Kampilya

Potter's hut

Draupadi woke up to the pleasant morning. It had been such a good sleep that she had been unusually late. Her gaze fell on the other corner of the room. None was there. Fresh flowers lying on the Puja altar told her that they were already done with the morning phase of Sandhya-vandana. She bit her tongue for being so late and not helping them in it.

As she rose, a thick deerskin fell off her body. Draupadi's eyebrows met. How did it come here? The last thing she remembered was shivering in the cold night, lying on this cold earthen floor. Who wrapped her thus with deerskin? Draupadi's eyes moved to the place where the Pandavas used to keep their single winter garment. It was not there.

She blushed, smiling to herself. How could they realize that she needed it? And that meant, they themselves slept without a cover, in this cold?

Her fingers ran through the deerskin. There was an warmth of love that she could sense. The warmth that had made her sleep so comfortably even in this small hut.

"Namo Narayanaya!"

Draupadi's musings shuttered. The voice felt familar. She peeped through the window. It was Aacharya Yaja, the royal priest of Kampilya.

Has he come to gather her news?

Draupadi saw Yudhishthira welcoming the Brahmin with due respect before asking him the reason for this arrival.

"I have brought message from King Drupada." The priest informed. "The Lord of Panchala wants to see you soon in his place, Brahmins!"

"His wish is order for us." Yudhishthira nodded with a smile. "We shall reach there soon."

"Young Brahmin," priest Yaja looked at him intently. "May I know your real identity before we reach the King?"

Yudhishthira's smile fainted. He looked up to the priest with alert eyes.

"You do not look like Brahmins. Your well-built frames and marks of bowstrings on your palms do not support this attire. And above all, the existence of five warrior Brahmin brothers along with a widowed mother, looks too much of coincidence."

Yudhishthira sighed. He knew that the Panchala family already began guessing it right.

"If you trust me, may I know who you are?" Yaja enquired again.

"So this is why Yuvaraj Dhrishtadyumna was secretly watching over us yesterday, right?" Yudhishthira calmly asked. "To guess our identity?"

This time the priest was tongue-tied in surprise. He could not imagine that they had sensed Dhrishtadyumna's presence.

"Brahmin Kumar, isn't it very natural for a father to worry about her daughter's marital home?"

"I know, Aacharya. Still I request you to wait for a little more. I promise you, not only Panchala but the entire Aryavarta will know our identity soon!"

***

In the palace

"Forgive us for lying to you, Maharaj!" Yudhishthira lowered his head.

King Drupada smiled, a surge of affection rising within him as he looked at the five brothers. A sigh escaped his heart, remembering Pandu, his dear friend.

"You wonder how I realized the truth so soon, don't you? Yudhishthira, you five resemble your father so much that it could not be hidden even in your disguise! You carry him in your very appearance and nature. I felt this that day too, when you defeated me in battle."

"Pardon us for that too, Lord of Panchala!" Arjuna joined his palms. "We never intended enmity towards you or your kingdom. It was just a..."

"A duty. I know, Arjuna." The King nodded. "It took me long to realize that you five had no fault that day. And do you know who made me realize this? My daughter, Krishnaa!" He beamed.

"Your daughter's connection with my cousins is eternal, Maharaj." Krishna intervened. "We all are eagerly waiting for the grand wedding of Pandu putras and Panchala Kumari."

Drupada raised an eyebrow.

"I didn't get you, Vaasudeva?"

"Maharaj," Yudhishthira said, "As per our mother's order, we have decided that the Princess will be a common wife of all of us."

This time, Yudhishthira had no hesitation within. He had known the choice of Draupadi herself.

"What!" Drupada screamed in shock.

"Yudhishthira, I thought you are a follower of Dharma. How can you even think this?"

"Calm down, King. He is still what you thought about him. He is Dharma incarnated on earth and I can assure you that he isn't doing anything wrong." Krishna said with a smile.

"But Vaasudeva, how can this..." Drupada shook his head. "This cannot be done!"

"What Yudhishthira says is Dharma, Maharaj." Maharishi Vyasa's grave tone made everyone look at him.

"This might not be Dharma for everyone. But for them, this is the only right thing." He added.

"Maharishi, I understand that obeying a mother's order is Dharma for the children. But how can even Maharani Kunti spell out such a horrible thing and did not take her words back?" Drupada fumed.

