Life of Arjun with his four wives

Life of Arjun with his four wives

According to Mahabharat, Arjun had married fourtimes and had four wives. His first marriage was with Draupadi. His second marriage was with Lord Krishna’s sister Subhadra. He had also married Nagkanya Ulupi and finally married Chitavahan’s daughter Chitrangada.Know how these marriages happened and under what circumstance. Also know, who was the fifth girl Arjun was about to marry, but could not.Arjun and Draupadi MarriageDraupadi was the beautiful daughter of Drupada, the king of Panchala.

Drupada arranged a swayamvara for Draupadi’s marriage in the Panchala court. At the centre of the court a pole was erected over which there was a revolving wheel. On the wheel was a wooden fish. At the bottom of the pole there was a pan of water. The one, who could shoot an arrow at the eye of revolving fish while looking at its reflection in the water below, would marry Draupadi.This was the condition for the swayamvara. Princes from all over assembled for the swayamvara. The Pandavas who were at that time living as Brahmins were also present. Duryodhana, Karna, and Shri Krishna were also present. As the Swayamvara began, many brave princes tried to win the hand of Draupadi, but failed to perform the difficult task of shooting the fish's eye. When Karna came forward to show his skill, Draupadi stopped him and said, "I will not marry a charioteer's son." Insulted, Karna left the court.When all the princes were unsuccessful in performing the feat, Drupada became worried about the marriage of his daughter. Suddenly, Arjuna dressed as a Brahmin rose to try the feat. Nobody was able to recognise him. All the princes objected to the participation of a Brahminin a competition that was meant for them. But looking at the build and confidence of the Brahmin, no one dared to say anything. Arjuna easily shot the fish's eye.

Draupadi was very happy and she put the wedding garland around Arjuna's neck.All the princes felt humiliated and were jealous of Arjuna. They attacked him. Bhima came to his rescue. The mighty Pandavas easily defeated all the princes and took Draupadi with them.Drishtdyumna, Draupadi's brother, followed them to find out who the Brahmin was. When they reached their hut, the Pandavas called out to theirmother, Kunti, "Look, Mother, what we have brought." Kunti replied from inside the hut, "Shareit among yourselves," thinking that they had brought food.When she saw the bride and was told that she was Arjuna's wife, Kunti was very unhappy at what she had said. As a custom, the Pandavas would have to obey every word that she had said - Draupadi would have to become the wife of all five brothers. Just then Krishna came to their hut. He told Kunti, "in her previous life Draupadi had worshipped Shiva to get a husband with five qualities. But Shiva had given her a boon that in her next life she would marry five men each having one quality." On hearing this Kunti felt satisfied and Draupadi became the wife of all five Pandavas.Dhrishtadyumna who had followed them, heard all this. He went back to his father Drupada and said, "I have good news for you. The brave Brahmin who married Draupadi was none other than the great Arjuna." Drupada was delighted to hear this. But when he came to know that Draupadi was to be the wife of all the five Pandavas, he was sad, because this was against the law.At that time, Sage Vyasa came there. He told Drupada, "Though such a marriage is not permitted in the Holy Scriptures, this particular marriage is a result of a boon by Shiva himself, so it is not against the law." Satisfied Drupada arranged for a reception at the palace.

The Pandavas were invited and the wedding between the Pandavas and Draupadi was performed with great splendour.Arjun and Subhadra MarriageWhile in exile from Indraprastha, Arjuna stayed inDwarka as royal guest of Krishna's sister, Subhadra. He asked Krishna's permission to marry her. Krishna said, "A brave warrior never begs for a lady's hand, he either wins it in a swayamvar, or carries the lady away forcibly." Arjuna got the hint. One day, when Subhadra had gone to a temple, he carried her away in a chariot.Subhadra's guards tried to stop him but failed.They returned and informed Balarama, Krishna's elder brother. Balarama got angry and prepared his army to fight Arjuna. But, he saw that Krishna was undisturbed even after he received the news of what Arjuna had done. Krishna told Balarama that it was a matter of pride that their sister had become the bride of the prince of Indraprastha. Balarama was now convinced; he brought back Arjuna and Subhadra and formally married them.Arjun and Ulupi MarriageArjuna had broken a promise and had to go to exile for twelve years. While he was in the forest, abeautiful woman saw him and fell in love with him. She was actually a snake, called Ulupi. She was the daughter of the king of snakes, Kauravya,and lived in the snake kingdom in patal lok (netherworld).Next day, when Arjuna went to take a bath in the river, Ulupi took form of snake and caught hold of his leg and dragged him patal lok. There, She took him to her palace and asked Arjuna to marry her. Arjuna agreed. They got married and had a son names Iravan. Then Arjuna wanted to go back to earth and Ulupi took him there. She also gave him a boon that no creature of water could defeat him.

Arjun and Chitrangada MarriageChitrangada was the daughter of king of Manipur. Arjun married her during his travels to Manipur. However, Chitrangada stayed in her own city with her son Babhru when Arjun returned to Hastinapur.There was a time during Mahabharat, when King Virat wanted to marry his daughter Uttara with Arjun. However, Arjun denied.Arjun and UttaraAfter the pandavas exile was over, King Virat received all the pandavas by hugging them. He said that his kingdom is theirs and offered Arjun to marry his daughter Uttara.However, Arjun politely denied by saying that Uttara referred Arjun as her guru and that Arjun considers him as his daughter. Therefore, their marriage was not ethical. Arjun then offered Virat to marry Uttara with his son Abhimanyu.