A few things about Draupadi, How true are they? - Page 9

Originally posted by: .Lonewalker.

Oh ok 🤔 But then why Draupadi was so upset when Arjun returned with Subhadra? And Subhadra had to dress up as a servant & appease her first? I always thought it was because Arjun broke the condition that she had put forward.

KMG has mistranslated the portion. The word used in the scene is pranayaat. That is love. Panchali, out of love, asks Arjuna to return to Subhadra. Arjuna asks multiple times for forgiveness. The question is forgiveness for what? He married before Subhadra twice. There was no condition not to bring any other woman to the palace. My best guess would be forgiveness for whatever he did which got him exiled. That weapon story is very silly. Arjuna didn't have the Gandeev at that time (It came later with Khandavadahana), and it's impossible to believe the kingdom had only on set of bows and arrows. My guess would be 'weapon in the chamber of the king and queen' is a euphemism for acting out of turn with Panchali which is the interpretation used by many.

Also note: he doesn't simply go to Panchali. He goes to her before even introducing his new bride to his mother. The order was: Yudhishtira, then the queen. Yudhishtira clearly forgives whatever it was Arjuna did, but Panchali doesn't relent. Then, Arjuna goes to Subhadra and asks her to change in cowherd clothes. Subhadra doesn't dress in servant's clothes. My guess is COWHERD clothes served as reminder she is Krishna's sister. Then, she goes to Kunti, and once Kunti accepts Subhadra, she goes to Panchali.

The actions are open to interpretation. My own would be that Subhadra was Arjuna's ticket to Panchali's good graces.

Originally posted by: Poorabhforever

I think that was just an exaggeration because the story is being narrated to janemya who was arjun s grandson.

That's a very good reason, makes complete sense. XD This whole point about Subhadra Arjun marriage being such a big deal is an exaggeration imo. Bhadra is workshipped in many places, also there are many folktales about this, hence it's not unnatural that this is an interpolation. Agree with your reasoning.

Originally posted by: HearMeRoar

KMG has mistranslated the portion. The word used in the scene is pranayaat. That is love. Panchali, out of love, asks Arjuna to return to Subhadra. Arjuna asks multiple times for forgiveness. The question is forgiveness for what? He married before Subhadra twice. There was no condition not to bring any other woman to the palace. My best guess would be forgiveness for whatever he did which got him exiled. That weapon story is very silly. Arjuna didn't have the Gandeev at that time (It came later with Khandavadahana), and it's impossible to believe the kingdom had only on set of bows and arrows. My guess would be 'weapon in the chamber of the king and queen' is a euphemism for acting out of turn with Panchali which is the interpretation used by many.

Also note: he doesn't simply go to Panchali. He goes to her before even introducing his new bride to his mother. The order was: Yudhishtira, then the queen. Yudhishtira clearly forgives whatever it was Arjuna did, but Panchali doesn't relent. Then, Arjuna goes to Subhadra and asks her to change in cowherd clothes. Subhadra doesn't dress in servant's clothes. My guess is COWHERD clothes served as reminder she is Krishna's sister. Then, she goes to Kunti, and once Kunti accepts Subhadra, she goes to Panchali.

The actions are open to interpretation. My own would be that Subhadra was Arjuna's ticket to Panchali's good graces.

So you mean that Arjun was exiled because he tried to get close to panchali in yudhishtra s year. ??? Quite plausible i guess. But how does subhdra fits in this ??

Originally posted by: CaptainSpark

When that delightful festival of immense grandeur commenced, Vasudeva and Partha went about, together, beholding everything around. While wandering there, they saw the handsome daughter of Vasudeva, Bhadra by name, decked with every ornament, in the midst of her maids. As soon as Arjuna beheld her he was possessed by the god of desire. Then, O Bharata, that tiger among men, Krishna, observing Partha contemplate her with absorbed attention, said with a smile, 'How is this? Can the heart of one that rangeth the woods be agitated by the god of desire? This is my sister, O Partha, and the uterine sister of Sarana. Blest be thou, her name is Bhadra and she is the favourite daughter of my father. Tell me if thy heart is fixed upon her, for I shall then speak to my father myself.'

