Kampilya

"My task has been finished, Maharaj." The royal weapon-smith bowed to the King, "The bow is ready for Rajkumari's swayamvara, exactly as you wanted."

Drupada rose to his feet in excitement that he could hardly suppress.

"Have you ensured the bow is heavy enough, and the centre of its weight is misplaced?"

"I did, your highness!" The weapon-smith replied with a nod, "The centre is displaced from its original position in such a way that no one can identify it without touching the bow."

"And what if someone finds it out?" Drupada gave him a sharp look.

"Worry not, Maharaj! Even a slight mistake in holding the bow correctly will make the wielder fall down due to its strong reflex. Without a really good efficiency in welding bows, this bowstring can never be tied! That much I can assure you!"

Satisfied, the Lord of Panchala took a deep breath.

"Thank you, Bhadra! I shall give you the reward you deserve for constructing such a unique bow!"

"Your generosity, my Lord! But I shall get by greatest reward when our dear Princess will be won by the husband she deserves! I shall accept my remuneration only after that."

Drupada nodded at him with a smile. His beloved daughter, sitting beside him, had been listening to everything quietly. Now she rose and joined her palms respectfully to the weapon-smith.

"Give me your blessings, Aarya!" Draupadi prayed.

"May Narayana bless you with the husband who is as kind as you are, Rajkumari!" The aged person uttered, his smile mixed with tears.

After he left, King Drupada looked at Krishna.

"Vaasudeva, you didn't say anything? Is my plan correct?"

"Without a doubt, Maharaj!" Krishna smiled.

Being assured, Drupada nodded. "Along with this bow which is difficult to string, I have planned for a tough target which only the best archer of Aaryavarta can beat." He added, "For my daughter deserves the best!"

"She definitely does! And I will ensure that she gets the best, Lord of Panchala!" Said Krishna, "You can start sending the invitations now!"

***

Shivi

"Wish me luck, sister!" Kotikasya cast a proud glance on Devika, "I am going to participate in the swayamvara of Princess of Panchala."

Devika did not feel any good from her cousin's gesture. She knew that her father and uncle were also going to Kampilya for attending the swayamvara. For them it was more like a chance to unite with the Kurus who were also coming there. Personally she had never liked the idea of using women as pawns in the game of political alliances, but it was what entire Bharatavarsha used to do.

"May the Princess get united with the man of her wish!" Devika said indifferently.

"Wish? She has been declared as Veeryashulka, Devi." Kotikasya reminded, "As you know, such a Princess has no choice of her own. She has to accept whoever wins the contest of her swayamvara."

"A bride has always the right to say the final word regarding her wedding, Bhrata! Be it swayamvara or not! Forget not, this land of Bharata gives this right to all her daughters and all the men must respect the same!"

"Stop this nonsense logic, sister!" Kotikasya snapped, "The Princess is bound by her father's promise. She cannot deny that, because it would not be any good for Maharaj Drupada and Panchala itself."

"And what if you fail to win the contest itself?" Devika stared hard at Kotikasya.

"You are doubting my prowess?" Kotikasya hissed.

"As far as I know, the contest is on archery which is not your strong point, Bhrata. Also, it is never easy to hit a target only by looking at its reflection." Devika explained, "Doing that needs a lot of practice which I have never seen you doing."

"I am the least bothered for that. Even if I cannot succeed, Yuvaraj Duryodhana definitely will!" Kotikasya smiled with confidence.

Duryodhana again! Devika's heart skipped a beat. What did her brother actually want?

"If he also fails, Angaraj Karna definitely won't. Any of the Kurus winning the Panchala Kumari will ultimately come in our favour."

"I know, I know! The famous Crown Prince Duryodhana is an expert of abducting women whenever he fails to win them! And Angaraj Karna will be there as his bodyguard! That is how Duryodhana won his own wife too, right?" Devika frowned.

Kotikasya laughed sarcastically.

"Abducting a Princess from her swayamvara is always looked upon as a glory of kshatriyas, Devika! Didn't Dwarakadheesh himself did so?"

"You are comparing Dwarakadheesh to Duryodhana?" Devika fumed, losing her cool.

