The Fateful Evening...Arjun Draupadi OS Thread.3 - Page 33

Originally posted by: Nityayuvani

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My opinion on Why Arjuna's Mother (Kunti) and Wife (Specially Draupadi) would be more proud of Arjuna (Without showing any disrespect to any Pandava Heroes and I am not trying show any one in poor light) -
You have to understand what I am trying to present is pure psychological analysis -
When Arjuna took birth the following words were spoken -
The lord of the gods arrived and Arjuna was born from him. As soon as the son was born, an invisible voice was heard in the sky, with a thundering and deep roar. "O Kunti! He will be like Kartavirya and Shibi in prowess, invincible like Indra. He will spread your fame everywhere. As Vishnu increased Aditi's happiness, like Vishnu, Arjuna will increase your happiness. He will bring under his sway the countries of Madra, Kuru, Kekaya, Chedi, Kashi and Karusha and establish the prosperity of the Kurus. Through the valour of his arms, Havyavahana303 will be supremely satisfied with the fat of all beings in Khandava. With his brothers, this immensely strong warrior will vanquish all small chiefs and perform three sacrifices. O Kunti! In valour, he will be the equal of Vishnu and Jamadagni's son Rama.304 He will be the greatest among those endowed with valour and he will be invincible. He will acquire all kinds of divine weapons. He will be a bull among men and he will regain the lost fortune. When Kunti was in her delivery room, these were the wonderful words that were heard from the sky and Kunti heard them.
Translated by Bibek Debroy. The Mahabharata: Volume 1 (pp. 311-312). Penguin Books Ltd. Kindle Edition.
It said Arjuna would increase the happiness of Kunti. Now the reason being given here is - He would defeat many kingdoms and increase prosperity and he would be famous for his valour. He would bring the lost fortune.
To understand it you need to see what one warrior get from winning war (Not always but most of the time) - Fame and Prosperity. One warrior's Fame increases the fame of entire lineage. When some one talks about your son or husband won't it increase your pride?
Or when you see your husband is defeating kings / Indra with devas (Khandava Prastha event) won't it increase your pride in manifold?
Second more important - Prosperity or fortune - For which the war generally being fought and it brings the happiness. Simple and one eternal rule - On those days ruling class earned prosperity through war.
On top of that technically any Khsatriya lady would love to give birth to a son with following criteria. This was told by Kunti herself to Krishna while sending messages for her sons -
This315 leads to the birth of a son. This leads to the birth of a brave son. If a pregnant woman repeatedly hears it, she is certain to give birth to a warrior who will be learned, valiant, austere, brave, self-controlled and an ascetic, radiant with the prosperity of brahmanas, honoured in the words of the virtuous, resplendent, strong, immensely fortunate, a maharatha, daring, unassailable, victorious and invincible. He will chastise those who are evil and protect those who act in accordance with dharma. The kshatriya lady will give birth to such a brave son, for whom his truth will be his valour.'
Bibek Debroy. The Mahabharata: Volume 4 (pp. 495-496). Penguin Books Ltd. Kindle Edition.
During Rajasuya Sacrifice Arjuna conquered the northern direction and brought a huge amount of wealth. That's why he got the name Dhananjaya.
During Burning of Khandava Forest event, he and Krishna fought with Rakshashas, Nagas and Indra and other gods simultaneously and remained undefeated. That happened in front of Draupadi as she was present there.
The Maya Palace was built after Arjuna saved Mayasura and he promised to Krishna to built that palace for Yudisthira.
During their reign of at least 15- 20 years in Indraprastha no one attacked their kingdom. It was Arjuna who protected the kingdom from external threat.
Draupadi's blessing for Arjuna's success in getting all divine weapons.
She knew that their prosperity was depended on Arjuna's might.
