Did Draupadi really love arjun more?[DT Note Page 22] - Page 25

So we can definitely say that Ved Vyasa never made Arjun reveal his true feelings to any of his wives, Barring her abduction and marriage Subhadra almost got no scenes with Arjun in this war ridden epic. Even after the death of Abhimanyu Krishna consoles her but Arjun stays back. Comparatively Ved Vyasa gave better page space to Arjun a Draupadi scenes and paved way to substantiate Yudhishtir's statement Pakshapato mahanasya viseshena dhananjaye, in Mahaprasthanaparva . Arjun is called a dakshina nayaka as per our Sanskrit poetics, one who will possess number of wives and enjoys amorous life with him,Apart from that,he is a Dhirodaatta hero as specified by principle. He is a warrior primarily but even though his romantic interludes look secondary , no other character is described in such an elaborate manner by Ved vyas, every aspect of his personality interested many scholars. To explore his inner personality we really need the help of Krishna I mean they both should be studied together before deciding Arjun's priorities or characteristic traits.

Krishna says in udyoga Parva, to Sanjaya, the shaft like words uttered by karna when Krishnaa was dragged into the assembly pierced the most tender parts of Arjun's body. That explains the fact that only Krishna knows about the pain he felt hearing karna's bad words about Draupadi. But so many accusations are hurled at Arjun for not being expressive like Bheema in Dyutsabha sabha. He may not have expressed it. But the pain is there. Lord himself declared it. And Arjun admits it in Karna parv,on the seventeenth day of the battle Before the final encounter between him and karna happened. Adya drishtaasi govinda,...krishnaam yat praahasan pura, Adya baashpamukhim krishnaam. Saantvayishyasi. Kesava. Govind today you will see how that karna will be killed by me,that karna who laughed at krishnaa,when she was dragged into the court. Today you will console krishnaa who is tearfaced. So Krishna explains the wound in the heart of Paarth regarding krishnaa's insult by karna, Paarth substantiates it by asking him to console krishnaa with tears in her face,after he kills Karna. So these three have that kind of bond that bound them as one that is exclusively theirs only. Try as you may to make them four,five,six,seven. It will be a futile exercise. Just the three krishnaas that's all. That does' nt demean their equation with others but the three krishnaas prevail.

There is a difference of narration in case of the death of Upa pandavas at the hands of Aswathama between The Mahabharata and the mahabhagawata written by the same Ved vyasa. Surprisingly Bhagawata gives a totally Arjun centric action after the death of Upa pandavas. It is not Bheema who consoles Draupadi who falls on the ground on seeing the bodies.Arjun approaches her gathers her and placing his hand on her head says..you are a kshatriya princess.You should not lament like this.The son of Drona mercilessly killed our sons.I will destroy him with my deadly arrows released from Gandiv. Then he and Krishna goes in a chariot,and followed Aswathama who gets afraid on seeing them.Aswathama releases Brahmasir which shines with the lustre of the son and spreads around,spelling doom for every being around. Then Krishna alerts Parth and orders him to counter it.Arjun goes around Krishna and invokes his Astra which shines with the lustre of fire.Sun is the creation of the god but fire is the god himself as given in Rigveda. MoreoverArjun prayed to Krishna while releasing his own so krishna's power also entered into the Astra and when arju withdrew his Astra the krishna tejas absorbs Aswathama's astra of suryateja. Then Arjun ties up Aswathama and throws him at the feet of Draupadi. She is the personification of karuna,kindness.She says to Aswathama, on hearing that you were seized by Arjun like this how sorrowful your mother must be feeling? My men have learnt Astra vid ya from your father. So you are Drona himself in the form of his son. It is not proper for Kshatriyas to make Brahmins angry,But how did your hands raise on my sleeping sons who did nothing . So saying Draupadi refused to punish him at all. Then Bheema gets angry for her forgiveness and tries to attack aswathama.Krishna stops him and tells Arjun.Do in such a way that is acceptable to me,Draupadi,Bheem and see to it that your word to Draupadi also is fulfilled. Arjun takes his sword and extracts the jewel from Aswathama's head. So the three krishnas again here Working together ,sticking together, awesome threesome.

Very Poignant!

Thank you very much for your great response. I feel elated to a great extent. To some extent I am immensely pleased as my hard work paid off. Like minded people like you understood the real Arjun as portrayed by the author. This was the result of my anguish for Arjun and Draupadi who were never given due recognition for their Epic love courtesy as you mentioned,those who want to promote the equally in love with all the Five argument. Same like you,is my case of childhood love for Arjun,that made me do my thesis,PHD on his character in MBh. Once again thanks for serving the purpose of my thread by your genuine analysis.

Yes,certainly Dasaratha's. Love for Rama more than his other sons does not make Kausalya ,Rama's mother his favourite wife . Kafka, mother of Bharata enjoyed his preferential love.So Arjun's love for Abhimanyu can not be taken as an evidence for his preference of subhadra over Draupadi. What works in favour of Draupadi is her soulful relationship with Krishna that makes her love for Arjun more acceptable as all three are krishnas by complexion,by name and by their special virtues.

There is an interesting observation,that is related to Draupadi disrobing incident in Dyutsabha sabhaparva.. It is a known fact that nobody came to rescueDraupadi when she is about to be disrobed by Dussasan. Then the prayer of Draupadi towards protecting her dignity varies in different versions of Mbh. Bori did not accommodate the prayer but other versions have the prayer said by her in total submission. Krishnam,Jishnum, cha,Harim,Naram cha Tranaya vikrosati yajnaseni. Yajnaseni Draupadi called upon Krishna and Jishnu, that is Hari,Narayan and Nara.. Arjun. Tyaktva,Sayyasanam padbhyam. Kripaluh parayabhyagat. Kind hearted Krishna left his bed and got onto his feet . Tato Dharmontarato mahatma,sama tinpot vividhaih vastraih. As a result of his karna,the deity of rigteousness, covered her with a variety of garments. It makes us wonder whether Draupadi knows the Abhinnatva of Krishna and Arjun that is Nar and Narayan. Who are literally one and not different from each other. So Her prayer to both substantiates the three Krishna bond and explains their invincibility and unity. Whatever is the calamity they fought together and emerged successful. Hail the three krishnaas, Madhav,Arjun and Draupadi.

i wonder at times why does no one write a book on 3 krishnas? Aren't they the main characters so the world then and now from their perspectives should be great!