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Monday, December 14, 2015

Wedding

Drupada sent a messanger to the Pandavas. He had invited them and his daughter to his palace for a feast after the swayamvara. Pandavas left for the palace in the chariots that had been brought for them. Drupada to test the Pandavas kept in his house articles of agriculture, weapons and scriptures along with food and drink. He wanted the Pandavas to disclose their identifty to him. Kunti and Draupdi went into the inner part of the palace.  The ladies there bathed and decorrated both Kunti and Draupadi. The Pandavas sat on the provided seats like kings. The king then asked the Pandavas to tell who they really were.

Yudhistira then introduced all. Drupada then wanted to know how they had escaped the house of lac. Yudhistira was then told that Arjuna needed to get ready and wed Draupadi as per scriptures. Yudhistira said the princess needed to marry all five of them and walk around the fire with all five of them.

The sage Vyasa then came there and told Drupada not to worry. Draupdi was to marry and have husbands.

Yudhistira then said he had heard of a lady called Jatila who had married seven sages.

Vyasa then told Drupada that once Yama, God of death, let off killing humans. People started increasing on the planet. The Gods then went to Brahma and asked him to do something and maintain the balance. Yama, Brahma said, was busy in a sacrifice. Once that was over, he would resume his duties. The Gods then went to Yama. Indra sawa  golden lotus floating in the river. He wanted to know where it was going and followed it. He saw a woman washing herself in the river. She was glowing like fire, and was weeping. Her tears were falling in the water and becoming golden lotuses. Indra asked her who who she and why was crying. The woman told Indra to follow her. He soon saw a handsome young man and a young woman playing dice. They were engrossed in their game and did not care about Indra. Indra was angry at being ignored. The young man was actually Shiva. He cast a glance at Indra, and Indra froze. When the game was over, Shiva told the weeping woman to get Indra there. At a touch of the weeping woman, Indra fell on the earth. Indra was then told by Shiva, that he along with other Gods would be born on earth as Pandavas. The weeping woman, who was foutune, would also be born as the common wife of all. Indra then went to Vishnu who then told him that he would be born as sons of Devaki and Rohini.

Vyasa said it was told that Draupdi would be a common wife and that so one could deny that. Vyasa also told Drupada, how in a previuous birth, Draupdi had been given a boon of five husbands by Shiva.

Vyasa then addressed the Pandavas and said this was an auspicious day for marriage. Preparations started for the wedding. Draupdi was bathed and draped in beautiful clothes and jewels. People who came to see the wedding were dazzled by her beauty.

Drupada's palace was decorated with lights and flowers.

The pandavas were bathed and dressed in expensive robes. They, accompanied by their priest, Dhaumya, entered the wedding hall. Dhaumya lit the holy fire. Draupadi walked around the fire with each of the brothers. Drupada then gave great expensive gifts to the Pandavas. Krishna also sent them many gifts.

Vidura conveyed this message to Dhritarashtra, and the king after consultation his near ones, let Pandavas rule over the barren land of Khandavapratha.

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