The hearts of everyone went with him and Krishna254 told him, "O mighty-armed Dhananjaya! O Kounteya! All that Kunti wished for you at the time of your birth and all that you desire for yourself must come true. Let none of us ever be born in the lineage of kshatriyas again. I always salute the brahmanas, who never have to make a living out of war. All your brothers will spend their waking hours in repeatedly praising and recounting your valorous deeds. O Partha! But if your sojourn proves to be a long one, we will find no satisfaction in our minds in our comforts, riches and even in our lives. O Partha! All our happiness and unhappiness is now established in you, our life and death, our kingdom and our prosperity. O Kounteya! I take leave of you. O Pandava! May all be well with you. I bow down before Dhata and Vidhata. May all be well along your path and may you be healthy. O descendant of the Bharata lineage! May you be safe from all beings in the sky, the earth and heaven and may all other beings not create obstructions in your path. The mighty-armed Pandava then circumambulated his brothers and Dhoumya, and grasping his beautiful bow, departed.
The Mahabharata: Volume 2 (Kindle Locations 5905-5914). Penguin Books Ltd. Kindle Edition.
She clearly mentions - "All our happiness and unhappiness is now established in you, our life and death, our kingdom and our prosperity. There is nothing bigger than Khsatriyas other than Kingdom and prosperity.
These are facts and many people have counted the achievements of Arjuna.
Bhima spoke the following words to Yudisthira while complaining against him -
"Protected by the wielder of the Gandiva (Arjuna), our kingdom could not even have been robbed by Shakra (Indra). But because of our obedience to you, it was stolen in front of our eyes.
[Ref - The Mahabharata: Volume 2 (Kindle Locations 5678-5680). Penguin Books Ltd. Kindle Edition.]
Shakuni also told the same thing to Duryodhana when he was filled with jealousy just after Rajasuya Sacrifice -
Shakuni said, "O Duryodhana! You should not feel any jealousy towards Yudhishthira, because the Pandavas have always benefited from their good fortune. In the past, you have tried to kill them with many means. But those tigers among men escaped because of their good fortune. They obtained Droupadi as a wife and Drupada and his two sons as allies, and the valorous Vasudeva as an ally in winning the earth. O lord of the earth! They obtained an undiminished share of paternal wealth and extended it through their own energy. What is there to lament in this? Having satisfied the fire, Dhananjaya obtained the great bow Gandiva, two inexhaustible quivers and other celestial weapons. He subdued the lords of the earth with that foremost among bows and the valour of his own arms. What is there to lament in this? He freed the danava Maya from being burnt by the fire. Savyasachi, the scorcher of enemies, then made him build that sabha. On Maya's command, the terrible rakshasas named Kinkaras guard that sabha. What is there to lament in this?
The Mahabharata: Volume 2 (Kindle Locations 3090-3097). Penguin Books Ltd. Kindle Edition.
We see Khandava Prastha as mass massacre but on those days it was seen as an act which increased fame and prosperity.
Same way Draupadi also used that example to incite Bhima to kill Rakshashas in mountain of Kuvera. As I told earlier it would definitely invoke pride in when the warrior restraints Indra in front of his own wife (Wife would definitely feel prideful of her husband) -
"At that time, when the mighty-armed Bhimasena was comfortably seated at a secluded spot on the mountain, Krishna told him, "O bull among the Bharata lineage! As a result of the forceful wind generated from the suparna's great force, five-coloured blossoms have been dropped near the river Ashvaratha and all the beings have witnessed this. Your great-souled brother,98 always driven by truth, once restrained gandharvas, serpents, rakshasas and even Vasava himself, in Khandava. After killing the ones who resort to maya,99 he obtained the bow Gandiva. You also possess enormous energy and great strength of arms. You are indomitable and irresistible and are the equal of Shatakratu100 in your strength."
Bibek Debroy. The Mahabharata: Volume 3 (Kindle Locations 3733-3740). Penguin Books Ltd. Kindle Edition.
Kunti told the following words while trying to convince Karna to join Pandavas -
"Earlier, Arjuna earned prosperity for Yudhishthira and the sons of Dhritarashtra robbed it because of their greed."
Bibek Debroy. The Mahabharata: Volume 4 (p. 517). Penguin Books Ltd. Kindle Edition.
When Draupadi was trying to incite Bhima to kill Kichaka, she spoke about her grief, others grief but a major portion was dedicated for Arjuna.
She was precisely lamenting for Arjuna and her pride for Arjuna was hugely visible in the following text.-
"Alone on a single chariot, he defeated gods, men and serpents.That youthful one is now a dancing master for King Virata's daughter.
