Cover credit : @Sassy_Nightangle
Draupadi was a well-known princess of Panchal and queen of Indraprastha, after the great war of Gurushetra she became empress of whole Aryavart.
Was she happy with these positions?
When she came out of the yagna she...
After sunset, the royal family of Hastinapur gathered for their evening meal. The aroma of ghee, rice, and freshly baked bread filled the hall, yet an unusual tension lingered in the air, as though destiny itself waited outside the palace walls.
"There is a messenger from Panchal," a guard announced, bowing deeply.
"Let him enter," said the blind king, raising his hand in command. The messenger, clad in the rich silks of Panchal, stepped forward with reverence.
"Hail to the King! I bring word from my lord, King Drupad. He is conducting a swayamvar for his younger daughter. I come bearing invitations for the princes of Hastinapur." He held out scrolls sealed with Panchal's emblem of fire and lotus, placing them gently into the hands of the guards.
A murmur ran through the assembly. "Does King Drupad have another daughter?" Bhishma's deep voice cut through the whispers.
"Yes," the messenger replied with pride gleaming in his eyes. "She is no ordinary child. Born of the sacred yagna, the fire-born princess herself, Princess Draupadi. Her twin brother is our valiant Prince Drishtadyumna. The princess, Yajnaseni, is renowned across Aryavarta for her unmatched beauty and divine grace. She is the jewel of Panchal, a blessing of Agni Dev himself."
"Fire-born?" the assembly echoed in awe.
The name rippled through the sabha like a whisper of fate.
"Draupadi..." Arjun murmured under his breath, a strange tremor rising within him. It was as if the syllables carried an echo from beyond time, binding his heart in threads unseen. The elders gathered in counsel, speaking of alliances, honor, and destiny. Bhishma's solemn voice carried weight, "The princes of Hastinapur must attend this swayamvar. It will be both an honor to Panchal and a blessing to have such a divine princess as kulvadhu. Prepare yourselves, you leave for Panchal within two days."
The court was dismissed. That night, though the others slept peacefully, Arjun lay restless. His mind wandered to the strange dreams that nothing like before, this is different, the same doe-eyed maiden with tears brimming, eyes heavy with pain, betrayal, and unspoken despair. Her sorrow pierced deeper than any wound of battle.
Arjun stirred in his sleep, sweat beading his brow. The vision returned Draupadi's lotus eyes, filled with silent cries, disappointment pressing like a blade against his heart. He woke with a start, chest heaving, reaching for the jug of water at his side. His hands trembled as he poured and drank, but the image would not fade.
"Why do I feel guilt for a woman I have yet to meet?" he whispered into the silence, confusion clouding his warrior's mind. Sleep deserted him for the rest of the night.
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Meanwhile, in Panchal.
Krishna had already arrived a week earlier. The swayamvar preparations were nearly complete, palace courtyards adorned with garlands of marigolds and jasmine, golden pillars reflecting the last rays of the sun, and the royal archery ground transformed into a sacred arena.