"Arjuna answered, 'She is Vasudeva's daughter and Vasudeva's (Krishna) sister; endued with so much beauty, whom can she not fascinate? If this thy sister, this maid of the Vrishni race, becometh my wife, truly may I win prosperity in everything. Tell me, O Janardana, by what means I may obtain her. To get her I will achieve anything that is achievable by man.'

The above extract is quoted from KMG. Please note that Arjun was very much smitten by her and desired to marry her. Krishna didn't put it on him to marry her. He clearly said, if he wishes to marry her, he would speak to his father.

Moreover, Arjun was very much interested. So it's a little strange to say this was completely political. Note the parts underlined.

Smitten as in hormones? I agree. All 5 Pandavas were smitten by Panchali and Arjuna also by Subhadra. The point is that Arjuna doesn't say anything. It's quite possible to find a woman attractive without losing one's mind. Arjuna says something only when Krishna prods him. Once a brother offers to marry a goodlooking woman to him, what is Arjuna expected to say?

Start Bharat was clearly false in showing Subhadra in a one-sided love story, but being smitten by Panchali or Subhadra doesn't mean he fell in love. Nor they with him. At least Panchali knew he was there with marriage in mind. Subhadra didn't even know Arjuna.

Neither Arjuna-Panchali nor Arjuna-Subhadra were romances.

Originally posted by: CaptainSpark

Just for appeasement I guess xD It is said that Draupadi always had a soft corner for Arjun, hence they probably knew it would be natural for her to be upset with Arjun's wife.

Subhadra Arjun's marriage was political, yes. Arjun abducted her because of Krishna's words but he was NOT forced. Wrong information was spread by StarBharat about this. Yes Arjun Subhadra were not in love, but it is utter rubbish that he was madly in love with Draupadi and hence he was unwilling to marry her or something. Arjun and Draupadi weren't in love before marriage either. Just saying.

I don't believe in Arjun Draupadi lovestory either 😆 If it was ever there, not if it was a total strategic plan by Vyasa, but even if for few moments Arjun did have any romantic feeling towards Draupadi after winning her in Swayamvara & wearing the garland by her hands....it was bound to die the moment it was decided that all the 5 brothers are to marry her & she will be shared among them equally. After that, the trespassing & weapon retrieving fiasco happen & he went to exile, where he wondered about & married other wives 😆 He was hardly pining for Draupadi.

But I still believe Subhadra Arjun's marriage was more than just political alliance. Sure, it brought political alliance. But there was more to it.

Originally posted by: Poorabhforever

So you mean that Arjun was exiled because he tried to get close to panchali in yudhishtra s year. ??? Quite plausible i guess. But how does subhdra fits in this ??

Subhadra was Krishna's sister. Would the queen piss off an important ally?

Originally posted by: HearMeRoar

Subhadra was Krishna's sister. Would the queen piss off an important ally?

No not that how will subhdra apoease panchali for arjun mistake for which he was exiled ??

Originally posted by: .Lonewalker.

Draupadi did put a condition that the Pandavas can marry other women but they can't bring them to live with Draupadi. Draupadi will be the solo queen of their palace. Were there any other wives living with the Pandavas? No as far as I know. Not even any other Pandavas brought their other wives with them. Subhadra was the only exception.

Arjun & Ulupi's story is different. It was Ulupi herself who approached Arjun & took him with her to Kaurvaya. She expressed her wish to marry him & Arjun had initially declined her advances. Ulupi had to convince her to marry him. It was not the other way around.

Arjun Chitrangada's story has many versions. It is mostly believed that she was Manipuri princess. It was their tradition to have only one child & since Chitrangada was the only child of then King Chitravahana, she was the heir of the throne. And then her son would be the heir of the throne. Arjun stayed with her for 3 years & then moved on with his exile. Did Arjun propose to take her with him & she refused? She was bound by the tradition & couldn't leave her kingdom and Arjun knew about this before marrying her.

