|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 287 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  138

Devi Draupadhi Vivaham – Subhadra Haranam

So apashyathaththra Mahathim Kanyam Veeramanoharam | Preethyuth Phullekshanasthasyam Bhavakshubdham Mano Dhadhe ||

Pandavas arrived in the palace of King Drupadha, there was a large number of Kings and rulers of various Kingdoms were assembled, Krishna, Kauravas were seated in the assembly.  There was an interesting challenge organized to find a suitable groom for Devi Draupadi.  The challenge was shoot arrow on the eye of the fish hanging down on the hook, looking down its mirror image on the water.  Arjun shot the arrow and won the challenge, thus he was married to Devi Draupadi.  They returned to meet Devi Kunthi, it was dark in the evening.  Arjuna called out for his mother and informed her about a wonderful thing he has brought from Panchala, Devi Kunthi answered his call instructing them to share equally with five brothers.  Thus, Draupadi has become wives for the five sons of Devi Kunthi.   She sincerely followed wifely duties to them.  They have decided Draupadi should serve one of them as her husband for a year if anyone breaks the rule should undergo punishments, would take up the pilgrimage for a year.   It was Arjuna who breaks the rule more often and undertakes a pilgrimage to various places. 

Once Arjuna was on pilgrimage, came to know about the marriage of Devi Subadhra, sister of Balarama and Krishna.  Duryodhana was the disciple of Balarama while leaving the Gurukula, Balarama was pleased on his skill in the usage of mace, promised Duryodhana that he would offer his sister Subhadra as his wedded wife.  Duryodhana approached Balarama and decided to get married to Subhadra.  Arjuna had a yearning for Subadhra from his childhood days, he decided to meet her immediately.  He disguised in the form of an ascetic, attired in a saffron robe, adorned in Rudraksha, smeared in sacred ashes, and went to Dwaraka.