Draupadi was a catch. She was the princess of Panchala, a kingdom which was both wealthy and influential. The young Pandavas needed a powerful ally and Panchala fit the bill perfectly. When they heard that Drupada had arranged for a swayamvara for his daughter Draupadi, the Pandavas joined numerous other kings and princes to try and win her hand. Things get a little complicated because they attended the swayamvara disguised as brahmanas. 

Music: Venkatesananda-Jesse Gallagher; At Depth-Lish Grooves; Yoga Style-Chris Haugen

Blog: http://storiesofindiaretold.com

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Resources:

Sahgal, S. (2005). Indian History Congress Prize Essay: POLYANDRY WITHIN PATRIARCHY; REITERATION OF MALE HEGEMONY IN THE SOCIO-SEXUAL CONTEXTS OF EARLY INDIA. Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, 66, 199–214. http://www.jstor.org/stable/44145838

The Mahabharata 1: Complete and Unabridged; translated by Bibek Debroy. (2015). Penguin Random House India. (Original work published 2010)

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