Arjuna drew a steady breath before answering Indra, his expression firm as he stood beside Draupadi.
"Indradev, Princess Draupadi and I love one another, and we wish to marry. However, Raja Drupada interfered with the very rules he had established for his daughter's Swayamvara, leaving me with no choice but to take her away from the venue. Karna has now placed himself in our path, determined to stop us from leaving together. As I explained earlier, invoking the Brahmastra was my last resort to make him step aside."
Indra listened without interrupting, his gaze moving briefly toward Draupadi before settling on Karna. "Do you wish to say something in your defence, Karna?"
Karna lowered his bow slightly, though he did not put it away. "I learned about the injustice done to Arjuna only after I stopped him from leaving with the princess. Until then, I had no reason to believe that he had been treated unfairly. Once I understood what had happened, I gave him my word that I would bring him back to the Swayamvara so that he could compete fairly with the other kings. However, he refused to trust me and chose to leave instead."
He paused, looking at Arjuna without anger but with unmistakable disappointment. "Had they eloped yesterday, I would not have come after them on my own. But they chose to leave on the very day of the Swayamvara, when kings from across Aryavarta had gathered at Kampilya, waiting for the opportunity to compete for Princess Draupadi's hand. What of Raja Drupada's prestige? What of the kings who came here in good faith, expecting the rules announced by their host to be followed? Does Raja Drupada deserve to bear such humiliation before them all when it could have been avoided?"
The question hung between them. Karna had not denied Arjuna's grievance, nor had he claimed that Drupada's actions were justified. His objection was that Arjuna and Draupadi had chosen to resolve the matter through an elopement that would leave Drupada and the assembled kings to face the consequences.
"I cannot simply allow them to leave," Karna continued. "I must take Princess Draupadi back to Kampilya. And if Arjuna still wishes to compete for her hand, then despite the confrontation we have just had, I am willing to let him return as a contestant. He can stand before the other kings and compete for her openly. I have no intention of denying him that opportunity."
Indra remained silent for a moment, considering both accounts.
Arjuna had spoken of love and the injustice he believed he had suffered, while Karna had spoken of responsibility toward Draupadi's father and the dignity of the gathering. Neither appeared to be acting without reason, yet their opposing decisions had brought them dangerously close to unleashing two Brahmastras against each other.
"Hmm," Indra murmured at last. "Both of you have spoken from your own understanding of what is right." He then turned toward Draupadi, who had remained beside Bhima, listening to the exchange. "But this matter concerns you most directly, Rajkumari Draupadi. I have heard both sides, and now I wish to hear yours. What do you wish to do?"
Draupadi stepped forward, her hands joined respectfully before the King of Heaven.
Indra looked at her with patience, giving her time to gather her thoughts before asking again, "You have heard what both warriors have said. Karna wishes to take you back to Kampilya, while Arjuna wishes to leave with you. The decision will affect your father, your kingdom, and your own future. What have you decided, Princess?"
For a brief moment, Draupadi's gaze moved toward Karna.
She had known him as the spiritual elder brother who had helped bring her into existence, the warrior who had promised to protect her, and the man who wished to see her happy.
She understood why he had stopped them, and she knew that his concern extended beyond her father's pride. He wanted her to have the life she desired without leaving behind a trail of humiliation and political consequences.
"Elder Brother," she began, her voice quiet but steady, "I know that you care about me and my father. You want me to be happy, but you also want to ensure that my happiness does not come at the cost of everything else. You are thinking about my father's honour, the reputation of Dakshina Panchala, and the kings who have gathered for the Swayamvara. I understand that, and I know you are not doing this to hurt me."
She paused, lowering her eyes briefly as she considered the weight of the words she was about to speak. When she raised them again, her expression had become more resolute.
"However, in my heart, I have already chosen Arindhama as my husband. I did not choose him because I knew he was Arjuna, the son of Pandu. I chose the man I came to know, and learning his true identity has not changed that choice. Since I have accepted him in my heart as my husband, I must also consider his welfare and respect his wishes. That is why I decided to leave with him."
Her fingers tightened briefly against one another, but she did not look away from Karna.
