Question

Draupadi's Marriage

Drupada, the king of Panchala, organised a competition where the challenge was to string a bow and hit a target; the winner would be chosen to marry his daughter Draupadi. Arjuna was victorious and was garlanded by Draupadi. The Pandavas returned with her to their mother Kunti, who, even before she saw them, asked them to share whatever they had got. She realised her mistake when she saw Draupadi, but her command could not be violated. After much deliberation, Yudhisthira decided that Draupadi would be their common wife. When Drupada was told about this, he protested. However, the seer Vyasa arrived and told him that the Pandavas were in reality incarnations of Indra, whose wife had been reborn as Draupadi, and they were thus destined for each other. Vyasa added that in another instance a young woman had prayed to Shiva for a husband, and in her enthusiasm, had prayed five times instead of once. This woman was now reborn as Draupadi, and Shiva had fulfilled her prayers. Convinced by these stories, Drupada consented to the marriage.

1. How does this story reveal that mother was considered as the highest guru?
2. Why didn't Kunti save Draupadi from the dire situation?
3. Why did Drupada and Sage Vyasa decide Draupadi's strange marriage with five men?

Answer 1

1. Mother was considered the highest guru. This is because in this story when mother Kunti asks the five Pandavas to share their belonging (who was actually Draupadi), the five sons obey her order as her command cannot be violated.
2. Kunti did not save Draupadi from the dire situation because mother was held in high regard during those times and her command could not be violated.
3. Drupada and Sage Vyasa think Draupadi’s marriage with five men as strange because the latter stressed on the fact that the Pandavas were actually the incarnations of Lord Indra whose wife had been reborn as Draupadi.