Draupadi

Draupadi – The Ultimate Submission

By Aditya Dogra [email protected]

Drapuadi – The Ultimate Submission



Few days back I happened to visit a ―Draupadi-amma‖ temple at Varthur

village, Bangalore which ignited my quest for understanding the character

called Draupadi, the wife of Pandavas, who played a pivotal role in

Mahabharatha. Infact, her whole life was just a unified story of the all Indian

women irrespective of the era they belong to. Women in India are having a

special status in our society: From Undesirables to Goddesses.

I am sure if you also go through her character description, you will like the

following verses

Why toss me around?

Why not leave me on the ground?

Why make me a ragged doll?

Question not the ways of God,

Have faith & be happy with your lot;

For happiness lies in what you have got,

And not in what you feel you have lost.



Blind Cry – Ashok Sawhny

Come see the world through my eyes,

And you will realize,

How dark it turns out to be,

If you happen to be like me.

Time would have no relevance,

Days & Nights no consequence,

Liberty in Captivity,

Something of a travesty.

Let me paint the picture for you,

Sketch it and flesh it out for you,

I know not the color green, blue or red

Black the color I am constantly fed.

An Unwanted Child

As the story goes, her father Draupad , king of Panchal , had three sons

Satyajit and Vikra, and Shikhande. But inspite of having three sons , king

Draupad was defeated and captured by the students of Dronacharya[1] .

Burning in the fire of revenge, king Draupad performed tapsas(rigorous

ritual) followed by a Yajna to seek blessings from the God in the form a son

who could bring back his glory.

drupada stu divarmatra tapya manah parabhavath |

bhim arjuna bala mdrishhthva chechchhanh pandavasa mshrayam.h



|| Drupada suffered anguish from his defeat day and night and also wished

to seek protection of Bhima and Arjuna after realizing seeing their strength.

putram cha dronah antaramichchhanh vipravarau yayau |

yajopayajavanIy atharbudena gavam nripah ||

Wishing to have a son who would be capable of killing Drona, he went to

Brahmins named Yagnopayaja .

God blessed Draupad and two children were born out of the yajna fire. The

first to emerge out of the holy pyre was a son, called Dhrishtadyumna, and

the second one , a daughter called Draupadi. Since Draupad, her father

had performed the yajna with intent of getting blessed with a Son who

could defeat his enemy Drona, Draupadi was an unwanted child born to

him. But as she was born from the fire of vengefulness, he knew that she

would be a tool in his hand to burn the strength of Drona.

Owing to her virtuous nature, Droupadi is considered one amongst the five

Panchkanayas of hindu mythology. As an Oriya verse goes:

Pancha bhuta khiti op tejo maruta byomo

Pancha sati nirjyasa gyani bodho gomyo

Ahalya Draypadi Kunti Tara Mandodari totha Pancha kanya...

Five elements, earth, water, fire, wind, ether

Are in essence the five satis. This wise know

Ahalya, Draupadi, Kunti, Tara and Mandodari Five virgins ….



[1] Draupad and Dronaachaarya were together in Gurukul. They were great friends. But

after Gurukul was over Draupad, being a prince became the king and lived a lavish life

and Drona , being a teacher , lived an austere life. But things went wrong on Drona‘s

end, he thought of seeking help from his old friend Draupad. But Draupad dejected

Drona saying ― If you ask for a cow as a Brahman, I can give you as many cows as you

ask, but not as a friend. Drone felt insulted and went away.

Later Drone started teaching Pandav and Kaurav. When Pandav and Kaurav had

finished their education, and the time came to pay Guru Dakshinaa, Drone asked both

of them, Kaurav and Paandav to bring king Drupad tied with a horse. Kaurav went there

but came back defeated by Drupad; but Paandav brought him to Drone tied with a

horse. Drone said - "I still consider you my friend. Now you and your kingdom are mine.

When you had the whole kingdom, you did not give me even one cow, but now first I will

divide your kingdom and then I will take only one cow from your part of kingdom." He

took one cow from Drupad's share of kingdom and gave back his kingdom and freed

him.

