Draupadi Svayamvara Chapters 8-9 (192-3)
Krishnaa’s Arrival, Krishna's Wise and Dhrishtadyumna Spies
Intro
Svayamvara Parva is the story of Draupadi’s marriage to the Pandavas.
https://crackpot.substack.com/t/svayamvara
As It Rhymes
1.
On their return Partha and Bhima presented their karmic part to Kunti as alms.
Separately but equally they presented Yajnaseni as the fruit of that day’s beg.
2.
The small hut was crowded and dark.
‘Share all you’ve got equally!’, Kunti said in relief.
After a moment Kunti saw Krishnaa was human. What have a I said?, Kunti gasped in disbelief.
3-26. 1-18. [Redacted]
With Kunti’s foot in her mouth, it was her eldest Yudhishthira whose counsel she sought.
The king could see the truth wrote on every brother’s face what Svayamvara had wrought.
To a one they were taken by Panchali.
Remembering the web weaved by demi-God siblings fighting over a spouse.
Ajatashatru’s mind perceived the arena full of venomous kings waiting outside their house.
He recalled the lac house fire near miss.
Yudhishthira could see that the only path forward would be to agree to unconventional bliss.
All five of us will give Panchali a ring.
Krishna arrived and gave his mystic’s blessing.
‘Grow as a fire emerges from a cave to spread over the earth in waves.’
Dhrishtadyumna had creeped to the hut to eaves.
Draupadi’s brother saw everything.
Thus Drupada came to know the Pandavas had returned to win.
The king came at once to protest against the marital sin.
Krishna explained the crux of the fix the young Pandavas with Draupadi were in.
Krishna would add to Panchala’s chagrin - Draupadi requested a man so perfect in quality in a previous life that it took the God’s all five Pandavas to qualify.
To Drupada’s surprise that explanation did satisfy his inquiry.
Notes
[1] Kunti is the Pandavas' mother. Yajnaseni is Draupadi.
[3] Panchali is Draupadi. Ajatashatru is Yudhishthira.
Krishna Vasudeva, the 8th incarnation of Vishnu.
[4] Panchala is Drupada. Drupada is the king of Panchala.
CAST
The Brahman
Vaishampayana - The narrator of the story as told to Janemanjaya - the last surviving ancestor of the Kuru dynasty from Arjuna through Abhimanyu.
The Drupadas
King Drupada - The King of Panchalas. Draupadi is his daughter. Dhrishtadyumna is his Son. AKA Panchala.
Dhrishtadyumna - Drupada’s son.
Draupadi - It is Draupadi’s svayamvara.
AKA Panchali. Yajnaseni.
The Pandavas
Kunti - Mother of the Pandavas.
Yudhishthira. AKA Ajatashatru. Dharmaraja.
Bhimasena AKA Bhima. Vrikodara.
Arjuna AKA Jishnu. Dhananjaya. Kiriti. Partha.
Nakula AKA The Ashvin Twins
Sahadeva AKA The Ashvin Twins
The Kauravas
Duryodhana - The first born of Dhritarashtra’s 100 sons. His name means the unconquerable one.
Dushasana - A first lieutenant among Duryodhana’s siblings.
Karna - Also born to Kunti but raised by a Suta family. His relation as a sibling is unknown among the Pandavas. AKA Radheya. Vaikartana. Suryena. Karna is Arjuna’s chief rival.
Shalya - Uncle to Pandavas Sahadeva and Nakula. Fierce bowmen and one of the strongest in unarmed combat of the Kauravas.
Non-participants
Krishna Vasudeva - The 8th incarnation of Vishnu. Nephew to Kunti. AKA Achyuta.
Balarama - Krishna’s brother. AKA Halayudha