Mahabharat Katha:T#4; Part 52 On Pg 140 - Page 68

Originally posted by: lipshaa

Beautifully written!! I really love ur Writeup yara!!! :))

Thank you so much Lipshaadi!

Very nice updt.
Love krishna, he s so cute n love bhimarjun.
Waiting 4 nxt updt, bt this tym i wnt a bigger updt.
Thnx 4 pm.

Originally posted by: SujaLuvsMayur

Very nice updt.
Love krishna, he s so cute n love bhimarjun.
Waiting 4 nxt updt, bt this tym i wnt a bigger updt.
Thnx 4 pm.

Thank you so much Di!!

Originally posted by: sunitikapoor

As always beautifully written.

Thank you so much!

👏👏👏

Word Count: 0

Originally posted by: jayshu17

👏👏👏

Thank you so much!

As Draupadi lay in a corner of the hut,she thought of her life at her father's palace. The palace where scores of dasis would be waiting on her and a single inappropriate word would initiate terrible bloodshed. She did not like it, but couldn't at the same time admire her father's protectiveness. True, he had not given birth to them, but she knew that they were dearer to him than his other children. She thanked God for that, for she had seen her sister Shikhandini being banished from the kingdom, for no apparent fault of hers. This is better, she thought as she heard the brothers discussing different war strategies, the room's small, but is peaceful. She heard her mother-in-law's voice, "Shh! You'll wake up the girl, uncomfortable as she is. Now, stop talking or else I'll make you hold your ears and stand outside!" They thought she was asleep. A giggle escaped her lips. "I-I'm sorry!" she said. Kunti said, "It's me who should be sorry, my girl!"
"No, not at all! It is the will of the Almighty! Who are we to interfere in his plans? Please tell your sons that they are to assemble near the river immediately after their morning prayers. I intend to clean up their feet. Ask them, whether they've even cared to look at them!"
"Maa! Please tell her that the feet of wandering ascetics always look like this!" said Yudhishthir.
"But, Mother, your sons are not ascetics. Not anymore. And if they intend to marry me, they will have to adjust themselves to my whims and fancies." Nakul let out a snort, "And I'm not joking. If my place for the rest of my life is at their feet, then I definitely have the right to maintain them in the way I want."

Next morning, a priest was sent to the potter's house to invite the Pandavs to Drupad's palace for the marriage ceremony. He arrived when Draupadi was busy scrubbing Bheem's feet who struggling feverishly and trying hard to stop his laughter. The brothers sent Draupadi and Kunti with the astonished (and probably frightened) priest and they followed soon after. Reaching the palace their eyes were met with the dignified grandeur of the mansion that had been constructed for their stay in Kampilya. Not an ordinary engineer's job, they thought. Seeming to read their thoughts, their cousin Krishna came up to them, "Isn't it beautiful? I got my personal architect to design this mansion." The brothers stood marveling at the beauty of the guesthouse when Krishna brought them back to reality with another thump on Arjun's back. "Do you want to go in at all? If you don't like it, then it's perfectly fine with me. I'll ask my architect to demolish this masterpiece of his and-" Yudhishthir said, "No no! We like it very much. Come! Let's go in!"

Krishna's wives sat around Draupadi describing the marriage rituals that were prevalent in their paternal kingdoms. They had brought along their jewellery boxes and were now mildly arguing about which set would suit the bride. "This makar set would be perfect for her." said Satyabhama, "Won't it, Draupadi?" Draupadi smiled coyly. Jambavati brought out a gorgeous necklace, "But my meen set is not that bad. What say, Draupadi?"
"In that case, what is the problem with my naag set?"
"Stop it you both! Just look at her! She's totally confused with all your bantering. She will wear none of your jewellery. She will wear my chandra set. Won't you Draupadi?"
They had not seen their husband standing behind them, "Stop this you girls! How dare you give away your wedding jewellery? And how dare you, Krishnaa, accept second-hand jewellery from your sisters-in-law for the most special day in your life? This is not done people! I have got a jeweler with about a hundred designs and sets ready at your disposal. Please, all of you, select your own set from him!" Leaving the queens perplexed as to what their husband actually said, Krishna disappeared to have a look at his brothers.

