Embedded Files
Love Lost
The time came for the two sons to find love.
The announcement for the Swayamwara of Draupadi couldn't have come at a better time.
Arjuna and his family were thought to have perished in a house fire. Karna, Duryodhana's right-hand man, never felt as powerful as he did then. This would be the perfect place for Arjuna to come back from the dead. A chance for Karna to display his newly found grandeur.
Unknown to both men, Drupada, the father of Draupadi, had heard the story of the death of the Pandavas. He was deeply saddened by the news. The great archer prince had been his dream groom for his daughter, for he had plans to avenge his own enemies . An underground rumor had begun to spread that the family had secretly escaped and Drupada was over the moon. But, Draupadi had recently come of age and suitors were lining up. There was no time to wait for Arjuna. Instead, Drupada made it so the challenge could be completed by a great archer like Arjuna. The king planned a daring challenge to see what man really deserved his daughter. The challenge consisted of using a bow and arrow to strike fish. The fish would be revolving at very high speeds in a metal disc and the competitors cannot look at the fish directly, but instead they must use the reflection from a mirror above the disc.
The day of the Swayamwara came quickly.
Karna, clad in a golden robe, entered the palace with a confidence he had never experienced before. If he could could impress Drupada, he might leave today an engaged man.
Many people gathered that day. Noblemen from all over the country came to seek the hand of Draupadi. The only thing in their way, a competition of skill.
Draupadi entered on an elephant, looking the part of a bride. Flowers woven in her hair, kohl smeared around her eyes, and ruby red lipstick painted on her lips. The crowd admired her grace and beauty, each one of them hoping to catch her eye. As she sat, the room grew silent. "Let the games began," shouted Drupada.
One by one, men failed to strike the fish. Some came close. Other fell short. Time moved slowly and there seemed to be no end in sight. Draupadi saw no man of worth here. Karna mocked the competition, savoring their failure. Arjuna stood in the shadows, allowing those before him to humiliate themselves.
As Karna stepped away from his place in the crowd and made his way up to the stage, he heard cheers from the spectators. His display from the arena competition had earned him many fans. Karna felt like this was his moment. He knew he could easily hit the targets and Draupadi would be his.
" King of Anga." As he announced his name, a few more cheers echoed the room.
Draupadi had also heard of the ordeal in the arena and she didn't share quite the same view as Karna's supporters.
"I cannot marry someone who lacks a pedigree," she announced to the stadium.
Karna couldn't believe what he was hearing. The boos from the audience were faint compared to the buzz Karna felt droning in his own head. He never could escape the identity he so wished would disappear.
At the same time, a young Brahman dressed in filthy garments approached the stage. He grabbed the bow and arrows and proceeded to hit every target.
"State your name," Drupada demanded.
Karna could recognize the strides of this confident man in a crowed room. Duryodhana, who had accompanied Karna to the Swayamwara, cursed.
"Arjuna," declared the mighty prince, unveiling his hood.
Draupadi left her place and approaches Arjuna. Then she placed the bridal garland around his neck.
Arjuna felt as if finally he can breathe. He had made his return and secured a beautiful bride.
"Another shame for my son, caused by your son," says Surya, sadly. "He truly believed this day would be different for him."
"My son did no harm! He was merely seeking his rightful place in society. He endured enough hiding in the woods like some vermin," Indra sharply replies.
"It wasn't just that for Karna. It was personal," says Surya.
Author's Note:
All the events are the same, but with more focus on Karna. Karna figured that if he could get a beautiful princess on his arm, some of his problems would be solved. But from the beginning Arjuna was meant to marry Draupadi. Her father basically rigged the competition for Arjuna. There's no way of knowing if Karna could have done it because he never had the chance. This event is just another personal vendetta Karna has for Arjuna.
*Swayamwara- an ancient Indian tradition when the girl herself chooses her husband from a group of suitors. In Sanskrit, swayam means self and wara means groom. The daughter has a say in almost everything that the event consists of:time, place, and the task. On the day of the Swayamwara, the suitors will be instructed to complete the task. The girl will choose her husband from those who successfully complete the task by bestowing her choice with a bridal garland.
Something I barely mention in the story was that Karna was at the competition with Duryodhana. So Duryodhana was also there to witness Karna's humiliation. This is important to note as the story continues.
Sources:
Swayamwara of Draupadi
Google Sites
Report abuse