Mahābhārata · Sanskrit Epic
Draupadi's Swayamvara
द्रौपदीस्वयंवरः
Mahābhārata · Ādi Parva · Svayaṃvara Parva (अादिपर्व) · Beginner Sanskrit
Moral · धर्मः
शक्तिः अभ्यासात् जायते, अभिमानात् न।
śaktiḥ abhyāsāt jāyate, abhimānāt na.
“True strength is born from practice, not from pride.”
The Great Contest
पाञ्चाले द्रुपदराजस्य कन्या — कृष्णा द्रौपदी। सा अत्यन्तं सुन्दरी एवं गुणवती आसीत्। राजा द्रुपदः स्वयंवरं आयोजयत् — महान् उत्सवः। स्पर्धा एवं आसीत् — जलपात्रे मत्स्यस्य प्रतिबिम्बं दृष्ट्वा — उपरि घूर्णमानं मत्स्यनेत्रम् बाणेन भेदनीयम्। सर्वेभ्यः राजभ्यः निमन्त्रणम् अप्रेषयत्।
In Pañchāla, the daughter of King Drupada was Draupadi — also called Krishnā. She was extraordinarily beautiful and virtuous. King Drupada organised a swayamvara — a great celebration. The contest was this: Looking only at a fish's reflection in a water vessel below — one must pierce the spinning fish's eye with an arrow overhead. Invitations were sent to all the kings.
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