Draupadi's Wedding

Drupada acknowledged Yudhishthira's arguments but was still coming to grips with his daughter becoming polyandrous. Maharshi Vyasa then arrived on the scene, took Drupada aside, and told him the story of Draupadi's past life. 

He said that in her previous life, Draupadi had been the daughter of a sage. She had prayed to Lord Shiva for a husband. When Shiva finally appeared, she had eagerly repeated her wish five times. So Lord Shiva had blessed her with five husbands. 

Drupada reluctantly accepted Draupadi's polyandrous marriage as the will of Lord Shiva. Maharshi Vyasa presided over the marriage. Sage Dhaumya lit the sacred fire, chanted the mantras, and then sat in the wedding hall with the newlyweds. 

The news of Draupadi's marriage to the Pandavas spread far and wide. Even Drupada forgot his initial objection to the marriage and was happy. He also felt reassured that Drona was unlikely to cause him any more trouble. When Lord Krishna heard about the marriage, he sent Draupadi and the Pandavas several expensive gifts. 

Many kings were glad to learn that the Pandavas had escaped from the fire at the lac palace. However, there were some who weren't happy, namely Duryodhana and his allies. Duryodhana tried to decipher what had gone wrong with his plan. He thought, "If Purochana were still alive, I would've hung him for bungling this job."

Vidura felt it appropriate to inform King Dhritarashtra that the Pandavas were still alive. "O King, there is good news for the Kuru clan. We have word from Panchala that the Pandavas are alive and well. You will be delighted to learn that the winner of the swayamvara in Panchala was none other than your nephew Arjuna. Draupadi has married all five Pandavas."