The Pandavas continued their journey until they reached the city of Kampilya.They stayed in the house of a potter and continued to beg for alms.While there they also heard of a big Swyamvara that was going to take place.

Major preparations were taking place for the kings and princes who would attend.A fish was made and placed on a pole in the center of the hall where the Syamavara was going to take place.The fish was always revolving and at the bottom of the pole was a vessel of water.

The idea was that while watching the reflection of the fish in the water,whoever was able to shoot an arrow through the eye of the fish will become the winner and wed the princess.

On the appointed day Prince Dhrishtadyumna escorted his sister Draupadi to the hall where the bow which was to be used for the ceremony was placed.

Draupadi was beautifully dressed and held a garland of fresh flowers in her hand to place around the neck of the winner.Dhrishtadyumna then announced that anyone who pierces the eye of the rotating fish while watching it's reflection in the vessel of water,with the five arrows provided,will be declared the winner.

One by one the kings tried and failed.Some of them could not even lift the bow others could not string it,some even missed the target. Duryodhana who was also present there tried and failed;so too did Jarasandha and Shisupal.

Karna lifted the bow and strung it but while he was looking at the reflection of the fish in the water,Draupadi exclaimed that she would not marry a Suta-Putra.Karna became embarrased and returned to his seat.Krishna and his brother Balarama were also present there but they did not participate.They only looked on.

Both Krishna and Balarama were looking around in the crowd to see if they would see the Pandavas.They saw them sitting amongst the brahmins. When everyone had tried and failed,Arjuna with Yudhishtira's consent approached the stage.

He strung the bow and shot the fish in the eye bringing it down from the pole.The kings who lost in the Swyamvara tried to stop Arjuna from taking Draupadi but were no match for Arjuna.He subdued them all.Then Draupadi came up to him and garlanded him thus,making him her choice for a husband.

Now since Arjuna was in disguise nobody knew his real identity except Krishna and Balarama.Drupada was disappointed because he would have expected Arjuna to be there,not knowing that the young brahmin was in fact Arjuna in disguise.

The Pandavas returned home with Draupadi and Yudhishtira called out to his mother and said to her that they had brought alms.Kunti who was not in their immediate presence told them to share it.

This led to major confusion since Arjuna had actually won her.On the other hand,the scriptures did not forbid such an arrangement.So it was decided that she would be a wife to all five of the brothers.While this decision were being made,Krishna and Balarama arrived there.

Arriving there also was Dhrishtadyumna.His father Drupada had sent him to see where the young brahamana who won the hand of Draupadi was living.It was Krishna's and Balarama's first meeting with their Pandava cousins.They all had lenghty conversations about various topics.

Drupada eventually made arrangements to have the wedding of Arjuna to Draupadi at his palace and so they all went there.When he heard that she was going to marry the five brothers,he became upset and angry.He thaought that it was against the principles of the Shastras.

Even explanations by Yudhishtira could not convince Drupada to go along with it.Then the revered sage Vyasa ji arrived there.He explained to them that while the Shastras allows for such type of marriages,in this case it applies to a call of Dharma.

He explained further that Draupadi had a blessing from the great Lord Shiva that she would have five husbands in this lifetime and His blessings could not be against Dharma.Drupada accepted Vyasa's explaination,knowing the sage to be all wise and made the necessary preparations for the wedding.

On the appointed day,the five Pandavas married Draupadi and recieved the blessings of Vyasa and all others who were present there.The Pandavas then spent some time at Drupada's palace before moving on with their journey.

Pandit Bhadase Maharaj.

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