Marriages and Matters of the Heart

Check the theme here: Pandava Mahaprasthana

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“This place is beautiful! Let’s stay here for some time.” Draupadi said as they took a break from walking and sat under a tree to escape the afternoon heat.

“Anga is close by,” Yudhistira pointed out.

Draupadi waved it away. “We’ll get there next. Look around you! Listen to the birds and animals chattering. It is so peaceful! I want to be here.”

“Then we’ll set up here for as long as you want, Maharani.” Bhima declared. Since their marriage with Draupadi, Bhima had never said no to her nor disagreed with her opinions.

She beamed at him and leaned against the tree. “I’ll nap for a while, breathing the scent of fresh flowers.”

Arjuna exchanged glances with his brothers. They grinned as a unit, knowing they would give Draupadi what she wanted. He got up as Bhima stood, gesturing that they make the space comfortable for living.

One by one, his remaining three brothers stood and stretched. They worked as silently as possible, marking a small perimeter for the hut and a fence in an area with fewer bushes. They did their best to avoid uprooting plants and hadn’t had to chop a tree in a long time. It was an unspoken agreement after he and Krishna had burned the entire Kandavaprastha forest for Agni. In return, Arjuna got the Gandiva bow with two inextinguishable quivers and a golden chariot. Krishna received the powerful Chakra that could slay anyone and return to him in a blink.

Arjuna had always wanted a purpose, something or someone, to keep him going. This restlessness had led to some heartbreak, but they found a way out of it, that too, by strengthening their relationships instead of damaging them.

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After Indraprastha was ready, they were settling into a new routine, and Arjuna didn’t have enough work to keep his mind occupied. He often saw Draupadi with Yudhistira. While he had no grudge against his brother, it still hurt to know she could spend only a year with him with a four-year gap. Moreover, she was pregnant with her first child, and her growing belly was a prominent feature of her appearance. A part of him was delighted with the news. The other part he tried to suppress was uncertain about what he wanted.

When a Brahmin asked for help to catch a thief, Arjuna used it as a ruse to enter the weapon room where Yudhistira and Draupadi were. As per the agreement, he had to go into a thirteen-month exile, just what he hoped for—some space away from everyone to process his emotions.

“You don’t have to go, Arjuna! We know you had to come into the room for your bow. The Brahmin’s request was a priority, as it should have been.” Yudhistira said.

“I don’t want any mark on my character, Elder brother. It’s just a year. I’ll be back before you know it,” Arjuna convinced him.

Draupadi looked at him with sad and compassionate eyes, as if she guessed his mind. “Travel safe and return soon.”

Arjuna nodded and left, carrying a bow and some arrows with him. He traveled across various kingdoms, though he preferred to stay close to the forests and spend time with rishis in their ashrams. After a couple of months, he reached Kasi and found the place charming.

Offering morning prayers in the River Ganga became his new ritual. It brought him peace, though he missed his family. Even when they were in danger, they never stayed away from one another.

It was during one such morning that something wrapped around his ankle and dragged him underwater. Arjuna fought back but paused when he saw it was a Naga woman.

“O handsome warrior! I mean no harm.” She said, releasing him with a sweet smile.

“Who are you?”

“I am Ulupi, the daughter of the Naga king. This is my home.” She gestured to the glittering underwater city filled with coral, pearls, and shells.

Arjuna looked around in wonder at the beauty of the kingdom. Bhima had once been to Nagaloka, but the rest of them hadn’t.

“Why did you bring me here?”

“Why else, handsome warrior? I desire you. That’s why.” Her reply was straightforward with a hint of tease.

Arjuna shook his head. “I have to follow brahmacharya for the duration of exile.”

When Ulupi asked for more information, he told her about the swayamwara at Panchala and the subsequent events.

“In that case, your brahmacharya is for Draupadi, not others. I don’t ask for commitment, Prince Arjuna; only happy moments.”

He stared at her, varied emotions swirling through his mind.

“Give me today. You are free to go tomorrow. I won’t trouble you again, but will come to your aid if you need it.” Ulupi propositioned.

Arjuna hesitated. He didn’t want to cheat on Draupadi, though it was common for men to have multiple wives. However, saying no to a woman’s request didn’t feel good either. He agreed, thinking it would help him get rid of the restlessness. They had a form of gandharva marriage to ease his mind and spent the day exploring the Naga kingdom and flirting. He made the night memorable for her as a thank-you for her generous proposal. As promised, Ulupi brought him to the surface of the river the next morning and waved him goodbye.

Resuming his travels, Arjuna practiced archery for fixed hours every day. He was in the Manipura kingdom when a beautiful young woman caught his eye. She was Princess Chitrangada. Arjuna thought back to what Ulupi said and felt he could have his own wife. That might fill the hole in his heart. However, when he approached the king, he was in a fix.

“Pandava Prince Arjuna! It’s an honor that you ask for my daughter’s hand. But our lineage hasn’t had heirs for a long time, so Mahadeva gave us a boon. Each generation would have one child—if it was a girl, she would rule the kingdom with her husband, and the throne would go to her son when he was of age. If it were a boy, he would become the king. As you see, Chitrangada is the ruler of Manipura, and her son has to be the heir. Would you stay back here with us if you married her?”

Arjuna didn’t even have to think. That was out of the question. He wouldn’t part from his family. Sensing his response, the king offered a solution. “Marry my daughter and give her a child. You are free to go back to Indraprastha after that. Chitrangada and her child will stay here.”

He couldn’t say no to a king, and the princess also gave her acceptance, though she wished he lived with them.

