Drupada, the King of the Panchalas, laments that he has not fulfilled his vow to marry his daughter Draupadi to Arjuna. Now he is afraid that the Pandavas have been killed when a fire destroyed the Duryodhana lacquer palace in which they were staying. Drupada summons his astrologer who assures him that the Pandavas and their mother Kunti have escaped alive. Thereupon Vyasa (the author of the Mahabharata) arrives. He informs Drupada that—if he wants his daughter to be married to Arjuna—he should organize a ‘self-choice marriage’ (svayamvara), challenging the kings of all the fifty-five countries to bend a mighty bow in return for the right to marry Draupadi. Letters of invitation are sent out to all kings and a group of wrestlers is ordered to fetch the bow from the Himalayas.

Draupadi is inconsolable because she believes that her beloved Arjuna has perished in the fire. She tells her girl-friends that, if she cannot marry Arjuna, she will take her own life. Drupada consoles his daughter and tells her about the impending svayamvara. He assures her that only Arjuna will come and that only he will bend the bow. The bow arrives and is planted at the front left corner of the stage where it remains for the entire Festival.
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