Dearest companion,
Father decided to hold a contest today to see who could win my hand in marriage. The goal of the princes was to see who could shoot five arrows at a revolving target, while looking at its reflection in a bowl. Father said he had someone in mind, someone who he just knew would win. I wonder who this prince is.
Much love,
Draupadi
Oh companion,
There is something of my past you should know. One day, as I was walking through the forest, I met a wise man named Vyasa. At the time I did not listen to what he had to say. I felt deep down that what he had said was foolishness and I took it very lightly to heart. Vyasa told me that in my past life there was something I desired that I felt I had not yet received. He described, to me, this life I led as a woman named Nalayani that was so unfamiliar to me . Vyasa told me I prayed day in and day out to Lord Shiva for a husband with five qualities I desired. At the time, in my past life,I had no idea of what was to come of that prayer. Now, I am curious as to what will occur and if what Vyasa told me is the truth. Will my prayers be answered and will karma consume what is to become of my life.
Draupadi
Companion,
Oh, I now know what my life will finally be like! Vyasa was right about my past life and what I prayed about. My past life's karma has become clear to me now. The prince Arjuna won the contest, but because of my prayer to Shiva in my previous lifetime, I am now not only married to Arjuna, but his four brothers. I of course did not pray for five husbands just for five qualities I wanted in a husband. Even though I won him at the contest his mother Kunti told him he must share what he has won with his brothers not knowing at the time it was a wife. When Kunti asked them to share she did not know of the cosequences. I have been asked to spend two nights with each husband. Even though I feel this is going to be quite the task, I will get all of the five qualities I desire.
Draupadi
Dearest Companion,
Each of my husbands holds a quality I desire in a man. Yudhishthira has the looks that any woman would be drawn to. Yudhishthira was very just and had a correct sense of morality. Bhima seems to try and keep his anger under control even though he rolls around in his head thoughts of what he would want to do to an enemy. Arjuna is of course teh greatest of archers. He would never give into anger or commit an act of cruelty. Nakul was the most handsome. He would never forsake his brothers and with that they felt he was more valuable than their own lives. Last, Sahadeva, who is the youngest of the brothers, is very heroic and intelligent. All five of these men, who have become my husbands, posses these qualities that any woman would want in a single husband.
Draupadi
Companion,
I feel so very blesssed in this new life to be granted with such wonderful husbands. I just seem to have a hard time when I look around and see a woman with one man. I sometimes wonder to myself if I am missing out on something because my life is so unusual.
Draupadi
Image information: I found this picture from a website called Dolls of India. This website offers many beautiful pictures along with great stories and details from female characters in the epics.
Author's note: Within the story of Draupadi, I feel her character went through a more unusual marriage and love filled life than the other two female characters I chose. I really wanted to focus on Draupadi's prayer to Shiva and how Karma played a major part in the life she was led after her rebirth. Draupadi, in her past life as Nalayani, wanted specific qualities in a husband so in her prayer to Shiva she asked for these. In her life as Draupadi she was given all five qualities, but the twist is they were five seperate husbands that possessed one of these qualities. Now, not all of these husbands were everything she wanted maybe put together they all had those qualities she was looking for, but not one single one had them all. In this diary I wanted to portray how Draupadi found out about the karma and her past life earlier in the writing. In the epic she finds out much later from the wise man, but I decided she would find out much earlier before she even met her husbands. I really liked focusing on this marriage because it is so unusual than the other epic marriages. I think the fact that Draupadi has five husbands makes it very interesting that she must go from hut to hut to spend time with each one. I would almost say that karma is tricky and be careful what you wish for.
Bibliography:
- Buck, William (1973). Mahabharata.
- Narayan, R. K. (1978). The Mahabharata: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic.
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