As a sudden flame leaps up from a heap of ashes, Arjuna took to the stage like the warrior he was, yet except for Krsna and Balarama and Bhisma, none could recognise him.

 

Arjuna addressed 'Dhrstadyumna' and asked "are brahmans allowed seeing that no-one is able to hit the target" his eyes sweeping the hall with contempt and amusement.

 

"Certainly" came the reply "anyone, either 'brahman' or 'ksatriya' or 'vaisya' or even 'sudra' all are invited to come forward and if they hit the target they win the hand of Draupadi".

 

 

Around the sacred bow Arjuna walked three times and prostrated before it and within a moment he had strung the bow and released five arrows within quick succession.

 

As the target was hit and Matsya fell to the ground there was a terrific uproar as the brahmans cheered their man in appreciation and from above flowers rained down upon Arjuna.

 

Draupadi, glowing like embers, placed the garland around the neck of Arjuna as the hall resounded with conch and trumpets and the sky thundered with heavenly musicians.

 

Arjuna and Draupadi were like 'Sachi' and 'Indra' and as he took the beautiful princess by the hand her father was pleased with his handsome and noble features.

 

The kings all sat silent, confused, and then anger began to surface as they saw that their host had insulted all of them by giving his beautiful daughter to a brahman.

 

As no-one could hit the target his daughter should have entered the fire, they cried, instead a trickster brahman insults us all, we shall kill the king for this insult.

 

Drupada was shocked at the anger of the kings and glanced towards the young brahman but Arjuna smiled back in a reassuring way which allayed the fears of the king.

 

Bhima stepped forward and uprooted a nearby tree, ready to release all the torment he had unjustly suffered and shower a tsunami of anger upon the evil Kauravas.

 

Draupadi clung to this highly impressive looking brahman while his brothers Bhima and Yudhisthira and the twins stood firm and eager and enthusiastic to do battle.

 

 

Although few knew the real identity of these brahmans Krsna informed his brother 'Balarama' these five brahmans who appeared before them was the five Pandavas.

 

The handsome young man who won the hand of 'Draupadi' was the archer 'Arjuna' the powerful and impetuous one uprooting a tree was the holder of the mace 'Bhima'.

 

The kind and noble 'Yudhisthira' and the twins 'Nakula' and 'Sahadeva' were also there and it seems they had been saved from perishing within the dreadful house of lac.

 

 

The brahman community was beside themselves with joy and offered to help these five young brahmans as they prepared to do battle with these most powerful kings.

 

Arjuna assured them they were quite capable of protecting themselves, especially with the mighty Bhima beside him and Yudhisthira along with Nakula and Sahadeva.

 

Bhima fought the powerful Salya while Yudhisthira fought Duryodhana and Nakula fought Sakuni and although outnumbered the arrows of Arjuna shocked them all.

 

Radheya saw the fiery arrows of Arjuna and rushed to the spot asking him if he was the great Bhargava, i also learned from the feet of a great brahman, let us fight.

 

Arjuna declared to the great Radheya that he was not any of those great warriors, but a simple brahman, who, like your good self, had learned from the feet of a brahman.

 

A great fight ensued but the arrows of Arjuna could not be checked and upon cutting the strings of his bow, Radheya admitted defeat and withdrew from the fight.

 

Bhima waged a ferocious war against Salya and after defeating him allowed him to live as he knew that this Salya was the uncle of his brothers Nakula and Sahadeva.

 

Yuddhisthira and his battle with Duryodhana was the highlight of the day as he pierced his enemy with sharp arrows and although Duryodhana fought back, it was of no use.

 

The mild mannered Yudhisthira was unrecognisable as he fought with such fury and with Radheya already defeated, the powerful Kuru kings were undecided and hesitant.

 

Krsna took centre stage and declared to the Kuru kings that the brahman had won the hand of Draupadi by fair means and it was not right to continue this fighting.

 

Anyone was allowed to enter the contest, spoke Krsna, and none objected, as princes born of noble houses it becomes of you to accept the better man who has won.

 

As the kings were unsure of defeating these powerful brahmans, they accepted Krsnas words and left the arena each of them curious about the brahmans identity.