“Indraprastha is my home.” He said, wanting to make sure she understood their relationship would be temporary.

“As you say, then. Manipura needs me more, anyway, and Pitashri thinks an alliance with the Pandavas would be beneficial. I agree with your terms.” Chitrangada replied.

The marriage took place in a week. Arjuna spent four months in the kingdom. When his wife confirmed her pregnancy, he took leave.

“Can’t you wait until the child is born?”

Arjuna shook his head with a sad smile. “I’m sorry. It’s better this way. Give him my love.”

He left before the child meant something more to him than a gift of thank you to the king and his daughter. Arjuna knew the news had reached Indraprastha. He wondered how they reacted to it, but told himself Draupadi had nothing to complain about since he wasn’t taking anyone with him to the city.

Of course, that had changed in Dwarka. Still unable to control his restlessness and loneliness, Arjuna went to meet Krishna and explore the majestic city his friend built. He received a grand welcome. They treated him like a special guest at their annual celebration on the Raivataka Mountain.

“My friend, see that girl there in a yellow lehenga? That’s my sister Subhadra.” Krishna pointed out a beautiful young woman to him.

“I didn’t know you had a sister.”

“We have different mothers. Vasudeva, my father, has many wives. But I’m her favorite brother because we share many common interests. She spends most of her days with me and Rukmini.” Krishna grinned. “Take my advice and marry her. She will be on your side like me.”

Arjuna felt as if Krishna had seen his innermost turmoil and resolved it. He looked at Subhadra and felt his heart skip. She had an aura around her that attracted many people. “Will others agree? What about her opinion?”

“Don’t I know my sister’s heart?”

Arjuna knew Krishna would have an answer to everything, and he did. He sent a letter to Indraprastha, seeking Yudhistira’s permission for his marriage to Subhadra. Upon receiving acceptance, Krishna offered his chariot for the purpose. If Arjuna harbored any doubt about the plan, they all vanished as Subhadra let out a shriek of delight and jumped into the chariot when he went for her at the riverbank. She even grabbed the reins and steered the chariot at full speed with some Yadava warriors chasing them.

Krishna soothed the ruffled feathers in Dwarka. He got Arjuna and Subhadra married in a lavish ceremony.

By the end of Arjuna’s self-imposed exile, he added three wives to his list and brought one of them with him. Krishna and Balarama followed them to Indraprastha.

Stepping into the city brought reality crashing down on him. He knew how much this would hurt Draupadi and was prepared to beg for forgiveness.

Imagine his surprise when his mother and Draupadi welcomed Subhadra with all honors. She gave him a cold shoulder, which he endured for as long as he could. Arjuna also found that Draupadi delivered two children in the meantime—Yudhistira’s son Prativindhya and Bhima’s son Sutasoma. The latter was less than a fortnight old.

Arjuna went to meet Draupadi later in the evening. She was in her private chambers, which even her husbands needed permission to enter. He stood silently by the door as she cooed at Sutasoma, not knowing what to say except to apologize. How could he explain the unexpected hurt that refused to leave him?

“Close the door as you go out, Arjuna. I don’t have the energy for this now.” She said at last, but her words felt like a stab to his heart.

Bhima arrived just then and looked at them.

She waved him inside. “Play with your son. I’m tired.” Draupadi stretched on the bed with a sigh and closed her eyes.

“Rest, Maharani. I’ll bring him back when he cries for milk.” Bhima said. He patted Arjuna on the shoulder and left.

Realizing Draupadi meant what she said, Arjuna returned to his chambers feeling worse than ever.

“I could have helped if you were patient,” Subhadra said, not moving from her place on the windowsill. Turning, she gestured for him to go to her.

“Help how and with what?” He asked.

She gave a light laugh and patted his arm.

“I may be the youngest, but I know more than you. Draupadi delivered her second child two weeks ago. She is still recovering. Also, you hurt her. Not that I’m the right person to say this, but you were selfish.” She raised her hand to stop him from interrupting. “I’m selfish too. That’s why I married you. However, I shadowed Rukmini since I was a baby. She taught me to see others not as competition but as part of my partner. Do you know Rukmini never has an issue with any of Krishna’s wives, unlike Satyabhama?”

Arjuna nodded. He, too, found her poised, graceful, and assured of her relationship with Krishna.

Subhadra continued. “That’s because she knows Krishna loves her. Yes, he loves his other wives too, but when Krishna is with Rukmini, there’s no place for anyone else in their marriage. That’s how it can be between you and Draupadi… if you can see beyond your hurt and pain.”

“You don’t mind?” He asked, his voice hoarse with unshed tears.

Subhadra shook her head and wrapped her arms around his chest. “I knew what I was getting into. Krishna and Rukmini taught me all they should with their actions. Draupadi is Krishnaa too! Each of you has her full attention for an entire year and more, depending on when she conceives. However, you aren’t Rukmini because you will have me, always!”

Arjuna held her close, understanding what Krishna meant. His friend had indeed ensured his presence stayed with him.

“Thank you!”

“Anything for you, husband… But know that you have to wait at least another two years to be with Draupadi. She will be with Nakula next after her three-month healing period ends.”

Arjuna nodded. What else could he do? Despite his actions, Draupadi showed Subhadra her love. He would make it up to her, he vowed.

“Be truthful, that’s all we want from our husbands.” Subhadra supplied, somehow reading his mind.

“I will.” He promised.

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“Arjuna! Maharani is awake. Stop being lazy and help me fix the roof.” Bhima called from the left side.

“Coming!” He replied.

Arjuna was thankful to the women in his life for teaching him so much and making him a better man.

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