"The one with the infinite soul satisfied the fire god in Khandava. Partha has now gone to the inner quarters, like a fire covered in a well.
"He was a bull among men and enemies were always frightened of him. Dhananjaya is now in a form that is despised by the world.
"Enemies trembled at the twang of his bow and the slapping of his palms. He now pleases women with the sweet sounds of his singing.
"A diadem that was like the sun always adorned his head. Dhananjaya's unkempt hair is now braided. All the celestial weapons are known to that great-souled one. He is the repository of all knowledge and now wears earrings.
"Thousands of kings, whose energy was unlimited, could not cross him and overcome him in battle, just as the great ocean does not cross the shoreline. That youthful one is now a dancing master for King Virata's daughter. He hides himself in disguise and serves the daughter.
"O Bhima! The earth, with its mountains and forests and mobile and immobile objects, trembled at the roar of his chariot.
"He is the immensely fortunate one whose birth destroyed Kunti's sorrow. O Bhimasena! I now sorrow over your younger brother.
"He is adorned in golden ornaments and earrings and sports conch shells in his hands. On seeing him approach, my mind is immersed in sorrow.
"O Bhima! The archer Dhananjaya wears his unkempt hair in a braid. O Bhima! On seeing him surrounded by young maidens, my mind is immersed in sorrow.
"He is equal to a god. When I see Partha surrounded by young maidens, in the midst of musical instruments, like a bull-elephant in rut surrounded by she-elephants, and in the service of Virata, king of the Matsyas, who pays him, I can no longer see any of the directions.
Ref - Bibek Debroy. The Mahabharata: Volume 4 (pp. 39-40). Penguin Books Ltd. Kindle Edition. (Referred from critical edition)
Look at what she spoke for Arjuna (She literally praised here) and what she spoke about others. Let me tell you there is no Janmejaya effect as some people are selling. Wasn't Draupadi in sorrow because the person who evoked her pride now dancing as eunuch ?
Draupadi went to Bhima for protection only when she needed brutal revenge against some body as Bhima was revengeful and merciless compared to Arjuna who generally never acted ruthless/merciless or when she needed Bhima's wrestling skill to kill some one.
Two such example only available - Draupadi never approached Arjuna to kill Kichaka and Aswathamma (where she was probably doubtful that Arjuna may not kill his preceptor's son).
Draupadi had immense faith on Arjuna's skill as warrior. In fact when Jayadratha tried to abduct Draupadi, she herself spoke the following words -
Droupadi replied, "Though I am extremely powerful, the king of Souvira now takes me to be weak. He thinks that I am not sure of myself and therefore, I will plead and demean myself before the king of Souvira. Both Krishnas15 will follow my footsteps, riding together on a single chariot. Indra himself cannot abduct me, not to speak of a weak and wretched human. Kiriti,16 the slayer of enemy heroes, terrifies the hearts of enemies on his chariot. When he enters your army for my sake, he will consume it like the summer's dry wood. Janardana,17 followed by Vrishni warriors, all the mighty archers from the Kekaya lineage, and all the other princes, will happily follow my footsteps. The arrows released from Gandiva by Dhananjaya's arms are extremely swift and make a thunderous noise. They will make a terrible roar. The large showers of arrows released from Gandiva are extremely swift and are like locusts. There will be the roar of conch shells and the roar of leather gloves. The wielder of the Gandiva will release them repeatedly. When those arrows pierce your chest, what thoughts will pass through your mind?
Bibek Debroy. The Mahabharata: Volume 3 (Kindle Locations 7636-7645). Penguin Books Ltd. Kindle Edition.
It was Arjuna who precisely destroyed Jayadratha's army on that day.
I am not saying Kunti or Draupadi never praised others but if you compare you would find the they had some thing special for Arjuna. Most of them are for reason that as being great warrior he brought fame, protected Kingdom and won prosperity. That matters more than anything else for Khsatriyas as that brings the happiness and increase the fame of lineage.

Credit: Arnab Ghosh (Posted in the "Rediscovering Mahabharata" group)