Destined (Mahabharat)

Chapter 16:

"Hence (if you will not misunderstand me) the exquisite arbitrariness and irresponsibility of this love. I have no duty to be anyone's Friend and no man in the world has a duty to be mine. No claims, no shadow of necessity. Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art, like the universe itself (for God did not need to create). It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival."
— C.S. Lewis

Author:- Enjoy!

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In early societies with high infant mortality rate and short lifespans, polygamy was preferred to polyandry.

When a man had many wives, the family could have more children than a woman having many husbands. This value to fertility is one of the reasons why women were usually kept in seclusion and safety, a practice that eventually led to the throttling of women’s rights. But polyandry had benefits too – sharing a wife assured sharing of property and no division of the land.

Their are many tales in past that shows that draupadi once did a hard penance to lord shiv for a boon. Lord shiv become delighted by her hard work and come in front of her. He asked draupadi what did she want? Draupadi asked for a husband with 14 qualities ( the main 5 are Moral values, physical strength, skilled, handsome and intelligent)

Shiva replied,
"

This is an impossibility, all these qualities cannot co-exist in one man. If I send someone who has all these qualities to you, he will be an imbalance in the society and ultimately he might be a threat. Hey Devi, lower your standards."

Draupadi said,

"I have done my Tapasya and it is upto you to grant me the fruit of my labor."

Shiva replied,
"

So be it. But be prepared to face the consequences."

Draupadi asked this question to her best friend, Krishna.

Krishna replied,
"

Panchali, you only asked for all those 14 qualities, didn’t you? You only wanted the best archer, a man with the power of 1000 elephants, a man whose morales and wisdom has no match in the planet, a man who is the most handsome and a man whose intellect is famous worldwide. Lord Shiva told you that what you are aiming for is an impossibility but you were firm on your demands. You were not ready to lower your standards. Now that your wish has come true, you cannot deny it. You have to accept it, for that is your karma."

Though there are also different texts and different perspectives of different people and cultures. We can't really deny any. Not only hindu culture but different cultures also show a event of pre birth life and her asking for 5 quality husbands.

The factor is the status of women in the ancient world. Without question, there was an imbalance of power when it came to marriage. 
Divorce was relatively easy for men, but practically impossible for women.

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The wedding was not as grand and magnificent as draupadi though it to be.

Draupadi married Yudhishthira first. Next she married Bhima, and then Arjuna, who had actually won her at the swayamvara. Finally, she also married Nakula and Sahadeva.

Draupadi agreed that she would spend a year with each of the Pandavas in turn. If any brother violated this arrangement, in thought or in deed, he would go into exile, completing a pilgrimage to redeem himself.