Vyasa laughed. "Kunti is nothing more than just an instrument of God's wish, Drupada! Her tongue just uttered whatever is destined. She can take her words back, but destiny cannot be changed."

"Why destiny is so cruel only for my child, Maharishi? What sin did she commit to have this misfortune?"

"Not sin. Punya. Her punya and penance has won her the Pandavas' hands in marriage. Do you think being Devaputras' wife is so easy?"

Drupada sat silent.

"Come with me." Vyasa said. "I will show you something."

Drupada followed the seer without a word. As they both reached behind a closed door, Vyasa looked at the King with a smile.

"Remember, Maharaj, whatever I will show you, has to be a secret. Do not disclose this to anyone. Not even to your family."

Drupada managed to nod, wondering what was going to happen.

"I'm giving you divya drishti, Drupada. Look at your daughter once. And then at the five Pandavas."

Drupada glanced through the window, only to be stunned.

"Where is my daughter, Maharishi?" His jaw dropped. "This is a Goddess!"

Smiling, Vyasa said, "And the five brothers? What do you see?"

"They look identical, and appear like Gods." Drupada's eyes returned to Vyasa. "Who are they, Maharishi?"

"They are five Indras of five successive kalpas. And your Krishnaa is Devi Sachi, their eternal consort."

Drupada's eyes were widened.

"Believe this, King! They are the rulers of heaven born on earth. No one can stop them from being united. Indrani will be her Indra's only, in every birth, in every yuga!

"And she is not marrying five. Pandavas are one. The same soul that recreates himself in every Kalpa to rule the Gods. Hope you understand this now."

The King slowly nodded.

"Do give your permission for this marriage without a worry, Drupada!" Vyasa assured. "Your daughter will be forever revered among the Mahasatis of Dwapara. Her very name will keep purifying women till the end of time."

***

Yudhishthira was not prepared for this.

Maharishi Vyasa had advised that he should marry Draupadi today itself. It had shocked all of them since no one could have expected the events to follow so soon. But the sage had insisted for this since today it was the auspicious tithi of pushya nakshatra, and Vyasa himself would not wait in Kampilya till the next pushya day arrived. There was no doubt that they all wanted to have his blessings. And hence, today only had been decided for the first wedding.

Yudhishthira's heart sank as the muhurta neared. Much unlike a soon-to-be groom, he isolated himself in a lone chamber, not even spending time with his brothers and Krishna who were all ready to tease him.

"Putra Yudhishthira!"

He came out of the trance, looking at the door.

"Pranam Maharishi!"

"What is wrong with you, child?" Vyasa warmly held his shoulder. "You look so gloomy, even at this moment?"

Yudhishthira's lips parted, he looked away.

"Am I doing this right, Maharishi?" His tone was too soft, as if he was asking not to Vyasa but himself.

"I think we all have explained enough about why this wedding is not wrong. Still confused, Putra?"

Yudhishthira shook his head. "Not regarding that matter. I trust you and Krishna. I'm convinced that Draupadi marrying us five is not adharma."

"Then what holds you back, Yudhishthira?"

"Maharishi, it feels like I'm doing injustice to someone! And that guilt is irreplaceable." Yudhishthira sounded helpless.

Vyasa smiled. "The Princess of Shivi, right?"

The eldest Pandava lowered his head, sighing.

"You know everyone's heart, Bhagwan! What more can I say?" His lips pursed.

"Listen, Vatsa! As I told you earlier, Draupadi is your bhagyalakshmi. She will make you regain everything that you have lost. Including Princess Devika."

Yudhishthira looked up to meet Vyasa's eyes.

"Draupadi has not come to snatch anything from you, son. She has come to fulfil you. With everything that is yours."

Yudhishthira heaved another sigh as he nodded. "I am doing injustice to Draupadi too! Why am I thinking of my past now, while she is waiting for me?"

"This is normal for any man in your position." Vyasa patted his back. "Don't think too much. Look at Krishna. Are his marriages an injustice to Radha? Can love be so fragile, Yudhishthira?"

Yudhishthira did not reply. His eyes fixed on the moon.

What will Devika think of him when she will know this? It would have been much better if he could meet her once before this!

Conchs played along with festive musical instruments, making the groom return to the reality.

He tore his gaze away from the moon, determined. Princess of Panchala was now his wife, his responsibility, his Sahadharmini. Whatever might happen, Yudhishthira would never let his personal emotions cause Draupadi's grief!

And it was his promise to himself.