DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.638#0292
CHAPTER XIII
The Choice of Draupadi
Drupada's Hope—Conditions for winning his Daughter—The Great
Bow and Whirling Target—The Swayamvara—Pandavas in Disguise—Love-
sick Rajahs put to Shame—Kama strings the Bow—Rejected as a Base-born
Suitor—Arjuna's Triumph—Chosen by Princess—An Angry Scene—Rajahs
seek Vengeance—Warriors attack Supposed Brahmans—Kama and Salya over-
come—Princess taken to Potter's House—Pritha's Command—An Evening
Meal—The Royal Spy.
Now Drupada had long cherished the hope that Arjuna
would become his daughter's husband. He never re-
vealed his wish to any man, but ere he proclaimed the
swayamvara of Draupadi, he thought of the great Pan-
dava archer, and caused to be made a powerful bow
which only a strong man could bend and string. For
a target he had constructed a strange and curious device:
a high pole was erected, and it was surmounted by a
golden fish, which was poised above a swiftly-revolving
wheel. Then Drupada issued a proclamation far and
wide summoning the regents and princes of the world
to the swayamvara. He said : " The man who will bend
the bow and shoot an arrow through the wheel which
will strike and bring down the golden fish shall obtain
my daughter in marriage." None but a mighty archer
who was Arjuna's equal could hope to win the beautiful
Draupadi, for five arrows only were allowed to each com-
petitor, and the fish must needs be struck on an eye to
be brought down.
213
The Choice of Draupadi
Drupada's Hope—Conditions for winning his Daughter—The Great
Bow and Whirling Target—The Swayamvara—Pandavas in Disguise—Love-
sick Rajahs put to Shame—Kama strings the Bow—Rejected as a Base-born
Suitor—Arjuna's Triumph—Chosen by Princess—An Angry Scene—Rajahs
seek Vengeance—Warriors attack Supposed Brahmans—Kama and Salya over-
come—Princess taken to Potter's House—Pritha's Command—An Evening
Meal—The Royal Spy.
Now Drupada had long cherished the hope that Arjuna
would become his daughter's husband. He never re-
vealed his wish to any man, but ere he proclaimed the
swayamvara of Draupadi, he thought of the great Pan-
dava archer, and caused to be made a powerful bow
which only a strong man could bend and string. For
a target he had constructed a strange and curious device:
a high pole was erected, and it was surmounted by a
golden fish, which was poised above a swiftly-revolving
wheel. Then Drupada issued a proclamation far and
wide summoning the regents and princes of the world
to the swayamvara. He said : " The man who will bend
the bow and shoot an arrow through the wheel which
will strike and bring down the golden fish shall obtain
my daughter in marriage." None but a mighty archer
who was Arjuna's equal could hope to win the beautiful
Draupadi, for five arrows only were allowed to each com-
petitor, and the fish must needs be struck on an eye to
be brought down.
213