Paandav in Forest: Paandav Marry Draupadee

Paandav and Kuntee still stayed with that Braahman family for some more time. Once some Braahman came to that Braahman family and stayed there overnight. Seeing them so poor he told her that the king of Kaampilya Nagaree Drupad was organizing Swayamvar for his daughter, so they should also go there, because Raajaa was going to give lot of things in alms. He himself was going there for the same purpose. Kuntee got very surprised to hear this that as where from Drupad got the daughter who was so grown-up that he was organizing her Swayamvar. The Braahman said - "She was born from sacred fire along with her brother Dhrishtdyumn. Then he told her Draupadee's full story.

Draupadee's Birth

"It is a very long and interesting story of the birth of these two children. There were two friends Drone and Drupad who studied together in the Aashram of Rishi Bharadwaaj. One day Drupad told Drone that what was his, it was Drone's also and he would share his kingdom also when he becomes the king of Paanchaal. Once Drone came to him to ask for a cow as his friend, but Drupad said - "Friendship is only among equal status people. We have no equality among ourselves, so if you want the cow as a Braahman, I can give it to you just now but not as a friend." Drone didn't say a word and came back with a strong feeling of revenge.

When Drone finished educating Kaurav and Paandav, he asked them to bring Drupad as captive in Guru Dakshinaa. Arjun did this for him. He took his half of the kingdom and one cow from his share of kingdom and let him go. Drupad admired Arjun for his bravery and techniques of archery and wished he had a daughter to give it to him; but at the same time he hated Drone so much that he started dreaming of a son who could kill Drone. Hatred developed in Drupad's heart when it ceased in Drone's heart. It was strange. Logic disappears in anger, so Drupad started searching for a Rishi to perform such a Yagya which could give him a son to kill Drone and a daughter to give to Arjun. He came to a Rishi name Upayaaja and after pleasing him for one year he found out that this Rishi will not do this Yagya himself, but suggested the name of his elder brother, Yaaj, saying that he doesn't have the knowledge of sacredness and non-sacredness so he can surely do your work.

Drupad came to Yaaj's place and prayed him for a son; and for this he could give him 100 million cows. He got ready for it. Yaaj started the Putrakaam Yagya. He asked Raajaa to call his wife. A maid came and told him that she was taking bath. Yaaj could not wait for her and dropped an Aahuti in Yagya fire which caused a chariot to appear from the Havan Kund. Seated on that chariot was a god-like youth in a warrior dress. Then a beautiful divine woman appeared from the Havan Kund. They were Dhrishtdyumn and Draupadee. Draupadee was dark and her flashing eyes bewitched everyone. When she appeared from Agni, an Aakaashvaanee said - "This most beautiful woman in the world will be the cause of destruction of all Kshatriya. She is born to fulfill divine purpose." The same children were named as Dhrishtdyumn and Krishnaa, better known as Draupadee.

Bheem said - "But I have heard that Dhrishdyumn is a student of Drone." The Braahman said - "You are right. Even being aware of this fact that the prince was born to kill him, he taught him everything. He thought that there was no use in fighting fate. Dhrishtdyumn was a good friend of Bheem, one of the Paandav, who was killed in Baaranaavat fire. This is very sad that Dhritraashtra did not behave according to his Kul (family). He sent them to Baarnaavat, a beautiful city, where he build a palace of highly inflammable material and one day set fire to it. Paandav are now dead and their mother too. When Drupad heard about this incident he went just mad with grief. At that time it looked as if he was mourning his own son. Then his Guru said to him - "Don't be so sad. I have a feeling that Paandav are not dead. I have a suggestion that you proclaim that there is a Swayamvar of Draupadee in the whole Bhaarat and put a condition for her marriage that only Arjun could fulfill. I am sure that Arjun won't miss the challenge." That is why I am wandering with this message. Who knows I am telling this to Arjun."

He further said - "So she is the one whose Swayamvar is being organized now. You should also go there because you will get so much in alms that you will not need to ask for alms for your whole life; secondly Dwaarakaa's king Krishn will also come there."And Braahman laughed at his own joke. Then he went to sleep.

Kuntee and her sons listened this story very attentively. Kuntee guessed that Paandav wanted to go there, so she said - "We have been living here for quite some time, let us move somewhere else. Why not we move to Kaampilya Nagaree itself in Paanchaal Desh." None of the brothers could sleep that night. in spite of knowing that Draupadee was meant for Arjun, but still since they heard the description of her beauty, all brothers were thinking about her. Next morning they left Ekchakraa Nagaree for Kaampilya Nagaree. On the way they met Vyaas Jee. He blessed them all that their all wish will come true. He said - "I will come again to Kaampilya. You will need me there."

Advent of Rishi Dhaumya

It was midnight. They were passing the River Gangaa. They thought that they should take bath in Gangaa. At the same time a Gandharv named Angaarvarn was playing in the River with his wives. He stopped them to take bath in the rivr to save his privacy, He further said - "This River is always mine." Arjun got furious at this, he said - "Seas, mountains, and waters do not belong to anybody specific. They belong to all." But the Gandharv didn't listen to him. They engaged in a fight. Gandharv got defeated, Arjun burned his chariot with Aagneya Astra. He said - "Till now I was called "Chitrarath" because my Rath (chariot) was very beautiful, but now I will call myself "Dagdharath" because you have burned my Rath.

Gandharv was very impressed with burning the chariot. He wanted to learn that knowledge so he extended friendship with Arjun. In exchange he gave him the power to see the happenings in all the three worlds. He gave him beautiful horses also, but Arjun returned them to him saying that when they will have good time he would take them from him. Gandharv was happy to know that Paandav were alive. He suggested - "You are going to be the lords of this Earth, so you must have a Guru - a Kul Guru." Paandav asked him to suggest any name, he suggested Rishi Dhaumya's name. They went in search of Rishi Dhaumya. They found him, Dhaumya was very pleased with their humility and behavior o he accepted to become their Kul Guru..