Section 6: Draupadī's Swayamvara and the Marriage to the Pāṇḍavas
After escaping the House of Lac, the Pāṇḍavas and their mother Kuntī continued to live in disguise, moving from place to place to avoid Duryodhana's spies. During these wanderings, they heard of a grand swayamvara—a ceremony where a princess would choose her husband—being held in the kingdom of Pāñcāla. The princess was Draupadī, the radiant daughter of King Drupada, born from a sacrificial fire along with her brother Dhṛṣṭadyumna. Drupada, who had long harbored enmity against Droṇa, prayed for children who would one day help avenge him. Thus Draupadī and Dhṛṣṭadyumna were born with divine purpose.
At the swayamvara, princes and kings from across the land gathered to win Draupadī's hand. The challenge set before them was daunting: contestants had to string a massive bow and shoot five arrows through a revolving target, an act requiring immense strength and skill. Many great warriors tried and failed. Even Karṇa, the mighty friend of Duryodhana, stepped forward, but Draupadī refused to let him compete, declaring that she would not marry a man of unknown or lowly birth. Humiliated, Karṇa withdrew, though his resentment deepened.
Amid the commotion, the Pāṇḍavas, disguised as humble Brahmins, sat quietly among the spectators. When Arjuna stepped forward to attempt the challenge, few paid attention at first, dismissing him as a mere ascetic. But with calm precision, Arjuna lifted the bow effortlessly, strung it, and shot the arrows with flawless aim, striking the target exactly as required. The hall erupted in astonishment. Draupadī joyfully placed the victory garland around Arjuna's neck, acknowledging him as her husband by choice.
The victory did not sit well with many assembled kings, especially Duryodhana and Karṇa, who felt insulted. A scuffle nearly broke out, but Bhīma intervened with his overwhelming strength, ensuring the safety of Arjuna and Draupadī. The Pāṇḍavas then left quietly, returning to their modest dwelling.
When Arjuna arrived home with Draupadī, he called out to his mother, Kuntī, telling her that he had brought something wonderful. Without looking, Kuntī instructed him to share it equally with his brothers. Bound by their mother's words, the Pāṇḍavas agreed that Draupadī would become the wife of all five brothers. Though unusual, the arrangement was sanctified by destiny and accepted as divinely ordained.
Thus Draupadī became the common queen of the Pāṇḍavas, a woman of fiery spirit and great beauty, whose fate was inseparably tied to theirs. Her marriage marked the beginning of events that would later bring humiliation, vengeance, and ultimately, the great war of Kurukṣetra.