Arjuna had not expected Karna to ask him such a question.
For a moment, he remained silent, trying to find an answer that would satisfy the warrior standing before him.
Yet the more he considered it, the more he realized that he could not make a promise on behalf of his entire family when he did not know what his mother had planned.
At last, he lowered his gaze slightly and answered honestly, "Maharaj Karna, I am unable to give you an answer to that question. My mother is the one who makes such decisions for our family. I cannot promise you that we will return to Hastinapur when I do not know what she intends to do."
Karna exhaled slowly.
He had expected something of this sort, yet hearing it from Arjuna made one thing clear: if he wanted an answer, he would have to speak with Kunti himself. He lowered his bow completely and looked at Draupadi, who was watching him with anxious eyes.
"Very well," he said. "In that case, I shall accompany you and speak to your mother directly. I want to hear her intentions from her own mouth before I decide what should be done next. If you intend to return to Hastinapur, I will ensure that Raja Drupada is present for your wedding, so that you can marry with the honour befitting a princess of Panchala. If circumstances prevent that, then I shall perform the Kanyadaan in your father's place, according to the proper rituals. I will not allow you to stand before the sacred fire without someone taking responsibility for your side of the family."
Draupadi stared at him, momentarily unable to speak.
She had been prepared for Karna to remain displeased with her decision, perhaps even to withdraw the affection he had always shown her.
His disappointment had been evident, and she had feared that choosing Arjuna over the path he considered proper would create a distance between them that neither could easily overcome.
Yet here he was, offering to stand beside her and ensure that her marriage would take place with dignity, even though he still disagreed with the way she had chosen to pursue it.
Her eyes grew moist, and she pressed her lips together to keep her emotions under control.
The uncertainty surrounding her future had not disappeared, nor had the difficulties awaiting her and Arjuna, but Karna's words gave her something she had been afraid of losing: the assurance that she would not have to face those difficulties without the support of her spiritual elder brother.
"Elder Brother..." she murmured, but the words failed to come. She could only look at him with gratitude, her earlier distress giving way to renewed courage.
Karna met her gaze and offered a small smile.
He did not tell her that everything would be easy, nor did he pretend that he approved of the decision she had made. He had simply accepted that she had chosen her path, and now that she had done so, he intended to fulfil the promise he had made to protect her.
Indra watched the exchange in silence before raising his hand to bless the couple. "May you both be blessed with good fortune and marital happiness. May you find strength in one another and walk the path you have chosen with wisdom."
A gentle radiance spread from his raised palm.
The lingering wounds on Bhima and Arjuna began to close, and the pain that had troubled their movements faded as the divine blessing restored their bodies.
Bhima flexed his fingers and rolled his shoulders, testing his strength, while Arjuna looked down at his hands before glancing toward Indra in gratitude. The injuries they had sustained during the confrontation disappeared, leaving them relieved but still mindful of what had nearly happened.
Although neither brother had completely set aside his distrust of Karna, they could no longer dismiss his intentions as those of an enemy who wished them harm.
He had withdrawn his Brahmastra without hesitation, accepted Draupadi's decision despite his disappointment, and promised before Indra himself that he would help her marry with dignity. They might not understand all his motives, but they had witnessed his actions, and his word now carried a weight they could not easily disregard.
Arjuna joined his palms before Indra. "Thank you, Indradev."
Bhima followed his example, and Draupadi bowed respectfully as well.
Indra acknowledged them with a nod before his divine form began to glow more brightly. Within moments, lightning gathered around him, and his figure disappeared from their midst, leaving the three of them standing beside Karna beneath the now-calm sky.
Arjuna turned toward the horse and helped Draupadi mount it.
Once she was seated securely, he climbed up behind her, while Bhima mounted the other horse.
Karna watched until both brothers were ready before greeting the departing deity once more in his heart and moving toward his golden divine chariot. The seven divine horses stood waiting, their bodies gleaming beneath the fading light, and as Karna climbed aboard, the chariot began to follow the two horses along the forest path.
Draupadi glanced over her shoulder.
Karna was following them without complaint, his expression calm despite the disagreement they had shared.
She met his eyes and gave him a grateful smile, acknowledging the promise he had made to her. Karna returned the smile with a slight nod, and the princess turned forward again, feeling a little less afraid of what awaited her.
*
The journey continued through the woods. The two horses maintained a steady pace, and Karna's divine chariot followed behind them without difficulty, although he did maintain a considerable distance in silence.
After travelling for some time, they finally reached a small hut standing among the trees.
A modest clearing surrounded it, with a narrow path leading toward a nearby river.
Yudhishthira was waiting outside, pacing back and forth with his hands clasped behind his back. He had been unable to settle down while his brothers were away, and every passing moment had given him another reason to worry about what might have happened at the Swayamvara.
The sound of approaching horses caught his attention.
He turned immediately, and when he recognized Bhima and Arjuna, the tension in his shoulders eased.
They had returned safely, and that alone brought him relief.
But his expression soon changed as he noticed the golden divine chariot following them, its seven horses moving with a grace unlike that of ordinary animals.
Yudhishthira slowed his steps, his eyes fixed on the approaching chariot.
"Maharaj Karna? Did he help my brothers?"
