After a while, Krishna entered her room. She was worried that nothing would ever be the same again with Arjuna but she welcomed Krishna with a warm smile like she always did. But that's how she had always been; fooling people with her best smile in her worst times.
"Are you not angry with me?" Krishna asked Draupadi. He was the only one who could see the pain beneath her eyes.
Draupadi gave a weak smile and said, "What question is that Krishna? Why would I be angry with you?"
"I am sure you know about my role in getting Subhadra and Arjuna together, though I am the one who understands your attachment with your husbands the most," he answered.
"Yes, I am very well aware of that. But can anything in this world ever happen without your intervention, Krishna? Also, I understand there will be a hidden motive behind everything you do. Arjuna is all Subhadra has got now, I am happy for her," she said.
"Forget about Subhadra or anyone else Draupadi, are you not feeling sad about what is happening around you? For one moment, can you please think about yourself? For once, can you put yourself ahead of your family and be concerned about you? After all, Arjuna was the one who had won you in swayamvara," he was genuinely worried for her.
“When you perceive something as your own, you have a fear of losing it or someone else owning it in the future. That fear can turn to jealousy that can eventually convert into anger at some point, transforming you into evil. Heat in the heart can only burn your mind, eventually stripping you off your awareness and judgment. This vicious transformation leading to the world exploding from inside is the root cause of many human relations falling apart. But when you believe everything is yours or you own nothing in this universe, then you have no fear of losing them or no greed to own them. Then you make choices from a sense of love and purpose for others and the self. That is why I have no hard feelings for you or Arjuna nor do I feel any jealousy towards Subhadra. I do have mixed feelings, but as long as they are happy, I am happy too. If there is one thing my life after marriage taught me, it is the importance of being able to fight a mixture of competing emotions, each of them striving to rush to the foreground constantly. As a daughter-in-law, I believe that I have always done what is best for my family. Even now, I will continue doing the same. I assure there will not be any changes in that regard," she said heartily.
"I know that my husbands love me and respect me as an individual. What else can a woman expect from her husband? And I have a motherly figure in my mother-in-law who loves me unconditionally. And above all, I have a great friend like you who is always there for me, no matter what. These are the only things that matter most to me," she added.
Krishna was moved by her generosity and said, "Draupadi, even the men fighting in war take off their armour and rest after the sunset. But you are a warrior without an armour, relentlessly fighting with your valour as a shield. Wearing your selflessness as a badge of honour to safeguard your family, you have a noble heart. Walking through the hurdles with a patient determination to protect your closed ones from falling apart, you are a brave soul. I wish you all the strength in the universe to overcome the obstacles in your life. I am always proud of you. And remember, in case your husbands fail to protect you at any time in the future, just recite my name. I will make sure your prayers are heard," holding her hands and speaking his heart out.
She acknowledged his concern without saying anything and simply turned her gaze to him, emanating with devotion. Then she quickly recollected his words and said, "But I have a question, Krishna."
"A husband's primary duty is to guard his wife against any kind of hurdle. And I am blessed with five loving husbands who can fight any opponent with their might. They made a promise walking around the sacred fire that they will provide welfare for my children and me. How come I might be put in a predicament where five of them would collectively fail to take care of me? Can that situation ever occur? Why would I ever need your help to protect me?” she asked him innocently.
He winked at her without saying anything. She made a big question mark face, raising her eyebrows.
“I asked you a question, Krishna. Do you care to answer?” she asked, faking annoyance.
His face split into the mischievous smile he often wore and started walking towards the exit.
"Krishna," she called in a louder voice from behind.
“I am talking to you,” she yelled, but he did not turn back and left the room in quick strides.
Draupadi stood there perplexed, thinking, "Who can understand the deeds of this Krishna? How difficult it is to read between his lines!"
A few days later, with the blessings of Kunti and Vyasa Maharshi, Subhadra, the Yadava princess, was married to Arjuna. The people of Yadava clan from Dwaraka were amused to see their princess tie the matrimonial knot with a legendary Kshatriya like Arjuna.