Names of Draupadi

Being the daughter of Draupad, She was given a name ‗Draupadi‘.She was

known by several other names as well. As the princess of the kingdom of

Panchal she was known as ‗Panchali‘. As the granddaughter of Prushata

she was known as ‗Parsati‘ . Draupadi was born of fire of yajna and

therefore, often referred as ‗Yagnaseni‘. She is also called ‗Krishnaa‟ for

her dark complexion. Also known as 'Sairindhri' as she was the maid-

servant of the queen of Virata; 'Panchami' having five husbands and

'Nitayauvani' the ever-young.She was also known as ‗Yojanagandha‘

because she was gifted with blue-lotus fragrance wafting for a full krosha(2

miles) . Being consort of Yudhishtra,she is also called- Yushisthira Shri and

Mahabharti for being wife of descendents of Bharat.



Selection of Husband

Draupdi was extraordinarily beautiful. Vyasa categorically states that the

creator had so fashioned her that her loveliness surpassed that of all

women (reminiscent of Valmiki about Ahalya) and enchanted everyone.

The kings in the svayamvra hall were described as so tormented by the

arrows of desire (Kandarpabanabhinipiditangah) that even friends hated

each other. When the brothers looked upon her in the potter‘s hut, they all

lost their hearts to her.

She is the only kanya whose appearance is described in detail and it is,

therefore, worth noting:

Eye-ravishing Panchali,

Black-and-smiling-eyed…

Dark-skinned Panchali,

Lotus-eyed lady,

Wavy-haired Panchali

Hair like dark blue clouds,

Shining coppery carved nails,

Soft eye-lashes,

Swelling breasts and

Shapely thighs…

Blue lotus

Fragrance for a full krosha

Flowed from her body… (I.169.44-46)

While living incognito in Ekavrata [2]

as brahmins, the Pandavas heard

about the news about Draupadi Swayamwara. . It was not an occasion to



be missed. On the day of Swayamwara, the Pandava left home early and

joined the throng towards the palace. A vast ground has been cleared and

built up with galleries to accommodate the visitors and young men

contending for the princess‘s hand.

The day started with elaborate ceremonies performed by royal priests. At

the appointed hour, Draupadi entered the arena and looked around,

sending the entire young hearts racing. She was escorted by

Dhrishtadruman, her brother, the prince of the house. He announced that

those who would be eligible to be garlanded by the princess must string a

bow kept on a pedestal and shoot five arrows at a revolving target above

by looking its reflection on a pan of oil below.

Draupadi watched the process of elimination with relief. She saw the

princes, in imposing battle dress, coming forward haughtily and retreating

hastily, galloping away on their horses. Comments, jokes and laughter filled

the air.

The Kauravas were also present in the court with their ace ‗Karna‘. She

watched with apprehensions as karna approached the bow & lifted it as if it

were a toy. He stood it on its end and stretched out the bowstring. But at

that very moment when he took aim to shoot the mark, Draupadi was heard

to remark ―I will not accept him ….He is a soota-putra (son of a

charioteer)‖At this, Karna dropped the bow and returned to his seat with a

wry smile.

Duryodhana frowned and said, ―She had no right to talk . If you hit the

mark, she must accept you. That is the condition. Otherwise, you may

seize her and fly off. Go back and take the bow.‖

―No,‖ said Karna, ―I don‘t want her‖.

In that assembly, unobserved was a person who was to play a vital role in

the Mahabharata latter. It was Krishna, the king of Dwaraka. He whispered

to his brother, Balrama, at his side, ―These Brahmins are none other than

the pandavas, who were supposed to have perished in a fire. This was all

predestined, we will see a great deal of them yet ..‖



Now there was a stir as Arjuna got up from the Brahmin group. But king

Draupad ruled that he had mentioned no caste in his announcement.

Arujuna not only strung the bow, but hit the target again & again, five times.

Draupadi approached him with the garland and slipped it over his neck and

they became betrothed.

Draupadi‘s Swayamwara was a turning point in the course of time. The

humiliation which Karna had faced, made him to pass a slanderous

comment on Draupadi later on during the Draupadi‘s disrobement in

Dhritarastarya Court.

[2] Duryodhana and his brothers knew that the Pandavas had the right to the throne . So

Pandavas were sent to Varanavata as a part of an evil plan of Duryodhana. He arranged a

palace for the Pandavas at Varanavata made of inflammable material. The plan was to burn the

mansion while the Pandavas were asleep in it. Pandavas learned about this murder attempt

with the help of Vidura and tactfully escaped from the palace .News reached Hastinapura that

the pandavas had been burnt to death by accident in a fire. Old King Dhritatashtra suffered

great sorrow. The Kauravas were very happy, but they pretended they were in great grief.

