Reading Notes: The Palace of Illusions, Part D

 Reading Notes:

• Arjun was still angry at the marriage of Draupadi to her brothers.
• Draupadi was introduced to Maya, who was there to build Pandavas the palace.
• The god of fire gave Arjuna a bow named Gandiva.
• Bheem helped Draupadi. He treated her as a sister-in-law. However, he did not follow all the little rules.
• Bheem loved Panchali. He asked Panchali what kind of palace she wanted.
• Panchali wanted water. Fountains, and pools, and lotuses. 
• Maya was happy. Draupadi questioned if Maya felt malice as her home was destroyed by Arjuna.
• Draupadi called it the Palace of Illusions.
• Maya advised not to invite any other people to the palace, but they did not really care. The Pandavas wanted to show it off. 
• Opinions were important to Yudhishthira.
• Draupadi was not particularly maternal, and Dhai Ma cared for her children.
• Draupadi loved her palace! 
• Nakul & Sahadev were Kunti's favorite kids.
• Kunti was starting to accept Draupadi as Pandavas wife.
• Pandavas started to take other wives. She was a jealous wife but also thought of her as superior to their other wives.
• Arjuna loved Subhadra more than he loved Draupadi.
• Soon, Subhadra became Draupadi's favorite. She reminded Draupadi of Krishna.
• Narad suggested Yudhishthir make a Rajasurya sacrifice.
• Draupadi was happy that Karna would be there visiting their palace.
• Krishna killed Shishupal.
• Draupadi noticed Duryodhana admiring her palace.
• Draupadi tried to get the notice of Karna but it was of no use.
• Draupadi smiled as Duryodhana fell. One of Draupadi's women said, "The bind king's son is also blind." Although Draupadi apologized, the damage was done.
• Draupadi refused to tell this to Yudhishthir.
• Draupadi supported Yudhishthir when the invitation from Hastinapur came. She wanted to see Karna once again.
• Kunti warned the Pandavas to not take Draupadi with them to Hastinapura.

Divakaruni, Chitra Banerjee. The Palace of Illusions (p. 40). Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. 

Narada consoles Yudhishthira

(illustrated Mahabharata)