Jayadratha Asks Draupadi to Identify the Pandavas

Jayadratha saw them first — Bhimasena and Arjuna, their pennants unmistakable against the forest sky. The kshatriyas with him raised a terrible roar, but Jayadratha himself felt his energy drain away. The evil-souled king knew who was coming. He turned to Draupadi, standing resplendent on his chariot. "O Krishna! Five great chariots are advancing. I think they must be your husbands. You know them. O beautiful one! Point out to me the separate Pandavas, riding on their separate chariots." Draupadi looked at him. She had been abducted, dragged by her hair, insulted in the forest. Now her husbands were coming, and this man who had taken her wanted to know who they were. "O foolish one! How will it help you to know those great archers, now that you have performed your terrible and evil deed? My brave husbands have arrived here and you will have no remnants left in this war." But she answered him. It was dharma — when someone about to die asks a question, the truth should be told. She began with Yudhishthira. Two beautiful drums, named Nanda and Upananda, sounded sweetly at the top of his pennant. He knew how to decide about the true nature of dharma, and those who were successful always followed him. His complexion was like pure gold. His nose was high. He was lean and his eyes were large. He was the foremost among the Kurus, the son of Dharma, her husband. He provided refuge even to an enemy. He was brave among men and a follower of dharma, ready to give up his life for it. "O foolish one! For your own welfare, run to him quickly. Discard your weapons and join your hands in salutation." Then Bhima. She described a mighty-armed one seated on his chariot, like a fully grown shala tree, biting his lips, his brows furrowed. Vrikodara — wolf-bellied — her husband. Immensely strong and brave, drawn by well-controlled and strong horses. His deeds were superhuman. Nothing was left of those who committed crimes against him. He never forgot an enemy. He thought of every possible way to avenge enmity, and even after that, he was not pacified. Then Arjuna. Gentle, generous, forbearing, famous. Brave among men. In control of his senses, serving his elders. Yudhishthira's brother and disciple. Dhananjaya, her husband. Desire, fear, or avarice would never cause him to abandon dharma. He never performed a cruel act. His energy was equal to that of the fire-god. He was Kunti's son, and he withstood and repressed all his enemies. Knowledgeable about everything concerning dharma and artha (prosperity). The learned one removed the fear from those who were frightened. His form was the most beautiful on earth. All the Pandavas protected him. He was devoted to his vows and dearer to her than her life. Then Nakula — brave, her husband. Then Sahadeva. Light of hand, fighting with the sword. Mighty and intelligent. She told Jayadratha he would witness Sahadeva's deeds in battle today, like Shatakratu (Indra) against the army of the daityas (demons). Brave and skilled in the use of weapons. Wise and learned. He performed acts that brought pleasure to the king, the son of Dharma. He was like the moon and the sun in his energy. The youngest of the Pandavas, loved by them. There was no other man his equal in intelligence. Eloquent in an assembly of the wise. Brave and always intolerant. Wise and learned. Sahadeva, her husband. Ready to give up his life or enter the fire rather than act against dharma. Always wise and devoted to the dharma of kshatriyas (warriors). Brave among men and dearer to Kunti than her life. She finished with a final image: "Like a boat filled with gems on the edge of the ocean, riding on the back of a shark and destroyed, you will see the soldiers in your army destroyed and freed by the sons of Pandu." She had described them all — the men Jayadratha had foolishly shown disrespect for. "If you escape from them with an uninjured body, you will have been reborn, though you are still alive."