The Pandavas and their mother decided to travel in disguise until they got back to Hastinapura.

Plunged to Polyandry

The Pandavas and Draupadi returned home from the swayamwara hall.

The princess, who had not seen the midday sun, had to walk miles in the

sweltering heat to reach her new home. Arjuna announced to his mother

that he had brought home a prize that he so skillfully won. When kunti

heard this , as usual, she asked them to share whatever they have brought

among themselves. While in exile, Kunti, mother of the Pandavas often

advised her sons that they share everything they have (or obtain through

Bhiksha i.e. alms) equally amongst themselves.

Keeping their mother‘s word, they divided Draupadi among themselves as

if she were an object. It is true that Arujana was able to receive Draupadi‘s

hand by competing a difficult and skillful task, but she was not a prize that

he won because it was Draupadi‘s Swayamwara; she had the right to

choose her husband and Arjuna proved himself worthy. She could have

married Karna who could have also performed the same task, but she



denied him permissions to participate. In certain ways, therefore, Arjuna

degraded Draupadi by claiming her as a prize.

After few days, Narada went to the house of the five Pandava brothers who

had a common wife called Draupadi, and told them the story of a nymph

called Tilotamma. ―Two demon brothers, Sunda and Upasunda, fell in love

with her and wanted to marry her. She said she would marry the stronger of

the two. So the two brothers fought to prove their strength. Since both

were equally matched, they killed each other. Wonder which of you five is

the strongest?‖ Hearing this, five Pandava brothers quickly put down rules

that would govern the sharing of a wife; she would be with one brother

exclusively for a year and return to him after spending four years with the

other four brothers.

Polyandry – A hidden culture and polygamy - A norm

Little wonder that Draupadi is one of the most popular and controversial

heroines of Hindu mythology over polyandry. But she was not the only

woman with many husbands. Prior to her, Jatila was married to seven

Saptarishis while Hiranyaksha's sister Pracheti was married to ten brothers.

Even her mother-in-law, Kunti, knew many men: four gods (Surya, Yama,

Vayu and Indra) besides her husband, Pandu.

Most of the time, the epic Mahabhratha is known for polyandry of Draupadi

but it never talks about polygamy because the pandava brothers had other

wives. Yudhishtira married Devika, the daughter of Govasana of the Saivya

tribe, and begat upon her a son called Yaudheya.

Bhima married Valandhara, the daughter of the king of Kashi, and begat

upon her a son named Sarvaga.

Nakula married Karenumati, the princess of Chedi, and begat upon her a

son named Niramitra.

Sahadeva obtained Vijaya, the daughter of Dyutimat, the king of Madra,

and begat upon her a son named Suhotra. All these wives lived with their

sons in the house of their fathers.



After the Kauravas attempted to kill the Pandavas by setting alight their

palace (made of lac) on fire, the Pandavas hid in the forest, disguised as

the sons of a Brahmin widow. During this time, Bhima killed many

Rakshasas such as Baka and Hidimba. Hidimba‘s sister, impressed by his

strength, chose him as husband and they had a son called Ghatotkacha.

Though Draupadi‘s favourite, Arjuna had the most number of wives

amongst all brothers. The story goes that Arjuna once entered Draupad i‘s

chamber while she was with Yudhishtira. To atone for this trespassing, he

went on a ‗pilgrimage‘. During this time he married many women.

In the classical Sanskrit retelling, Arjuna married the Naga Ulupi, the

princess Chitrangada of Manipur and finally Krishna‘s sister Subhadra

during this pilgrimage. But in Tamil retellings of the Mahabharata, he

married seven women. One of them was a warrior woman called Ali who

refused to marry him but Arjuna was so besotted that he sought Krishna‘s

help. Krishna turned him into a snake and he slipped into Ali‘s bed at night

and frightened her to become his wife. Some say he forced her to be his

wife as he managed to spend the night in bed with her in the form of a

snake.

Draupadi‘s unparalleled beauty and intelligence became the cause of her

misery. She was charmed by Arjuna, the winner of the archery contest, set

for her hand but she was bundled off by her father as the bride of all the

five pandavas on the advice of sage Vyasa [3]

. Her cruel fate divided her

among five husbands and cut up her personality.

