Arjuna returns

Arjuna stayed with Krishna till his twelve years of exile was over. He then returned back to Indraprastha along with Subhadra. He was greeted warmly by all. He took blessings of Yudhistira, Bhima and Kunti and hugged the sons of Madri. He went to Draupadi who refused to talk to him. He asked her what was the matter, and she asked him to go with Subhadra, as he had no need of her anymore. Arjuna said she was his first wed and would always remain special.
This pleased Draupadi and she and Arjuna started talking.

Some days later Krishna and Balarama came to visit the Pandavas. Balarama, having forgotten his anger blessed all. He left and Krishna stayed back for a few days. Soon Subhadra was heavy with child. She gave birth to a son who was heroic and seemed to fear no one. Wonderful in looks, the boy was named Abhimanyu. Draupadi also had five sons from her five husbands.
Prativindhya was born of Yudhistira and Draupadi, Sutasoma was born of Bhima and Draupadi, Shrutakarma was born of Arjuna and Draupadi, Shatanika was born of Nakula and Draupadi and Shrutasena was born of Sahadeva and Draupadi.

Thus ends the Adi Parva of Mahabharata. 

Duryodhana humiliated and Arjuna married Subhadra

Duryodhana heard of Arjuna carrying away Subhadra. He started calling out to the Kuru elders to say something. He asked Karna to capture Arjuna. Bhima intervened and said he would kill anyone who laid a finger on Arjuna.

In the meanwhile Satyaki went to Arjuna. He asked Arjuna to throw away his anger and return to Dwaraka. Krishna and Balarama had agreed to the marriage.

Duryodhana, humiliated, returned by his friends and army to Hastinapur.

Arjuna then untied Daruka and asked for his forgiveness. Daruka said that was absolutely fine and he understood why the action had been taken.

Bhishma, Drona, Kripa and Vidura had stayed back. They along with Krishna, got Arjuna ready as a groom. As per the vedic rites, Arjuna was married to Subhadra.

Arjuna kidnaps Subhadra

Balarama asked the ladies to greet Duryodhana and anoint him with turmeric, as a groom should be. They took Duryodhana to the river side to anoint him.
In the meanwhile, on Krishna's command, Satyabhama, Subhadra and many other women started for their way to the banks of river Saraswati.
Krishna told Arjuna that Duryodhana had come and wanted to get married that very night. There was not time in hand, and Arjuna needed to act fast. Krishna called Daruka, his charioteer, and asked him to get the chariot ready. He asked him to take Arjuna and do exactly as Arjuna said.
Arjuna, got dressed with his weapons, as if he was going hunting, and climbed on the chariot. He saw Subhadra on the river banks. He quickly pulled Subhadra into his chariot, and asked Daruka to lead the way to Indraprastha.

The women around started shouting for help. Subhadra had been kidnapped. Men came rushing and decided to chase Arjuna. Hearing the news of Subhadra's kidnapping people joined in to catch Arjuna. Pradyumna and Balarama started chasing Arjuna. Balarama was furious. How could Arjuna steal his sister away. He decided to kill Arjuna and the rest of the Pandavas also. He thought Krishna must have been duped by Arjuna. 

Duryodhana leaves for Dwaraka as a groom

Duryodhana, ready to get married, sent a message to Indraprastha, inviting the Pandavas for his wedding. When Yudhistira got the message, he was confused. He called Sahadeva and asked him if he knew what the message meant, as he had received a different message from Arjuna.

Sahadeva told Yudhistitra that he had heard from trusted sources that Satyabhama had already got Subhadra married to Arjuna, with the consent of Krishna, without Balarama's knowledge.

Yudhistira said it would become very humiliating for Duryodhana if they went, and it was best that they declined the wedding invite. Also it would not be nice if no one went, so asked Bhima to take an army and leave for Dwaraka. Bhima started preparing himself. Collecting a large army, he started for Dwaraka.

Duryodhana started preparing himself for the wedding. Bhima asked him not go and get humiliated as Subhadra was already married to someone. Dushasana, hearing this, thought this sounded correct. Bhishma and Drona started discussing how to handle this.

Duryodhana said he would go ahead. He sent a message that he would be reaching Dwaraka in three days and Subhadra was to be gotten ready for him.

Arjuna asked to run away with Subhadra

Getting back to the stroy of Arjuna, the sage said :

Devaki, Revati and others were hurt to hear Balarama's view point.


Satyabhama went and told Krishna about the conversation between Devali, Rohini and Balarama. Krishna asked her not to worry. He asked for someone to bring Arjuna to him. Satyabhama said she would go and fetch Arjuna herself. She saw Arjuna and Subhadra there. She told Arjuna about the conversation with Balarama. She asked him to accompany her,

Krishna greeted Arjuna and made him sit. He then said that while the Yadavas wanted Subhadra to marry Arjuna, Balarama was not agreeing and wanted Duryodhana to be her husband.
Arjuna said he would run away with Subhadra and if it came to a fight, with Krishna's blessing, he would win that.

Krishna said a war was not needed and asked him to quietly run away with Subhadra. He said - Let people think you are going on a hunt. Take my chariot. I will send Subhadra to a certain spot. Take her with you and run away. I will then go and calm down Balarama.

