Showing posts with label Dhristadyumna. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dhristadyumna. Show all posts

Wednesday, 30 March 2016

Draupadi goes with the Pandavas

Krishna and Balarama bowed down to Kunti, their father's sister. Kunti was very glad to see them and wanted to know how things were. For twelve years since she had been out of Hastinapura, she had no news of anyone.
Krishna said when Vasudeva had heard of his sister perishing in the fire along with her sons, he went into a deep shock. He went into a deep shock. He wanted to know what had happened.
Krishna said when he had met Vidura, he had learnt what had actually happened. He said the day of hardships were nearly over. He then went and bowed down to Yudhistira who was elder to him. Yudhistira hugged him. They all sat together and spoke about the house of lac and the hardships that the Pandavas had been through.
Krishna said In love for his sons, Dhritarashtra had turned evil. His sons were evil and soon they would get what they deserved.
Yudhistira asked Krishna how he knew they were in this hut. Krishna said what had happened in the court and arena was possible by only two people, Bhima and Arjuna. Yudhistira said he was afraid Duryodhana would discover where they were hiding. Krishna told him not to worry.

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In Panchala, Drupada was worried for his daughter. He had no idea to whom he had given away his daughter. He was brooding when Dhristadyumna arrived. Drupada wanted to know how his daughter was. Who was the brahmana who had taken his daughter? He said Vyasa had said only Arjuna would be able to shoot the target and now a brahmana had taken away his daughter.

Dhristadyumna said there was no cause for worry. Draupadi was in good hands. Dhristadyumna said how was it possible for a brahmana to single handed fight the great kings. Vyasa's words were not futile. In the fight there was an archer and a strong man. Draupadi had left them. They were later joined by three others.  They all went to a brahmana's house. There was a lady there, who was extremely beautiful. She was the mother of the men.
Keeping Draupadi with their mother, the men had gone out to beg. The food they got was given to Draupadi who quickly cooked that. The mother then asked Draupadi to divide the food into two parts. One part was given to the strong man. The other part was divided into five parts. Four of the brothers were given a part each. The fifth part was divided into two, of which one part was for Draupadi and the other for the mother.
One of the men, who was hungry and ate Draupadi's portion too.
After food, they went to sleep. The youngest one got the bedding ready.
The mother slept on the top.
The five men then slept below her feet and Draupadi slept below their feet.
Then they started talking and that is when Dhristadyumna said he discovered who they really were. 

Wednesday, 23 March 2016

Dhristadyumna opens the challenge for all

Many a time Dhristadyumna came and asked the kshatriyas assembled to try hitting the target. Seeing no one ready, Bhishma got up. He easily took the bow. He said he was a celibate for life, and if he was successful with the target, the bride would be for Duryodhana.
He was about to shoot an arrow when he saw Shikhandi there in front of him. Seeing Shikhandi, he dropped the bow.

Shikhandi was the transgender son of Drupada.

Dhristadyumna then said he was opening the contest for all people, irrespective of their caste. Hearing this, Drona got up. White matted hair on his head, he said if he was able to hit the target, Draupadi would be won for Duryodhana.

Drona went and picked up the bow. He strung it and pulled the bow string. He then went closer to the target. He saw the reflection of the target in the water. The actual target was very high above, on a discus which was revolving at a high speed. There was a hole in the discus for just one arrow to go in. If one looked above, the target would be visible, but from the reflection in the water, above the discus one could see a fish. To shoot the fish, you would have to look at the reflection below and then shoot the arrow, without looking up.

Seeing Drona getting ready, Krishna did not feel very good. Drona, the disciple of Parasurama, had the capability to hit the target. Krishna silently covered the hole in the discus, with his Sudarshan Chakra. When Drona shot the arrow, it hit Krishna's discus and fell down.

Ashwatthama, seeing his father loose, got up and picked up the bow. His arrow also struck Sudarshana and fell down.

Karna then got up. He went and picked up the bow with his left hand. He bent the bow on his knee and tied the bow string. He then shot an arrow which also struck the Sudarshana Chakra and fell down.