"Bhrata Krishna did that to the girl who loved him. Abducting women against their wish is a sin, Bhrata! Pray, do not do something there that maligns Shivi's reputation in the eyes of entire Aaryavarta!"

"I have no time for your silly lectures on Dharma, Devi!" Kotikasya retorted, "I am getting late. Take care of the kingdom till we return."

Seeing him leaving, Devika realized that the situation was getting worse for her. If the Kurus won this swayamvara they would win Drupada's alliance as well. How would the Pandavas stand with such a strong Kuru-Panchala unit?

Would her plan for future fail then?

Devika sighed. She could only pray that the Panchala Kumari does not fall in Duryodhana's hand!

***

Ekchakra

Yudhishthira stared at the horizon with blank eyes. Numerous thoughts passing over his mind.

It had been seven months since they had come to this town as per Maharishi Vyasa's advice. Though this house of Brahmins was very peaceful and affectionate to their six guests, Yudhishthira knew that his brothers could not feel much comfortable, acting as someone who they were not. Trouble did arise in this disguised life too, when their host family was targeted by the infamous demon Bakasura. Bhima had managed to kill the Rakshasa without getting revealed. But since then they had begun feeling gradually impatient.

Still there was no single message from Krishna or Vyasa. They had no idea of how long they would have to hide thus, with a fear of getting exposed at every moment!

How long would they have to live with this uncertainty? What was their future?

And above everything, recently they had begun to feel something weird that had added to their restlessness. Even Yudhishthira's calm mind could not resist that strong pull!

As if someone was waiting for him! For them!

"Namo Narayanaya!"

Yudhishthira's web of thoughts broke as a chorus of chanting Lord's name reached his ear. He found a group of sages approaching their recent abode.

"Pranam!" He bowed. The sages raised their palms, smiling. "Blessed be the householder! Can we have some bhiksha?"

"Sure, Munivar!" Yudhishthira nodded respectfully, "Come!"

As he led the sages to their host, everybody in the house got busy in serving them. Satisfied, the sages gave them their blessings. All of the family along with Kunti and the Pandavas, kept listening to the sacred tales they were narrating.

"Munivar!" The host Brahmin joined his palms, "We would feel blessed if you honour us with your presence for a few more days!"

"I am glad to see your respect for sages, noble one! But we cannot stay here now. We are to reach Kampilya before Shukla Chaturdashi."

Kampilya!

Five pairs of eyes exchanged glances, hiding a strange feeling. The bitter memory of defeating King Drupada for their gurudakshina surfaced in their minds. The guilt of being responsible for a King's lose of his half kingdom had never deserted any of them.

But this time the name itself sounded so different! What could it be?

"Is there any special occasion going to happen on that day?" Asked the host.

"Seems like no news reaches this town?" Another sage expressed his surprise, "It is the swayamvara of Princess of Panchala which all the Kshatriyas of Bharatavarsha are going to attend." 

The five brothers looked up together, wondering why they felt curious to know more.

"The ceremony will be really grand!" Added another one, "Bharatavarsha has never seen such a swayamvara in this yuga! That too for a Princess who is Deva Kanya!"

"Deva Kanya!" Arjuna repeated in muse, "Daughter of God?"

The sage slowly nodded, smiling. "You heard it right, young Brahmin! King Drupada has received twins from the Fire God. Both Prince Dhrishtadyumna and Princess Krishnaa Draupadi were born as full-grown youths from Drupada's sacrificial alter."

Krishnaa! That very name hit five hearts together like Kama Deva's five flowery arrows. Embarrassed, they looked away, but were all ears to hear more about her.

"Princess Krishnaa is said to be the most beautiful woman on the earth!" Said another one, "She appears not to be a human girl but a living Goddess!" 

The sages kept on praising Princess Draupadi's extraordinary beauty and virtues. Pandavas sensed that those words were not actually entering their ears but straight to the hearts.

They had already lost themselves in someone's blue-lotus Aura and lotus-fragrance, even before they could know!
_________________________________________

Glossary:

Veeryashulka: The woman whose hand (in marriage) has to be taken by paying the tax/charge of one's valour. In other words, the bride who can be claimed for marriage only after giving a proof of one's valour.

Author's note: According to Mahabharata, Karna indeed accompanied Duryodhana in abducting a Princess from her swayamvara.

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