Dhrishtadyumna Spies on the Pandavas at the Potter's House
After the swayamvara, Dhrishtadyumna secretly follows the disguised archer and his brother to a potter's house. Hiding outside, he watches their evening rituals and overhears their warrior's talk, piecing together the truth. He hurries back to his anxious father, King Drupada, who desperately hopes the winner is the man he believes to be long dead.
When the two Kuru brothers left the swayamvara grounds, Dhrishtadyumna of Panchala followed them. He dismissed his attendants and hid himself near the potter’s house where they went, watching without being seen.
In the evening, Bhima and Arjuna returned with Nakula and Sahadeva, carrying the alms they had begged. They happily gave what they had collected to Yudhishthira. Then Kunti spoke softly to Draupadi, Drupada’s daughter. “O fortunate one,” she said, “first take a portion and offer it to the gods. Then give some to a Brahmana. Feed those who are needy and give some to the men who are around. Divide the rest into two parts. Give half to Bhima, because that dark youth with a strong body is like a mad bull and is a warrior who always eats a lot.” The chaste princess did exactly as she was asked, cheerfully and without doubt. Then they all ate.
Sahadeva, Madri’s son, quickly spread a bed of kusha grass on the ground. After that, each of the brave warriors laid out his own deerskin and lay down to sleep, their heads facing the direction blessed by the sage Agastya. Kunti lay down along their heads, and Draupadi lay down along their feet. Though she was lying on the ground on kusha grass with Pandu’s sons, like a foot pillow, she felt no grief. Nor did she feel any disrespect for those bulls among the Kurus.
Then the warriors began to talk among themselves. They told stories of wars, celestial weapons, chariots, elephants, swords, clubs, and battleaxes. Hidden outside, Dhrishtadyumna heard every word of their conversation. His men saw how Draupadi was lying there in that humble state.
Prince Dhrishtadyumna set out in great haste. He went to tell his father, King Drupada, everything he had seen and heard during the night.
The Panchala king was anxious and sad, because he did not know where the Pandavas had gone or who had won his daughter. The great-souled king asked Dhrishtadyumna as soon as he arrived, “Where has Draupadi gone? Who has taken her away? Is it a Shudra or one of low birth? Has a Vaishya who pays taxes placed his feet on my head? Has a garland been thrown away on a cremation ground? O son! Or is it a foremost man from our own varna (social order), or is it one from a higher varna? Or has a lower being placed his foot on my head and defiled Draupadi?”
Then Drupada voiced the hope that had been burning inside him. “I will be happy in my sacrifices if she has been united with Partha, that bull among men. Tell me truthfully. Which illustrious one has won my daughter today? Is there any chance that Vichitravirya’s sons, foremost among the Kurus, are still alive? Is it perhaps Partha who took up the bow and shot the target today?”