Intro
https://crackpot.substack.com/t/svayamvara
Bronze Age Bachelorette?
Svayamvara means ‘your choice of groom.’
A Svayamvara is an event for fixing marriage among kshatriya (warrior) men and kshatriya women wherein the woman chooses a match from a field of men. A kshatriya father-in-law has the option to declare a challenge for the male suitors to show their worth. Svayamvara challenge may be tests of military skill such as archery or horseback riding, as befit the kshatriya - as well as verbal tests of esoteric military knowledge in Vedas and Dharma to demonstrate wisdom and intelligence. Through pageant competition the suitors vie to impress and win her interest. Points for showmanship may matter as much or more than marksmanship.
Svayamvara Parva is the story of Draupadi’s marriage to the Pandavas.
Who is …
Draupadi is King Drupada’s daughter. King Drupada rules the Panchalas - so princess Draupadi is sometimes called Panchali. Draupadi is also known as Yajnaseni, the one born through the altar. Draupadi is nicknamed Krishnaa too. The feminine of Krishna - for dark skinned. Draupadi has long locks of curly blue-black hair. Draupadi is an avatar of the Goddess of wealth and beauty, Lakshmi.
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