There is much to be found in myth

I am not a scholar.  What I am, is an enthusiast.  Most of my trivial knowledge is about Greek myths due to their influence in ‘Western’ theatre history.  However, there are some stories from The Mahabharata (the epic of India) that I’ve fallen in love with over the years.

I enjoy mythology so much because it reminds me that although our individual experiences in life may feel absolutely unique, the major challenges in life are universal.  It has all happened before, and people survived.  Whenever I’ve had an experience I thought was too insane to describe, too difficult to comprehend, or too horrifying to stand up to, I went back to the bookshelf and found something immeasurably worse in some old story, song, play, or poem.

There is a story from The Mahabharata that has been buzzing around my brain for a day or two.  It has to do with how complicated relationships can be.  In my life at the moment, some friends of friends have been talking about how horribly complicated their lives are.  I’ve felt that way in the past, myself.  Come on, let’s be adults and cough up to it, shall we?  The cases vary: but, I think you’ll take my point if I put it this way. . .  At some point, many of us actually believe that some moment in our life could provide a definition for something in the Dictionary.

It is in recognition of our own complicated lives, that I retell the story of Princess Draupadi.

. . . . .

The God Krishna rescues Draupadi from being stripped, by turning her sari into an endless ream of fabric. . .

One For All

Long ago, a woman wished for a husband.  Not just any husband, a perfect one.  There were five qualities she simply could not live without.  Shiva (the auspicious one) told her that such a husband would be difficult to attain.  All five qualities did not exist in a single man.  Still, the woman stood her ground.  Of course, she could not see the future when she did so. . .

Now, many stories have been told about two royal families in India—the Pandavas, and their cousins, the Kauravas—so, you may already know that the Pandava prince Arjuna was an excellent marksman!  No one holding a bow could shoot an arrow like Arjuna!  He was very special warrior.  One day in battle, Arjuna defeated King Drupada and to please Drona.  Drona went on to humiliate Drupada, and his kingdom.

Our defeated King Drupada seethed with so much anger that his teeth rattled!  To gain revenge, the King performed a fire sacrifice to obtain some means of besting his adversary.  The fire crackled and glowed, and slowly a beautiful, dark skinned young woman appeared.  She was called Draupadi.

As the years passed, rumors began circulating that the Pandavas had died.  King Drupada was not so sure, so he devised a strategy to bring Arjuna out into the open.  There was no shortage of princes trying to marry Draupadi, so King Drupada declared that there would be a competition.  The winner, would have Draupadi as his wife.  The challenge?  Shoot five arrows at a revolving target, while looking only at its reflection in a bowl.  A very difficult bit of archery to perform successfully.  But Drupada was confident that if anyone could do it, Arjuna could.

Prince Arjuna heard of the challenge and the prize and it was impossible to resist.  He and his brothers disguised themselves as Brahmins (monks) and went to the competition.  Arjuna successfully tackled the target, and by doing so, won the Princess Draupadi.

Arjuna was excited, and his four brothers were very proud of him.  Together, they brought Draupadi to their mother, Kunti.

“Look what I have won!”  Arjuna said, barging into the room.

Kunti was busy, and her  back was turned.  “Whatever you have, you must share it equally with your brothers.”

“But, Mother!” Arjuna began to say. . .

Kunti would not hear it: she had brought up her five sons to share all their worldly goods with each other.  “Not another word!  It is the same as I have always taught you, it has served each of you well, and I would not have any of you begin to be selfish now. . .  Whatever this thing is you have won, you will share it with your brothers.”

The Princess Draupadi had already begun to cry.  “No!” she screamed.

Kunti was startled, and she turned.  It was only then that she discovered what Arjuna said he won.  It was not a piece of gold or an expensive jewel.  It was a Princess, and he had won her hand in marriage.

“I am so sorry. . .” Kunti said to Draupadi.

“How can we share her?  She is Princess Draupadi, she is to be my wife!”

“I do not know, but it is too late now.  I have spoken, and I cannot take back my words.  All five of you must be her husband.”

And so, the six of them were married.  And before the wedding night—which would surely be strange—Draupadi trembled!  Five husbands?  Being ‘won’ as a prize in a tournament was strange enough. . .  but, five husbands?  Even if she wanted five husbands, how could such a thing ever possibly work out well?

Just then, Shiva (the auspicious one) appeared.

“Where did you come from?  Wait, you are Shiva!” Draupadi exclaimed, startled.

“You don’t remember me, do you?” said Shiva, with a wink.  “Long ago, in the life you had before this one, you asked me for the perfect husband.  He had to have five special qualities.  I told you that would be nearly impossible, but you insisted!  You always pleased me with your devotion.  It takes courage to stand one’s ground, to be committed to something like you committed to your dream!  And so, I am granting your wish as well as I can for you to enjoy in this life.  Each of the five brothers has one of those qualities you begged for in a husband. . .”

“But, how can such an arrangement—I mean, how can I. . .”

“How can you be a loving and devoted wife to five different men, who happen to be brothers, and still have room in your mind for a thought of your own?  Is that what you meant to ask?”

“Yes.  They might kill me and each other.”

“I don’t know how you will do it, but I know you can do it.  As I said: you have courage.”

©  Jeffrey Puukka, 2010