"Hey bridegrooms! Come on! Be fast! You can do the dreaming later!" said he to the Pandavs. "I'm ready!" Nakul sprang up. "Good! Others? Stop dreaming for Draupadi's sake at least!"
"But the nature of the marriage-"
"Everyone understands Sanskrit, and Ved Vyaas! Now be fast brother Yudhishthir! You should remember that you're the first one in line! Brother Bheem? Arjun? Sahdev? Learn something from Nakul! Good job my brother! Faster all of you!"
"WAIT A SECOND!" roared Bheem. Krishna stepped back in mock fear, "Good Lord! You sound so Dau-ish!"
"And my fist will also seem 'Dau-ish' on your sweet face if you don't shut your mouth just now!"
Krishna chuckled, "You ask me to believe that?"
"Ah Bheem! Is this how you speak to your younger brother?" scolded Yudhishthir.

Krishna led the five brothers into the marriage hall where Drupad awaited them for a few words. He said, "Before I allow the marriage proceeding to begin, I ask you one last time. Can you truly respect the sanctity of this unusual marriage?" Yudhishthir spoke with folded hands, "We will give our best attention, care and concern to her. Your daughter shall be treated as the crest-jewel of the divine crown of life that we shall endure. She will be like the sole lotus blossomed in the warm lake of love. She being henceforth, our wife, our sole companion through happiness and through despair, we promise to protect her and her dignity till our last breath." Drupad seemed at the verge of breaking down, "But, but can you truly keep her content?" Arjun spoke, "We shall try our best, Sir." Drupad nodded. "Your blessings, Father." said Sahdev. "You have it, my sons. Dhrishtadyumn, bring your sister to the marriage alter."

Sage Ved Vyaas had arrived to serve as the priest for the conduction of marriage. First, he called Yudhishthir.
Drupad and his queen came up and performing an aarati, they offered him a cup of madhuparka, a nutritious sweet drink.
Then Draupadi was called to request her to-be-husband to take his seat while she took hers. Amid the mantras chanted for their well-being and happy married life, they prayed, for eternal happiness and pleasant experiences.
This was followed by the ceremonial donation of a cow to Yudhishthir while the women helped Draupadi to wear her wedding dress and jewellery. Now, Yudhishthir tied the sacred thread around Draupadi's neck.
Drupad advanced. Placing Draupadi's hand in Yudhishthir's he formally requested the latter to accept his daughter as his wife and companion, to which Yudhishthir readily consented.
Then they proceeded to encircle the fire seven times, each time taking a vow to be by each other's side and fulfill the duties assigned to them.
They took seven steps together praying for divine assistance in all aspects of life- food, strength, prosperity, happiness, virtuous children, long life and eternal love.
The main sacrificial homa was conducted after this, through which the couple prayed for a long, happy married life.
After this, Yudhishthir led Draupadi to a stone on the right side on the sacrificial fire, and placing her right toe on it, he prayed to the Lord to give her enough strength to put up a brave fight against all odds that she might face during the life they lead together.
Then, they were led to another homa, where Dhrishtadyumn filled Draupadi's palms with parched rice and she shoved the offerings into the holy fire. Draupadi, through a mantra, stated that now that she left her father's gotra and accepted her husband's she prayed that they were never separated.

Ved Vyaas advanced towards her and said, "May you be a maiden again."

Now, it was Bheem's turn. He followed the rituals, accepting Draupadi as his second wife, while at the end of the ceremony the great sage again repeated the words. This was followed by the confirmation of the marital vows by Arjun, Nakul and Sahdev. Each time the sage repeated the mantra to protect Draupadi from the shame of polyandry.

At the end of the ceremony Drupad came and said, "Now, seeing my precious daughter situated as the crest-jewel of the five mighty pillars of dharma, I can give up all the anxieties that disturb me. Assure me sons that you shall not let any harm befall her."
The five brothers answered in chorus, "We promise to stand by your expectations, Father."

Fantastic part Radhikerani😃

Wonderful and a perfect reflection of the epic age.

Oh proteeti I finally got this thread