As Drupada wished to get his daughter married to Arjuna; Drupada sets up a formidable target achievable by Arjuna alone.

It was a Svayamvaram, where the bride had the right to choose the groom. Accordingly, it was Draupadī who said Nāham Varayami sūtam - I will not marry a person who is a non-kṣatriya.

The kings and princes who were gathered there were enraged at the outcome where Draupadī would marry a Brāhmaṇa, wanted to kill the Brāhmaṇa. They rush to fight the Brāhmaṇas and war breaks out between the kings on one side, Bhīma and Arjuna on the other side

Śalya fell down without even a scratch. This showed the strength as well as the wonderful dexterity of Bhīma.

Bhagavān Sri Krishna mediated and told the warring kings that the Brāhmaṇa won this maiden in a fair way. Therefore you all have to drop this fight. They all agreed.

Karṇa found Arjuna's skill and prowess unequalled on earth. He queried Arjuna as to whether he was the embodiment of science and art of warfare, or the mighty Paraśurāma or Indra's brother Viṣṇu. Arjuna replied that he was just a Brāhmaṇa who had by his preceptor's grace obtained this skill along with Brahma and other Astras. This scared Karṇa and he backed off as he felt he could not win this Brāhmaṇa endowed with Brahma Śakti.

Pāṇḍavas refer to Draupadī and bhiksha and Kunti orders to be shared among them; Shocked at her own words, requests relief from Yudhiṣṭhira;
Yudhiṣṭhira asks Arjuna to marry Draupadī. To this, Arjuna recalls what Vyāsa had told them and tells all five brothers have to marry her. This has to be in the order of their age starting from Yudhiṣṭhira.

Dhṛṣṭadyumna followed Arjuna to their residence and he was able to overhear a conversation at dinner time. There he hears Kunti advising Draupadī on food disribution among themselves. She says first offer a portion to Devatas and give it to Brāhmaṇas. Of the rest, divide into 2 equal parts, offer one part to Bhīma and the other half was to be split into 6 equal portions and consumed by the other 4 Pāṇḍavas, herself and Draupadī.

When Drupada heard what had happened leading to all the Pāṇḍavas intending to marry Draupadī, he was initially shocked as, it was against the tradition and the Vedās. Yudhiṣṭhira said morality is very subtle and I never uttler a lie. Drupada left it to Yudhiṣṭhira, Dhṛṣṭadyumna and Kunti to deliberate and come up with a view the next day and inform him.

First Yudhishthira cites story of Jatila and Vārkshi; Kunti was worried if her words might be falsified and Vyāsa comforts her; Vyāsa calls Drupada for a personal discussion. Vyāsa narrates the story of five Indras and the order of Maheshwara; He also recalls the story of the Brāhmaṇa woman's boon from Maheshwara to marry five men in her next birth.

One should remember that this wedding (Daiva Niyogam) was commanded by Dharma. The 5 Pāṇḍavas were a single entity, instrument of Dharma created by God and bound to Draupadī.
Vaiśampāyana in his narration to King Janamejaya recalls his conversation with Sage Vyāsa where he told about the extraordinary quality that Draupadī possessed.