#subadhra

1) Abimanyu catching his dad's tears like he did with Kunti all those years ago! ;') 

2) Abinmanyu saying he'd die for his Jesh Mata :'D 

3) Arjun calling Subadhra a fool then by the end of the episode being like "dam, my wife is smart" 

4) Bal Rama's big promise and Krishna's dam it face cause he can't go against his brother's decision 

5) Duryodana's hilarious whimpering 

6) Balram's unintentional diss to Arjun about Yudishitira  :O and THEN Krishna agreeing, double burn...... 

Hi Anon! 

That’s a really good question! I love both Subadhra and Draupadi in their own ways. I don’t think we will ever know how much Arjun loved Draupadi, because Veda Vyasa did not spend much time on describing their emotions in-depth, but from what we know of the story, Abhimanyu was his favorite son and commonly thought he loved subhadra the most. He did love Draupadi and greatly respected her, but I do not think she was his favorite. However, her position and the rights she received as the Pandavas’ common wife and the queen of Indraprastha surpassed those of any other wife of the Pandavas. 

To me, Panchali was the epitome of independance and she didn’t rely on a man to find happiness, even though she secretly pined for Arjun the most. But because of her duties to the kingdom and the other brothers she couldn’t be with him completely. Like she said, her whole life was a penence. Also, they never really spent time with each other: He won her at the swayamvar and then had to share her with his brothers, which was practically an arranged marriage. Firstly, there wasn’t much interaction before or after since he was exiled for the first 12 years of her married life. Secondly, all the brothers were attracted to be with Panchali which is why Kunti even made the condition. Also, Arjun was a smidge egotistic that he alone completed the task of winning her and there was obviously a little jealousy he had to share, even though his love for his brothers was greater. This bitterness could have excused him to further distance himself from her. 

When I think of Subadhra, they were aquainted with each other years before, she harbored feelings for him not just from hearsay (like Draupadi) but from a connection they felt when they were together. I think the show focused the abduction of subadhra as politcal in Arjun’s eyes, but he was actually the one to entered Dwaraka and desired to kidnap her, with Krishna’s approval. Their marriage was out of love for each other and he had her to himself. His fear of Draupadi’s rage and breaking his vow ( and thereby her trust) was what made him feel guilty and not his desire to marry Subadhra.  Arjuna’s preference for Abhimanyu out of all his sons is expected since he was born before Srutakriti (his son with Draupadi). He along with Draupadi managed to forgive Ashwathama for killing Srutakriti but swore to kill Jayadratha to avenge Abinmanyu. He never helped raise Iravan or Babruvahana since his marriage with their mothers was a temporary affair (much like Bhima’s marriage with Hidimbi), but Abhimanyu was born and spent his childhood in Indraprastha, so naturally, a parent feels more affection for the child they raise since birth. 

So, personally I think Subadhra and Arjun were better matched since a) He seemed to be a family man (gentle/ compassionate) and Subhadra fulfilled that motherly role for his son better than our fiery Panchali, b) No matter how much we want to deny it when we are in love, when you marry someone you’re also marrying their family and Arjun perfers to be assoiciated with Krishna than Drupad (who’s purpose in life was to destroy Bhishma, the head figure of the Kurus and Drona, his beloved teacher),

Now my poor Druapadi didn’t choose who she loved most, but I think she was better matched with Yudishitira, (at least on the show). At first, I thought they couldn’t be more different, but essentially that’s why they work. He showed her how to be forgiving and she showed him how to be justifiable. They also helped each other run the empire and put righeousness above everything. Their versions of dharm are obviously different and Panchali lacked that passionate love from Yudi but he did care for her. She basically saved his soul from sin by pardoning him.