The Svayamvara Contest is Formally Opened
On the sixteenth day of the assembly, Draupadi, adorned in finery and carrying the winner's golden prize, enters the silent arena. After sacred rituals, her brother Dhrishtadyumna steps forward and thunders the rules: the suitor must string the mighty bow and shoot the target through a hole with five arrows. The challenge hangs in the air before the assembled kings.
On the sixteenth day, when the crowd was at its peak, Droupadi (Draupadi) bathed, put on the best of clothing, and adorned herself with many ornaments. She then descended into the arena, carrying in her hand a beautifully adorned golden prize for the winner.
Sacrificial rites began. The priest of the Somakas (Panchalas), a pure Brahmana learned in the mantras (sacred chants), poured offerings of ghee (clarified butter) into the fire according to prescribed rites. He uttered salutations of peace to the fire and to the Brahmanas. At his signal, the playing of all musical instruments stopped.
When everything was quiet, Dhrishtadyumna—Drupada’s son—walked to the centre of the arena. In a thundering voice, he spoke words that were deep with meaning and sweet to hear.
“O assembled kings! Hear this. This is the bow, that is the target, and these are the arrows.” He laid out the terms precisely. “With these five arrows, shoot the target through the hole in the centre of the machine. I truly say that the handsome and strong one, born in a noble family, who accomplishes this great feat today, will obtain as his wife my sister Krishna.”
Having thus addressed the assembled kings, Drupada’s son then turned and spoke to Droupadi herself, recounting for her the lineages and the famed deeds of each king who had come to try.