Draupadi spent a year with each of her husbands in turns. She was born

out of the sacrificial fire (yajna) and called Yagnaseni, true to this

appellation she was burnt with men‘s ill-treatment.

[3] Upon hearing the news that his daughter Draupadi had been plunged into polyandry, the

saddened & furious king Draupad summoned the pandavas. While pandavas reached the

court, Sage Vyasa also reached the court of Draupad.

Vaysa told Draupad that Draupadi was Nalayini in her earlier birth. Nalayini was devoted wife of

Rishi Maudgalya. This rishi was afflicted with leprosy and his face was disfigured and

ugly.Once,Nalayini was serving him food and eating too. Because of leprosy,one of Rishi's



finger fell into the food Nalayini was eating. Nalayini did not flinch and calmly continued eating

the rice without displaying any revulsion. So much was her devotion to her husband. Pleased by

this, the rishi asked his wife for a boon. She then asked the rishi to make love to her in five

different forms and the rishi should turn himself into a handsome man (instead of having the

ugly leprosy afflicted face).The rishi acceded to her request but she was not satisfied with his

love. So, the rishi finally cursed her that in her next life, she'll have five husbands to quench her

thirst of conjugal love.

Devotion

During the celebrations associated with the Sankranthi festival, Krishna

was partaking the freshly harvested sugarcane offered to him by Gopis in

accordance with the customs of the festival. To squeeze the juice out of the

sugarcanes, Krishna had to cut them. While doing so, he inadvertently cut

his little finger. Seeing blood on his finger, Satyabhama - Krishna's wife -

with her characteristic pride, ordered the Gopis to go inside the house to

fetch some cloth to bandage the finger. Draupadi who was also there,

however, out of her love and concern for Krishna, immediately tore off a

piece of cloth from the end of her new saree and bandaged the Lord's

finger. For Lord Krishna this signified Raksha bandhan and he immediately

took Draupadi as his sister. Krishna repaid her that piece of her saree when

Dushasana unwrapped layers and layers of her sari in the court.

She exhorts that he is bound fourfold to protect her

For four reasons, Krishna, you

are bound to protect me ever:

I‟m related, I‟m renowned,

I‟m your sakhi and

all revere you. (III.10.125, 127)

Indraprastha and Duryodhana's insult

After transforming the Khandavaprastha which was nothing more than a

desert into a city of splendor ‗Indraprastha‘ and to commemorate their

successful rehabilation, Yudhistira performed a grand Rajasuya sacrifice.

Thousands were invited to be present in indraprastha, Krishna,



Duryodhana and uncle Sakuni being the most distinguished guests. The

pride of buildings was the Palace of Illusions and this was where Draupadi

took Duryodhana and his entourage.. The courtyard was divided in two

parts. The surface of one part appeared to ripple like the surface of a lake.

The surface of the other part appeared solid as granite flooring and when

Duryodhana stepped on the apparently solid part of the courtyard, there

was a splash and Duryodhana found himself waist deep in water, drenched

from head to foot. Duryodhana felt extremely insulted that Draupadi and

her maids saw his embarrassing predicament. Draupadi's statement of

"andhey ka putra andha" meaning "blind man's (referring to Dhritrashtra)

son is blind" further enraged Duryodhana.This was the last straw, he swore

revenge on her and such a revenge that Pandavas would fall at his feet

begging for mercy.

Ultimate Submission

After enjoying few days in the illusions of happiness in Indraprastha,

Pandavas fell in the Kaurava‘s dice game trap. And when Yudhistira had

nothing left to stake, he tried his bad luck with Draupadi and lost her too.

Duryodhana summoned her in the court.

The attendant hurried on to Draupadi‘s chambers and conveyed the

message apologetically .In a short while he returned. ―She has asked me to

bring back an answer to this question „Whom did Yudhistira lose first, me or

himself? Whose lord were you at the time you lost me?‗ ―He addressed the

question to Yudhistira , who looked at the floor, unable to face anyone.

At that moment Duryodhana ordered ―Let her first come , and then put the

question to her late lord herself, and the assembly shall hear the words that

pass between them. ― The messenger went to draupadi and again came

back without her. Duryodhana asked him to go out a third time. When this

attendant hesitated, he turned to his brother Dusshasana and said

―Perphaps this fellow is a cow , afraid of this ruffian, Bhimsena, but he

doesn‘t know that he can do nothing now , being our slave … Go and bring

her without a moment‘s delay. ―



When Dusshasena appeared , Draupadi said again, ―I must have an

answer to my question. Did Yudhistira lose me before or after he lost

himself?‖

― What is that to you?‖ asked Dusshasena.

