The Swayamvar of Draupadi
They had come from far and wide to marry the fair maiden, Crossing many a mountain, river, valley and ocean But she would marry only the man, who was the best, And to choose him, she had arranged a daunting test On the top of a high wooden pole, in the centre of the courtroom, Was a wooden fish, rotating around the pole on a mechanism The suitor had to hit an arrow in the eye of the fish, By looking at its reflection in water kept below in a dish Many brave warriors tried to lift the heavy steel bow, but failed, They now had fallen silent, all pride gone, hanging their head Just then, there was a sudden flutter in the crowd, like a breeze of hope, As a handsome man stepped forward, dressed in an ascetic’s robe His skin was a golden tan, strength rippled in his arms, His sharp eyes exuding an alert and wakeful calm He bowed before the mighty bow, as it lay still on its stand, Touched his fingers, clutching it, and suddenly lifted it clear in his hand He looked up at the fish, rotating h...