The Contest
Drupada had designed the swayamvara to find a husband worthy of Draupadi — the most exceptional woman of her age. The bow was immensely heavy; the target was a mechanical golden fish rotating on a pole; and the archer could look only at the fish's reflection in a pool of water beneath it.
Kings and princes from across Bharata came. Some could not lift the bow. Others strung it but could not aim. The great Karna came closest — until Draupadi declared she would not garland a sutaputra, a charioteer's son.
The Brahmin
The Pandavas were there in disguise — apparently a group of Brahmin students. Everyone was focused on the kings.
Arjuna stepped forward.
He circled the bow, gauged the distance to the water, found his angle. He strung the bow. He stood still for a moment, completely absorbed.
He shot five arrows. Five hits. The fish fell.
The court erupted. Who was this Brahmin?
The Revelation
As the other kings objected and the situation grew tense, Karna and Duryodhana challenged the Pandavas. A fight broke out. Bhima uprooted a tree. The disguised Pandavas held off everyone.
Eventually Drupada's priest recognized them. The greatest archer in the world had won his daughter.