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Image source: Arjuna at Draupadi's Swayamvara Draupadi's Swaymarwara
Bibliography: Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie (1913)
This story is about Draupadi's swayamvara. Her father Drupada already had someone in mind to take his daughter and that was Arjuna one of the great Pandava brothers. He was an incredible archer. Drupada, Draupadi's father made it for the man who was able to bend the bow and shoot an arrow through the wheel and strike the golden fish in the eye would be the one to be able to marry his beautiful daughter. He made sure the competition was in favor of Arjuna as no one other than him or someone who could possess his skill could do it. Mighty men from all over came, there was Krishna, Duryodhana, Karna (Pandavas enemies), Balarama, Yadava princes and more. The Pandavas were disguised as brahmins. One after the other came up and tried to strike the fish with the bow but none succeeded. Then to the surprise of everyone Karna came forth with much confidence, he took the bow and bent it and fixed the bowstring, once we seized an arrow and was about to shoot it, fear stroke Drupada and his sons for they feared he would succeed and therefore win Draupadi. However, before this could happen Draupadi shout out "I am a king's daughter, and will not wed with the base-born." stopping him from moving further. Karna smiled bitterly and left with a sour and angered face he left but before that looked at the sun and said "O Sun! Be my witness that I cast aside the bow, not because I am unable to hit the mark, but because Draupadi scorns me.". Arjuna still disguised as brahmins stepped forth and succeeded. Draupadi was delighted and very happy she flung the bridal garland over his shoulders.
Draupadi, her character is seen as a stronger outspoken heroine, she does not like to follow other rules or become someone's possession that they can manipulate however, they want. One way to reinterpret the story if for it be told in her point of view but not being happy about this whole swayamvara event.
Another interesting take could be Karna's viewpoint in the story since we can tell he was not happy by being humiliated and turned down by Draupadi. When the story says he smiled bitterly I imagine him plotting his revenge already in his mind. This could also be an interesting take on the story.
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City view of Guanajuato, Mexico Taken by me Hello everyone!! My name is Monica Avila, I was born in Guanajuato, Mexico and moved to the U.S. when I was five, I can speak Spanish, English and a little bit of Portuguese (currently learning). I am a senior here at OU (Wow can't believe I'm saying senior time flies by so fast). I am a Health and Exercise Science major. I'll be graduating this spring, my plans so far are to take a year off and work and travel a little maybe go for masters in health promotion but I'm still not sure yet. In the future, I hope to go to grad school for physical therapy and work with either the elderly or children. I love science and learning about the human body. The way the human body works and manages to keep us alive is so amazing, learning all the mechanics of it is one of my favorite parts of my major. Therefore, some of my favorite classes have been Human Anatomy and Exercise Physiology. Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, B
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