Intro
https://crackpot.substack.com/t/svayamvara
As It Rhymes
1.
Five Pandava men set out over the land.
Sent toward a mighty event by fate's hand.
2.
With Ma Kunti to accompany, those five tigers among men came and went.
By and by they chanced upon a Brahman travel company tent.
3.
Spotted at once, a Brahman asked the Pandavas,
Where are you heading? Where have you come? Where is your home?
4.
Yudhishthira spoke,
From Ekachakra. We travel with mom.
You with complete knowledge may know where next we roam.
5.
The Brahman replied,
Go to the House of Drupada today - follow our hymn.
To a great Svayamvara attended by many wealthy noblemen.
6.
We are all going. We will all go as one.
Expect extraordinary splendor and brilliant opulence.
7.
Yajnasena the great souled Drupada’s lotus leaf daughter seeks an alliance.
They say she was born from the altar.
8.
Draupadi’s beautiful form makes the seer’s mind falter.
Drona’s enemy, Dhrishtadyumna’s quality sister.
9.
Dhrishtadyumna emerged from a flaxen golden flame,
Encased in armor, bearing weapons in his mighty arms.
10.
When Draupadi’s form is a breathless word away,
The fragrance of lilies intoxicate - men within a krosha sway.
11.
Yajnasena’s daughter will have a husband when Svayamvara is said and done.
Svayamvara is a divine event to witness the chosen one.
12.
Many Kings and all the kings' men will swarm to flex a gift game.
Kingly men who donate princely sums to charity.
There will be great men, devotees of study, mighty striving contestants and performers of austerity.
13.
Many handsome young men from many lands drawn in swarms,
Mighty warriors that have achieved blessed deeds by drawing swords.
14.
These men lust for victory. Panchali's scent robs their sense.
They will bestow worlds of kingly wealth on their audience.
15.
Go south towards that house. All that will be seen.
You can experience Svayamvara green.
16.
There will be entertainers, singers, dancers, swift chariot racers.
There will be sacrificial fire and offers to burn.
17.
After going with us you may return.
Our caravan will make room.
18.
Look! You are divinely handsome men with divinity.
After Krishnaa sees the lot of you, she may choose one of you to be her groom!
19.
Your brother there is a Sri man, blessed by the Gods with mighty arms and manly beauty.
We are satisfactory company - come with us to see the activity.
20.
Yudhishthira said,
Celestial signs align - for us to see and to be seen.
We ride with you to this divine festivity. Certainly!
Notes
[1] The five Pandavas are Yudhishthira, Bhimasena, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva. At this time they are living disguised as Brahman. They wander and beg for alms.
[2] The Pandavas mom is Kunti. Kunti is a common mother to Yudhishthira, Bhima and Arjuna. Nakula and Sahadeva were born to Madri. Madri passed. The five Pandavas all have different fathers.
[5] Svayamvara is an event where a woman chooses a groom from a field of prospective bachelors. The bachelors are all drawn from the Kshatriya, or warrior, class. Only kshatriyas are allowed to participate in Svayamvara.
[8] Dhrishtadyumna and Draupadi's other sibling is Shikhandi. Shikhandi is born female, but later transitions to male. Shikhandi is Bhishma's enemy.
[10] Krosha is a unit of measure for distance, like a mile.
[14] Panchali is an epithet for Draupadi.
[18] Krishnaa is an epithet for Draupadi. Krishnaa means dark skinned.
The Brahman is making a joke of the Pandavas being chosen - the Pandavas are disguised as Brahman. Brahman cannot participate in Svayamvara.
[20] The translation for Zodiac sign seems cryptic. The sense is that Yudhishthira is appealing to inescapable fate as divine astrological signs in agreeing to attend the Svayamvara festival at the Brahman’s invitation. Yudhishthira agrees to go to the event and risk being seen by Duryodhana or his allies. Duryodhana believes the Pandavas were consumed in a house fire and are dead. The Pandavas are on the run in hiding from Duryodhana’s spies and assassins, but nor can they say no to the Priest’s grand invitation and maintain their identity as Priests. Swept up in a feeding frenzy of free loading with all they Priests in the land, and with no other discernible direction, the young Pandavas have little choice but to come along for the ride.