In this episode of Mahabharata, Arjun wins Draupadi’s hand in marriage by passing the Engagement Challenge with his Improbable Aiming Skills. After preventing an entire gaggle of rejected suitors from pulling an If I Can't Have You…, Arjun takes her home.
But a poor choice of words could put the Pandavas and Draupadi into an untenable situation.
Meanwhile, Dhritharashtra reacts with joy upon hearing that the Pandavas are alive and well in Panchaal. Bhishma and Shakuni react with trepidation however, anticipating a coming civil war.
Tropes found here are
- Be Careful What You Wish For: Draupadi demanded that Shiva give her a husband who is the most virtuous and intelligent, the strongest man in the world, the best archer in the world, the most handsome man and the most patient enduring man. Shiva warned her that no single man can possess all those qualities at once. But she insisted. So, in her next life, she must marry five men who embody one of the qualities she asked for. And bear the consequences.
- Entitled Bastard: Shakuni advises Duryodhan to show childlike stubbornness in demanding that his father not take away his position of crown prince. This is his only plan left right now.
- Exact Words: Kunti instructed the five brothers “Whatever you’ve brought, share it amongst yourselves!” So, Draupadi must take all five of them as husbands.
- If I Can't Have You…: After Arjun shoots the fish eye and wins Draupadi, all other kings and princes assembled there see that the Engagement Challenge was rigged and demand that Draupadi choose one of them anyway. When she refuses, they form a mob and threaten to burn her alive. Arjun, Bhim, Krishna, Balaram and Dhrishtadyumna immediately surround Draupadi to protect her.
- Improbable Aiming Skills: Arjun (of course) displays his, when he shoots the eye of the revolving fish toy. But he displays them again by shooting Karna’s bow and disarming him before he can even get a shot off. A humbled Karna walks away.
- "It" Is Dehumanizing: Kunti scolds Arjun and Bhim for calling a woman “alms” and says that as a punishment, they must figure out how to share Draupadi as a wife amongst themselves.
- Kirk Summation / Shaming the Mob : Krishna gives all princes one, stating that they should accept their failure and leave with their honor intact.
- Oh, Crap!: Drupad has this reaction when Dhrishtadyumna, who was trying to rile him up about the Pandavas forcing his daughter into a polyandrous situation, tells him that Krishna said it is Draupadi’s repentance.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Kunti lets Arjun and Bhim have it for referring to a married woman as “alms”. Then Krishna shows up and let all of them including Draupadi have it. He scolds Arjun and Bhim for dehumanizing Draupadi, then scolds Kunti for giving her sons orders without properly looking around and knowing relevant facts. And then Draupadi is informed why she must have five husbands and warns her to never ask for an impossible boon in the future.
- Silly Rabbit, Idealism Is for Kids!: Bhishma admonishes Vidhur to not think like a child when Vidhur suggests that the people’s will is to see Yudhistir as crown prince, and that the king will never countermand the people. Bhishma reminds Vidhur that the king has long ago stopped taking any advice from Bhishma and Vidhur, letting Shakuni influence him more.
- Voice of Reason: Karna tries once more to dissuade Duryodhan from listening to his uncle’s corrupting ramblings. He fails.
- You Fool!: Shakuni accosts a happy go lucky Duryodhan this way, for not finding out somehow that the Pandavas are alive.
