A story · Mahabharata — Stories

The Five Husbands

Mahabharata, Adi Parva 197

The story · English

The Pandavas and King Drupada, along with others present, stood and greeted the Rishi Krishna, also known as Vyasa. The high-souled Rishi returned their greetings and sat upon a golden carpet, directing the others to take their seats. After a short while, Drupada asked the Rishi about the wedding of his daughter. He asked how it was possible for one woman to become the wife of many men without committing a sin. Vyasa replied that such a practice was opposed to the Vedas and common usage, and had therefore become obsolete. However, before giving his own answer, Vyasa asked each of those present for their opinion on the matter.

Drupada spoke first, stating that the practice was sinful because it went against the Vedas and tradition. He noted that he had never seen many men sharing one wife, nor had the illustrious people of former ages done so. He believed the wise should avoid such a sin and could not make himself accept this path. Dhrishtadyumna then spoke, questioning how an elder brother, even one of good disposition, could approach the wife of his younger brother. He admitted that the ways of morality are subtle and difficult to know, and therefore he could not in good conscience allow Draupadi to be the common wife of five brothers.

Yudhishthira then shared his view, stating that his heart never inclined toward what was sinful. He recalled from the Puranas that a virtuous woman named Jatila of the Gotama race had married seven Rishis. He also mentioned a daughter of an ascetic, born from a tree, who had married ten brothers known as the Prachetas. Yudhishthira argued that obedience to a superior is always meritorious, and since their mother, Kunti, had commanded them to share Draupadi as they would share alms, he regarded the act as virtuous. Kunti agreed with Yudhishthira. She greatly feared that her earlier words would become untrue, and asked how she could be saved from untruth.

Vyasa told Kunti that she would be saved from the consequences of untruth because this was an eternal virtue. He told King Drupada that he would not discuss the details in front of everyone, but would explain privately how this practice was established and why it was old and eternal, and he added that Yudhishthira's words were quite conformable to virtue. Vyasa then took Drupada by the hand and led him to a private apartment, leaving the Pandavas, Kunti, and Dhrishtadyumna waiting. Once they were alone, Vyasa began to explain why polyandry could not be regarded as sinful, starting with a story from the days of old when the celestials held a grand sacrifice in the forest of Naimisha.

During that sacrifice, Yama acted as the slayer of devoted animals but did not kill a single human being. Because death was suspended, the human population grew rapidly. Fearing this increase, the celestials, including Soma, Sakra, and Varuna, went to Prajapati, the Creator, and asked for his protection. Prajapati told them not to be afraid, as they were immortal. The celestials replied that mortals had become immortal too, and the distinction between gods and humans had vanished. Prajapati explained that once Yama's work at the sacrifice ended, men would begin to die again, and Yama, strengthened by the celestials' own energies, would sweep away thousands of humans who would scarcely have any energy left.

The celestials returned to the sacrifice by the Bhagirathi river, where they saw a golden lotus floating in the current. Indra, the chief of the celestials, followed the river to find the source. He found a woman with the splendor of fire washing herself in the stream and weeping. Her tears turned into golden lotuses as they hit the water. Indra approached her and asked why she was weeping. The woman told him that if he followed her, he would see the reason for her grief. Indra followed her to a peak of Himavat, where he saw a handsome youth and a young lady playing at dice on a throne.

Indra, arrogant in his power, told the youth that the universe was under his sway. The youth, who was the god Mahadeva, ignored him and continued his game. This angered Indra, who repeated his claim. Mahadeva only glanced at him and smiled, and that single glance paralyzed Indra, leaving him standing like a stake. When the game ended, Mahadeva told the weeping woman to bring Indra to him so he could remove the pride from the chief of the celestials' heart. Upon being touched by the woman, Indra fell to the earth, his limbs paralyzed by that touch.

Mahadeva commanded Indra to remove a huge stone and enter the hole it hid. Indra removed it and saw a cave holding four others with the splendor of the sun, all like himself, and he was seized with grief, fearing he would share their fate. Mahadeva angrily told him to enter the cave because he had foolishly insulted him. Trembling with fear, Indra joined his hands and praised him as the overseer of the infinite universe. Mahadeva smiled and said that those with his disposition never obtain his grace. He explained that Indra and the others in the cave must take birth in the world of men, achieve difficult feats and slay many men before regaining the region of Indra.

The former Indras requested that Dharma, Vayu, Maghavat, and the twin Aswins beget them upon their future mother. Indra decided that instead of going himself, he would create a portion of his own energy to be the fifth member of the group. These five Indras were Vishwabhuk, Bhutadhaman, Sivi, Santi, and Tejaswin. Mahadeva granted their request and appointed the goddess of grace, celestial Sri, to be their common wife in the world of men. This plan was approved by Narayana. Later, Narayana took up two hairs from his body, one black and one white, which entered the wombs of Devaki and Rohini of the Yadu race and became Krishna and Valadeva.

Vyasa revealed that the Pandavas were these former Indras, and Arjuna was the portion of Sakra. Draupadi was the reincarnation of celestial Sri. He granted Drupada spiritual sight, and the king saw the Pandavas in their true celestial forms, radiant and handsome. Vyasa then explained that Draupadi was once a Rishi's daughter who had asked Lord Sankara five times for a husband of every accomplishment. Because she asked five times, he granted her five husbands in a future life. Draupadi was that maiden. Having heard this, Drupada was told to do as he desired.

कथा · हिन्दी

In this book

• Before: The Swayamvara of Draupadi · Mahabharata, Adi Parva 189
• Next: The Marriage of Arjuna and Subhadra · Mahabharata, Adi Parva 222
• All of Mahabharata — Stories · Ask Krishna about it

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