Arjun's wives in Mahabharata: Besides Draupadi, who else was the life of valiant archer connected with?
How many wives did Arjun have? In the Mahabharata, whenever the wives of the Pandavas are discussed, Draupadi's name comes up first. Draupadi was considered the patrani (main queen) of the Pandavas, and she was the wife of all five brothers. However, assuming that the Pandavas had only one wife is not entirely correct. Besides Draupadi, the five Pandavas had other wives, whose mention in the scriptures is limited.
Draupadi had a clear condition that the other wives of the Pandavas would not reside in the same place as her. This is why, besides Draupadi, the other queens lived in different regions, and their lives are described relatively less in the texts.
Subhadra was Krishna's sister and Abhimanyu's mother
Besides Draupadi, Arjun's most well-known wife was Subhadra. Subhadra was Lord Krishna's sister and the mother of the valiant Abhimanyu. Arjun was not only the best archer of his time but also extremely attractive and virtuous. This is why many women were attracted to him. Some relationships remained limited to love, while others culminated in marriage.
Ulupi was captivated by Arjun
Once, during his exile, Arjun reached a lake where Ulupi, the princess of the Naga realm, resided. Ulupi was captivated by Arjun and explicitly stated, "I have come to you with a desire for love." Initially, Arjun refused, but Ulupi, citing the scriptures, argued that rejecting a love proposal was unrighteous. Ultimately, Arjun accepted her love. From this union, Arjun had a son named Iravan, who played a significant role in the Mahabharata war.
Arjun was greatly impressed by Chitrangada's bravery and stature
During his exile, Arjun reached Manipur, where he met Princess Chitrangada. Arjun was greatly impressed by Chitrangada's bravery and masculine stature and proposed marriage. Chitrangada's father stipulated that the son born from this marriage would become the heir to Manipur. Arjun accepted this condition. This marriage resulted in the birth of Babruvahana, who later defeated Arjun during the Ashwamedha Yagna. At that time, Ulupi saved Arjun's life with the help of the Nagamani (serpent jewel).
Other Stories and Folk Beliefs
In the Mahabharata, Ved Vyasa mentions Draupadi, Subhadra, Ulupi, and Chitrangada as Arjun's principal wives. Arjun did not accept the love of the Apsara (celestial nymph) Urvashi, for which he also received a curse. Tamil and Indonesian folklore describe seven wives of Arjuna, including Draupadi's sister Shikhandi and the Amazon queen Ayli (more commonly known as Alli Raani or just Alli).
Amazon queen Ayli is a legendary figure in Tamil folklore and regional versions of the Mahabharata, known for ruling a kingdom of only women, a characteristic that led to her being described as an "Amazonian" queen.
However, classically, only five wives of Arjun are considered prominent.
Disclaimer: This article is based on information available
in the public domain, including references from ancient epics and widely accepted
sources. It is intended for general informational purposes only.