"I know that my decision will bring difficulties, and I know my father may suffer because of it. Yet I cannot return to Kampilya as though nothing has happened. I will return only as a married woman, or I will not return alive." Her voice wavered for the briefest moment before she steadied it. "As for my father's honour and the future of Dakshina Panchala, I can only be selfish and place my faith in you, Elder Brother. You were the one who brought me into existence, and I believe you will not allow anything to happen to my father or my kingdom. I am asking you to trust my decision, even if you cannot agree with it."
Karna said nothing.
The determination in Draupadi's voice left little room for misunderstanding.
He had hoped to bring her back to Kampilya, restore the dignity of the Swayamvara, and give Arjuna a fair opportunity to compete.
He had believed that, once he explained the consequences of their actions, the two would understand why he could not simply step aside. Instead, Draupadi had placed her future firmly beside Arjuna's, accepting the consequences rather than retreating from her choice.
His expression remained composed, but the disappointment in his eyes was difficult to miss.
Draupadi noticed it immediately.
Her shoulders lowered slightly, and for a moment, the certainty with which she had spoken gave way to sorrow.
She did not want to hurt the brother who had always cared for her, yet she could not abandon the path she had chosen merely because it disappointed him.
"I am sorry, Elder Brother," she said softly. "I know that you wanted a different outcome. But this is the path I have chosen. If you truly care about my happiness, then please step aside and let us go."
Arjuna's face brightened as he heard her words.
Until that moment, he had been uncertain whether Draupadi would stand firmly beside him when faced with Karna's objections and the judgment of Indra.
Now she had made her decision clear before them all, and he felt the tension that had weighed on him begin to ease.
He glanced at her with quiet gratitude, relieved that she had not withdrawn her choice even after hearing the arguments against their departure.
Bhima, too, could not hide his satisfaction.
He had watched Karna stand unmoved before Arjuna's arrows and had witnessed how even the invocation of the Brahmastra had failed to force the warrior to retreat.
Strength alone had not been enough to change Karna's mind, nor had Arjuna's skill with the bow.
Yet Draupadi's words had reached a place that neither weapons nor threats could touch. Karna had been forced to confront the wishes of the very person he had been trying to protect.
For a moment, Bhima wondered whether the mighty Karna would finally allow them to leave.
Arjuna turned toward Indra and joined his palms. "Indradev, you have heard Princess Draupadi's decision. I ask you to deliver your judgment."
Indra regarded Draupadi for a moment longer before turning toward Karna.
The princess had spoken without hesitation, and her decision could not be dismissed simply because it conflicted with the course Karna believed would be best. The warrior had acted with concern for her and her father, but concern alone could not determine another person's future.
"Karna," Indra said, his tone calm but authoritative, "you may be right in your understanding of the situation. Your concern for Raja Drupada's honour and the consequences of this departure is not without reason. Yet there are times when people must place their trust in one another and allow them to follow the path they have chosen. Princess Draupadi has made her decision, and she has accepted the responsibility that comes with it."
He paused before delivering his judgment.
"I therefore order you to step aside and allow them to leave."
For several moments, Karna remained motionless. Then he slowly raised his head, his fingers tightening around the bow he still held. His gaze settled on Arjuna, and the disappointment in his expression gave way to a more serious concern.
"Before I step aside, I need an answer from you, Arjuna."
The happiness on Arjuna's face faded slightly. Karna's tone carried no threat, but there was a weight behind his words that made it clear he was not asking out of idle curiosity.
"The last time we met, I questioned Queen Mother Kunti about your plans. If I remember correctly, she told me that she intended to strengthen her sons' political support before returning to Hastinapur. Dakshina Panchala could provide that support, and by marrying Draupadi, you would become Raja Drupada's son-in-law. You would gain a powerful ally, and your mother's objective could be achieved."
Karna's gaze remained steady, giving Arjuna no opportunity to mistake the question for an accusation of insincerity.
"Now, I want to know what you intend to do after marrying her. Will you and your brothers reveal yourselves and return to Hastinapur to claim your rightful place? Or will you continue wandering from one kingdom to another, leaving Draupadi to share a life of uncertainty with you? She has chosen to stand beside you, but that does not mean you should leave her to bear the consequences of decisions you have yet to make."