The Elopement

Arjuna had started from Indraprastha, which is nearly close to Delhi, in the north of present day India. He covered the north, east and south of India and reached Dwaraka in the west. He met Krishna there. Krishna took him to his palace. That is the story so far.

A mountain festival

Two races of Yadavas, the Vrishnis and the Andhakas, lived in the capital city, Dwaraka. The Yadavas were about to celebrate a festival in the Raivataka mountain near there. Many of their chiefs had gathered in the mountain. Temporary shelters were built for them and the whole place was decorated. Musicians came singing and playing various instruments. Balarama was there with his wife, Revati, fully intoxicated as usual.
Krishna was giving out various gifts to Brahmins when Arjuna came there disguised as a monk.

Arjuna met Krishna in the company of many of his formerYadava friends there. His heart was filled with joy, but, he did not give any hint of recognition. It was for the first time he
met Subhadra and his love for her became more intense. Krishna made fun of him when alone in his company, saying it was improper for a monk to desire a woman. Then he gave a hint to Arjuna. There were two acceptable ways of marriage for Kshatriyas (the princely class), by Swayamvara and by Harana (elopement).Arjuna got the message, but, wanted to consult his elder brothers first.

Krishna helped Arjuna with secret messengers to get the consent of the other Pandavas.

A month of rituals

The mountain festival came to an end and all returned to Dwaraka. Arjuna came back to his old seat in front of the palace. Many Yadavas, including Balarama, gathered around him and wanted to hear his travel details. Which were the important centres of pilgrimage that he visited during his travel ?

Balarama was impressed with the monk. He had divine appearance and spoke like one. His travel tales were highly informative. He called Krishna and introduced him to the monk !

Balaarama was aware that monks have special rituals, called Chaaturmaasya, during one particular month each year and that, that month had arrived. They have to remain in one particular place during the month and cannot beg around for their daily meal. The Yadavas, thought Balarama, had the responsibility to take care of their visiting monk now.

Where should he be housed ? Balarama thought that Subhadra’s palace was the right choice. She would take good care of the noble monk. Krishna gave an innocent warning to his elder brother. Would that be proper? The monk, after all, was young and handsome. Should he be allowed to live in the house of the princess ? Krishna’s objections were overruled by Balarama. The monk appeared above board in these matters. Accordingly, Arjuna was accommodated in Subhadra’s palace and she was asked to look after him.

Arjuna in Subhadra’s care

Krishna gave detailed instructions to his sister on how to take good care of her guest. Subhadra promised him to do her best. Arjuna, who was already smitten by the love bug, lost his mind completely to Subhadra when she started looking after him.

Subhadra , finding the monk relaxed after meals, used to ask him about his travel stories. She had heard stories of the Pandavas right from her childhood. Arjuna was her hero. Somehow, the handsome figure of the monk with his long arms reminded her of Arjuna. She wanted to hear about the Pandavas from him. Had he been to Indrapastha ? How were the Pandavas after returning from their exile ? How was Yudhishthira ruling their half of kingdom ? She also had heard about Arjuna’s self imposed exile. Where would he be travelling now ?

To the last question the monk’s reply was that Arjuna was living comfortably in Dwaraka as a fake monk ! That was how Arjuna revealed his secret to her. He also told her that Arjuna in disguise was deeply in love with her and his only thought was how to marry her. With that he left Subhadra to recover from her embarrassment and lose herself in her own private feelings.

Sudddenly, Subhadra’s feelings towards Arjuna, which were in the form of hero worship and admiration took concrete form as love. She thought only of him while alone. To the repeated questions from her mother, Devaki, Subhadra had to tell her story and how that was linked to the monk in her house, who was none other than Arjuna. Devaki and Vasudeva took Krishna’s help in the matter.

The island festival

Krishna was not sure how his elder brother would take a direct approach at that stage. So, he thought of a plan. He announced a festival to be held to honour the deity of Siva in a nearby island. All should gather there. Accordingly, all the Yadavas got into yachts and set sail to the island. Subhadra, remained to serve the monk as per Krishna’s orders.
After the Pooja was conducted all the Yadavas got into a festive mood. Excellent food and wine were served to all.

The marriage

Arjuna thought that the time had come for his marrying Subhadra in the Gandharva style
(mutually consented marriage). He suggested a date that was auspicious as per astrology.(Indian epics give clue to dates of events by pointing out the unique position of stellar objects. The date of marriage with Subhadra has one such indication). Subhadra was in agreement, was sad that none of her people were around for the occasion. She thought of her parents and her brothers. Krishna sensed Subhadra’s tellipathic message. Balarama was deep in sleep resulting from heavy drinking. He left him there and returned to Dwraka with his parents and a few of his trusted companions.

Arjuna thought of his father, the king of gods. Indra appeared immediately with his wife, Sacheedevi and some of the celestial sages like Narada. The Yadavas who had gathered there paid respects to the sages and gods and requested them to conduct the marriage in the proper way. Thus, the marriage of Subhadra with Arjuna was performed in the presence of divinities from the other world.

Krishna gave his own chariot to Arjuna and asked him to make an escape before he was possibly challenged by other Yadavas. He would follow him with others soon.
That was how the marriage of Arjuna with Subhadra was held with Krishna’s help.