Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c4.809

c4.809

15) *Pāñcālīsvayamvara*. Citraratha, during his talks with the Pāṇḍavas had pointed out to them the need to have a priest to lead and guide them in all matters, and accordingly they visited Dhaumyāśrama and installed the Maharṣi (Dhaumya) as their priest. And, meantime, seeing thousands of people on their way to attend the Svayamvara (marriage by open choice of husband by the girl) of Kṛṣṇā (Pāñcālī) daughter of the King of Pāñcāla, the Pāṇḍavas also followed the crowd. Veda Vyāsa, whom the Pāṇḍavas met on their way blessed them. King Drupada wished to give his daughter Kṛṣṇā in marriage to Arjuna. The news that the Pāṇḍavas were burned to death in the palace of wax grieved Drupada. Yet he had made arrangements for a trial of strength by Heroes at the Svayamvara. A tremendous bow was got ready and installed on the ground, and a machine constructed which was kept suspended in the air. The target was placed inside the machine. And then Drupada spoke thus: “My daughter shall be married to him who will bend the bow and with the first arrow hit the target placed inside the machine”. (M.B., Ādi Parva, Chapter 155, Verse 11). Great warriors like Duryodhana, Karṇa, Śiśupāla, Śiṃśumāra took their seats in the marriage hall. All the kings failed even to lift the bow up. Ultimately Arjuna lifted the bow and hit the target very easily. Pāñcālī put the wedding garland on Arjuna’s neck. When the Pāṇḍavas returned to their mother with Pāñcālī in the evening the mother from inside her room said: “What you have got today, my sons, you enjoy among yourselves.” Kuntī said this under the impression that what her sons had got was some Bhikṣā. At any rate, in obedience to the above injunction of the mother Pāñcālī became wife to the five Pāṇḍavas. (M.B., Ādi Parva, Chapters 190, 191).