Arjuna agreed and went back to his room. There he wrote a message to Yudhistira and sent that. The message stated that he would be eloping with Subhadra with Krishna's consent. He wanted to know what to do next.

A prompt message came back - Do as Krishna advises.

A week went by. In this time, Hastinapur started celebrating. Duryodhana was going be a brother in law of Krishna and that would be great thing in the family. Duryodhana would get an option to get in the good books of Krishna. A messenger then came with the message that Balarama wanted Duryodhana to marry Subhadra, but the others wanted her to marry Arjuna.
Bhishma asked Duryodhana not to go else he would be humiliated.

Arjuna marries Subhadra in Gandharva style

Janmajeya wanted to know then about Arjuna's marriage to Subhadra.
The sage said :

When Arjuna spoke to Satyabhama, Satyabhama said - You need to give medicines to my sister in law. You are roaming around as an ascetic, making people fall in love with you, give a medicine to cure that.
Arjuna said - Excuse me today. I am tired and I need some rest tonight. I have roamed around in pilgrim spots, but you are maligning my character.

Satyabhama knew what to do. She took Subhadra out with her and called Mayavati, wife of Pradyumna, son of Krishna. Mayavati, who was none other than Rati, was an expert in magic and in arousing passion. She said she would do what was needed.

She decorated Subhadra and asked to re enter Arjuna's room.

When Arjuna saw her, he got up. He said who are you. If you were a man, I would have killed you. Why are you here? Like Surpanakha, I will cut off your ears and eyes.

When he came closer, he saw Subhadra, decked up like a bride. He embraced her.

Satyabhama from outside, asked what was happening. Subhadra said Arjuna had caught her hand and was not letting her go.

Satyabhama then said Arjuna, you are an ascetic. How can you catch the hand of the sister of Krishna and Balarama.

Arjuna said Forgive me. I was not aware of the skills of women.

Satyabhama then asked Arjuna to wed Subhadra in the Gandharva style.

Once that was over, Satyabhama went to Krishna and told him everything. She asked him to make arrangements for the wedding.
Krishna said that would not be possible imeediately, as Balarama did not want Arjuna as the husband of Subhadra.

Satyabhama then asked Krishna, what was the way out? Krishna said he would think of something. 

Arjuna meets Subhadra

In the evening, Satyabhama went to Krishna and told him about the conversation that she had had with Subhadra. Krishna said he was in agreement with Subhadra's wish and Arjuna would make a good husband for her.

Satyabhama went where Subhadra was. She asked Subhadra to follow her.They entered the room where Arjuna was sleeping on a grand cot. Satyabhama called out to Arjuna. Arjuna woke up and wanted to know who she was. She said she was Satyabhama, Krishna's wife. Arjuna said it was the middle of the night, when the world was sleeping. So what was she doing at that hour?

Satyabhama said she had come with a proposal from her sister in law, who had lost her heart to him. She then showed Arjuna, Subhadra, who was standing in a corner.

Arjuna said while he was willing to take Subhadra, he would need the permission of Balarama , Krishna and the other elders.

Satyabhama said Draupadi would not take to marriage of Arjuna very well.

Arjuna said - You do not know Draupadi. Krishna has many wives, how has he managed to have equilibrium among the wives. Krishna likes you a lot and gives a lot to you. Krishna got the Parijata tree and gave that to Rukmini, and that became known all over.

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Janmajeya then wanted to know more about Krishna and his getting the Parijata and the equation between Satyabhama and Rukmini..

Satyabhama and Subhadra talk

When Krishna learnt that Arjuna was nearby, he went to Prabhasa to meet him. The two hugged each other. They went to a mountain named Raivataka where a grand festival was being celebrated by the people of Dwaraka. Arjuna told Krishna about the rule at home and why he was in exile. Krishna asked Arjuna to stay with him till his exile period was over. Arjuna told blessings of Vasudeva, Krishna's father, who was Kunti's brother.

Arjuna then saw an extremely beautiful woman and asked Krishna who she was. Krishna said she was his sister, Subhadra. Krishna said she was unmarried, to which Arjuna started blushing. Subhadra was also in awe, when she saw Arjuna. She fell on the ground. When Satyabhama asked her what she was doing on the ground, Subhadra gave an excuse of a thorn having stuck in her foot. Satyabhama saw there was no thorn and asked what was the matter. Subhadra said the thorn had strcuk her in the heart. The thorn was the sight of Arjuna.

Satyabhama said this was not proper. Subhadra was a cousin of Arjuna and this relationship would be looked down upon. She asked her to get up and go home before someone else heard this conversation.

Subhadra said a woman's life was tough when she could get the one she loved. Satyabhama said a woman was the most wonderful creation, as she bore and created the inhabitants of the universe. The name of Lakshmi was taken before Narayana and the name of Sita was taken before Rama.

Subhadra said all was true but the identify of the woman was because of her man. She, Subhadra, did not have the man she wanted.

Satyabhama said she would arrange for a great husband for Subhadra.

Subhadra said she was interested in having Arjuna only. She said she would kill herself if she did not get him.

Satyabhama realizing that the feelings of Subhadra was serious, decided to take her to Arjuna.