As for abducting Subhadra, well yes, it was Krishna's idea but Arjun went along with it. Krishna had asked Arjun whether he likes his sister & Arjun expressed his wish to marry her. He had said to get her he will achieve anything that is achievable by man.

(Refernce - https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01222.htm)

And Krishna hinted at abduction. Arjun took it knowing he didn't have any other chance as Balaram will oppose it. And Balaram did oppose their marriage & Krishna had to convince Balaram to accept their marriage.

@ Bold : I had stated in my earlier post that by love I didn't mean love as it is today. back then things were different. But it is unjust to assume that everything revolved around politics as well. If political alliance was all that was sought, Krishna could get Subhadra married to Yudhistir as he was the King. Or could have suggested Bheem should participate in her swayamvar if the competition was to be mace fight. But Krishna opted for Arjun instead as Arjun was interested in her. Even though political alliances were built by marriages, not everything is about politics. They were humans & they could very well have affection. Among all the marriages of Arjun, Draupadi & Subhadra are the ones that are remembered the most. Arjun's marriage with Draupadi was not a normal one. He had to wait 4 years for his turn once the 1 year assigned to him was over. Subhadra was the one with whom he spent most of his time & Subhadra brought him the joy of family life. Considering all things, I belief Arjun was more besotted with Subhadra than his other wives.

It is not something set in stone. It is my analysis. You are free to disagree.😳

Draupadi had no such Condition. The condition doesn't make any sense because it means she is asking them to be celibate for 4 years when they are not with her.

You said Arjun favors Subhadra because he brought her home which wasn't the case with his two other wives, I simply provided that it wasn't because Arjun rejected his two other wives, he couldn't bring them for one reason or another. He didn't handpick his favorite wife to bring home, he could bring only her as other two had different circumstances than Subhadra.

Arjun felt desire for Chitra, Draupadi and Subhadra, He wanted to marry all of them, again what exactly is the difference between his treatment of his other 3 wives and Subhadra?

Krushna opted for Arjun because Abhimanyu wasn't going to be Yudhishtira or Bhim's son, Arjun was the Nar and Subhadra the Yogmaya.

Again, Subhadra did not accompany him to Exile, There are two theories on Subhadra after the great war

1 Krushna asked Arjun to push Subhadra in a lake or something where she died

2 She lived with Arjun, but after the great war, Uloopi and Chitra came to Hastinapur

The thing is that opinions of shippers and changes in script by Mahabharata are mocked by you too, then your vehement support of a love story is not making sense when there's no textual evidence

Originally posted by: Poorabhforever

No not that how will subhdra apoease panchali for arjun mistake for which he was exiled ??

I imagine accepting Subhadra would mean accepting Arjuna also.

Originally posted by: HearMeRoar

Smitten as in hormones? I agree. All 5 Pandavas were smitten by Panchali and Arjuna also by Subhadra. The point is that Arjuna doesn't say anything. It's quite possible to find a woman attractive without losing one's mind. Arjuna says something only when Krishna prods him. Once a brother offers to marry a goodlooking woman to him, what is Arjuna expected to say?

Start Bharat was clearly false in showing Subhadra in a one-sided love story, but being smitten by Panchali or Subhadra doesn't mean he fell in love. Nor they with him. At least Panchali knew he was there with marriage in mind. Subhadra didn't even know Arjuna.

Neither Arjuna-Panchali nor Arjuna-Subhadra were romances.

Yes, all of these romances were due to being "smitten." A proper falling in love in today's terms didn't exactly play a part here. I agree. Subhadra Arjun was hardly a romance, only folktales have made it as it is today.

My point is this- Arjun was desirous of her. I mean, if this was just another maid, I don't think he would be interested. He was interested and attracted to her, just like he and his brothers were to Draupadi. And hence he accepted. Krishna didn't force him and he didn't do it ONLY because of Krishna is what I mean.