Second Swayamvara

After a long time , a Brahmana named Parnada returned to the city  and said to Damayanti, Looking foir Nala, I went to the city of Ayodhya and met the king Rituparna. I said what you had told me to say. THere I got no reaction. I met Vahuka,the charioteer of the king, a very ugly person. He could cook without using fire. He was weeping and said - Tell your princess, to protect herself.  Do not be angry. He, who deserted her, did because he of his own misfortune. Do not loose temper on one who lost his only garment to the birds.
Hearing all this, I thought of coming and telling you.

Damayanti had tears in her eyes. She asked her mother to send the brahmana, Sudeva to Ayodhya with a message. He was to Ayodhya and tell the king Rituparna living there that Damayanti was holding another swayamvara.The swayamvara is to happen the next day. As Damayanti has no information about Nala, she has decided to choose a secodn husband.

Sudeva went and reported the same to Rituparna.

Pandavas go to the Swayamvara

Entering the city of Panchala, the Pandavas went inside the huge circular dome where the swayamvara ceremony was to be held.
They had been living the life of other brahmanas, begging for food.
Drupada had made lavish arrangements for the ceremony. His daughter was born from the fire, so he wanted a great warrior as her husband. Drupada setup a target that was nearly impossible to meet. He knew Arjuna would be able to achieve this, and in his heart he wanted Arjuna to be his daughter's husband.

When Drupada had heard the news of the death of the Pandavas in Varnavrata, he was not convinced. The Pandavas were born from the Gods and it was not possible to easily them off. He knoew somehow that the Pandavas were alive and Arjuna would come win his daughter's hand.

He arranged for a bow, the likes of which had never been seen till date. The bow was floating in mid air. The bow needed to be got, five arrows were to be shot using the bow, and the target had to be hit. Who ever was able to hit the target would marry Draupadi.

Announcements were made. Kings from all over started coming to see this ceremony and take a chance at getting Draupadi as their wife. The kingdom of Panchala became full of kings arriving from various places. Wonderful quarters were arranged for the guests. Lavish arrangements were made. The entire city looked and smelt divine. Among the invited kings and princes were the sons of Dhritarashtra, Shakuni,  Karna, Bhishma and Drona.  Even the Gods were watching to see how the ceremony would go. Krishna and his brother, Balarama also came there. Seeing Krishna come in, most of the invited kings and princes got up and bowed down to him. Shishupala and Jarasandha refused to pay their respect to Krishna.

Bhishma said Krishna was a very learned person, a keeper of the Vedas and he needed to be respected. He was one who was the upholder of the universe. If he took his original shape, the entire universe would seem like a speck of dust on his body. To form a bond of illusion, he had take the shape of a human, Gopala. His body was perfect in every aspect, and from his navel, arose a lotus, on which Brahma was seated. All Gods including Brahma and Shiva prayed to this form.

Jarasandha laughed and said this was not true. If Krishna was so great a person, why did he flee from Mathura and setup his residence in Dwaraka. If he was so great, why was he scared of me?

Bhishma said : I know the answers to all your questions. You are speaking without thinking. You were a good king once, but have turned evil. You talk about Krishna running, but you ran away eighteen times after facing defeat.

Jarasandha's face turned red in anger and he did not say anything further.

Bhishma said he would sit somewhere else, in a place where Krishna was not being insulted. Saying so, he changed his place.