He had not expected to see the King of Dakshina Kalinga accompanying them. Given the circumstances surrounding Draupadi's Swayamvara, Karna's presence could mean several things, and Yudhishthira decided not to draw any conclusions before hearing what had happened.
The horses came to a halt near the hut, and Arjuna dismounted before helping Draupadi down. Yudhishthira walked toward them, his earlier worry giving way to cautious relief. He placed a hand on Arjuna's shoulder and studied his younger brother's face, checking for signs of injury.
"Did you encounter any trouble on the way?" he asked. "For a moment, I sensed a disturbance in nature. The earth trembled, and the sky seemed to change. I could not understand what had happened, but I feared that something had gone wrong."
Arjuna glanced over his shoulder toward Karna's approaching chariot and let out a quiet breath. "It is a long story, Elder Brother. I will explain everything, but first, there is someone I would like you to meet."
He turned toward Draupadi, who stood beside him with her palms joined respectfully.
"This is Princess Draupadi, the daughter of Raja Drupada."
Yudhishthira looked at the princess, then back at Arjuna. Something in the way she had been introduced made him pause, and he waited for his brother to continue.
"My eldest brother," Arjuna explained to Draupadi.
Draupadi bowed her head slightly. "Draupadi, daughter of Drupada, greets Yudhishthira, son of Pandu."
Yudhishthira's eyes widened. He looked at Arjuna with surprise, trying to understand what had happened during their absence. "You told her the truth about us? Or has our identity been revealed to everyone?"
Before Arjuna could answer, Bhima stepped forward.
"Elder Brother, let me explain what happened." He glanced at Arjuna and then toward the hut. "But first, Arjuna should go and receive Mother's blessings. She must be waiting for him to return."
Yudhishthira shook his head. "We have not informed Mother yet. We had no way of knowing whether you would succeed in bringing the princess here, and I did not want to give her news before we knew what had happened. Besides, Nakula and Sahadeva have gone to the river to fetch water. Let us wait until they return. Whatever news you bring, we should share it with everyone at the same time."
Arjuna nodded, understanding his elder brother's reasoning.
Their mother was inside the hut, occupied with her prayers, and Yudhishthira wished to gather the family before revealing the events of the day.
It would be better for all of them to hear the news together, rather than have one brother learn of it before the others.
By then, Karna's golden chariot had reached the clearing.
The seven divine horses slowed and came to a graceful halt, their harnesses giving a faint metallic sound as Karna stepped down from the chariot. Yudhishthira immediately walked forward to greet him, joining his palms with the respect due to a sovereign king.
"Greetings, Maharaj."
Karna returned the greeting with a calm smile. "May you prosper, Yudhishthira."
Yudhishthira glanced briefly toward Draupadi before looking back at Karna. His manner remained polite, but he wanted to understand why the king had accompanied his brothers. He knew that Karna regarded Draupadi as his spiritual sister, and his presence here could mean a lot of things.
"I hope you are in favour of this marriage, Maharaj," Yudhishthira said carefully. "We know that Princess Draupadi is like a sister to you. Your presence here makes me wonder whether you have accepted our decision or whether there is something we need to discuss."
Karna's smile faded slightly, though his expression remained composed.
"To be honest, Yudhishthira, I am not in favour of this marriage as things stand. Draupadi deserves to marry with pride, before the assembled kings and princes of Aryavarta, to the warrior who wins her hand through the Swayamvara. She should not have to leave her father's kingdom in secret, uncertain of how her marriage from elopement will be received by her father or what consequences will follow."
Yudhishthira had not expected such a direct answer. He glanced at Draupadi, then returned his attention to Karna, waiting for him to explain why he had chosen to accompany them if he opposed the marriage.
After a brief pause, Karna continued, his voice softening.
"However, I have promised Draupadi that I will stand by her side. She has made her choice, and I will not abandon her simply because I disagree with the way she has chosen to pursue it. If she wishes to marry Arjuna, then I will support her decision and ensure that she is treated with the dignity she deserves. But before I do anything further, I must speak with your mother, Queen Mother Kunti. That is the main reason I have followed you here. I want to hear her intentions regarding your return to Hastinapur directly from her."
Yudhishthira listened carefully. Karna's answer was not the simple approval he might have hoped for, but neither was it a refusal to support Draupadi. The king had made his position clear: he disagreed with the circumstances of the marriage, yet he would honour the princess's choice and fulfil his promise to protect her.
"Mother is currently performing her puja," Yudhishthira replied. "Please come inside and accept our hospitality while we wait for her to finish. We can speak with her once she is ready."
Karna nodded with a smile. "Very well."
Together, they moved toward the hut, with Draupadi and Arjuna following behind. Bhima, however, remained unusually quiet. He had been waiting for an opportunity to speak privately with Yudhishthira, and now that Karna had arrived, he realized they could not delay the matter much longer.
Just as Yudhishthira was about to lead Karna toward the entrance, Bhima caught hold of his arm.
"Elder Brother, I need to speak with you about something important."
Yudhishthira turned toward him, surprised by the urgency in his younger brother's voice. "What is it, Bhima?"
Before Yudhishthira could ask anything further, Bhima pulled him a short distance away from the others. Yudhishthira followed, casting a brief glance toward Karna before allowing his brother to lead him toward the edge of the clearing.