wedding was over, Paandav passed their days there in joy and happiness with Krishnaa. Women of Drupad's house introduced themselves to Kuntee and Draupadee also touched Kuntee's feet. Kuntee blessed her with good children and long life.

Vaishampaayan Jee continued - "After Paandav got married, Hari sent costly gems, various clothes, blankets and hides, thousands of female servants, hundreds of vessels, elephants from Madra Desh, gold coins by heaps etc to them; and Yudhishthir accepted everything with great joy."