She replied, ―If he had lost himself first, he could have no right to stake me‖

―Stop your argument. Will you follow me to the assembly or not?‖ As he

approached her, she shrank back saying, ―I am in the woman‘s month … I

am clad in a single wrap … go away …‖ She tried to escape him by

attempting to run into the women‘s chamber. Dusshasena sprang on her,

seized her by her hair [4]

and dragged her along to the assembly.

With her tresses and sari in disarray through Dusshasena‘s rude handling,

Draupadi looked piteous as she stood in the center of that vast assembly

facing the elders and guests. Seeing the distress of the Pandavas and

draupadi, Vikarna, one of the younger sons of Dhritrashtra , said ―This

unfortunate person has asked a question which has been not answered.

Bhishma, Drona, Dhritarashtra and even Vidhura turn away and remain

silent. She is the common wife of the other four also, and the king

Yudhistra had first lost himself and then staked her. Reflection on these

things, I declare that Draupadi has not been won at all ―

At this point, Karna stood up and motioned everyone to remain silent

‖ This Vikarna is an immature youth, not fit to address an august assembly

of elders. Yudhistira gambled and staked with his eyes wide open. Don‘t

consider him an innocent simpleton; he knew when he was doing. He know

when he staked Draupadi , he was offering his wife. Whatever has been

won has been won justly. Here take off the princely robes on those

brothers. Moreover, what woman in any would take five husbands? What

does one call the like of her? I will unhesitatingly call her a whore. To bring

her here, whatever her state, is no sin or act that should cause surprise.

You, Yudhisitira and the rest, take off your princely robes and come aside.‖

At this order, the Pandavas took off their clothes and stood in their

loincloths. Duryodhana ordered, ―Disrobe her too …‖



Dusshasena seized Draupadi‘s saree and began to pull it off. In shear

desperation she remembered her Krishna and called out his name as an

absolute last resort for any kind of help. Krishna never came, and her grip

on the saree was loosening fast. She carried on calling from the depth of

her heart, still holding onto her saree with everything ounce of strength she

could muster, yet still her Krishna never came.

Draupadi was almost about to pass out as she could no longer hold on

before she finally gave up all her efforts and resigned herself to having her

dignity completely stripped with the whole city watching on. At that moment,

Krishna appeared and turned her saree into a never ending robe, so no

matter how many times her perpetrators pulled away at her saree, the

dress kept unfolding further and further with no end in sight. Finally the

Dusshasena gave up with exhaustion as he was unable to pull the saree of

her, no matter how many times he tried.

A few days after the incident had passed; Draupadi met Krishna and with

fury scolded him for not helping her earlier when she first cried out for help.

Krishna replied by telling her that when she first called out for the divine,

she also kept her hands firmly on her saree. Her ego was not ready to fully

submit to the divine and her faith was not strong enough to trust Krishna to

come and save her. It was only when she lost all sense of hope, that her

ego had finally loosened its grip on her saree that her heart allowed space

for the divine to enter and work its charm. Only then could Krishna make

his appearance and fulfill her every need and desire.

Having failed in his efforts to disrobe Draupadi, Duryodhana had patted his

thighs and ordered Draupadi to sit on his lap, since she was supposed to

obey his orders as she was now a slave to him. On hearing this, Draupadi

cursed Duryodhana of a death with a broken thigh. After cheerharan,

Draupadi vowed that her hair should remain disheveled until Bhima should

tie it up with hands dripping with the blood of Duhsasana. Draupadi‘s

unbound hair represents her fury.



[4] Hair is a powerful metaphor in Hindu mythology. A lot has been said about hair.

Krishna has curly hair. Balarama has straight silky hair. Shiva has thick matted hair. The

Goddesses – Lakshmi, Saraswati and Durga – have loose unbound hair. Hair has long

been used in India to convey a message.

Unbound unruly hair represents wild nature. Well oiled and combed hair represents

culture. That is why the wild Kali‘s hair is unbound while the domestic Gauri‘s hair is well

bound and in her temples devotees make offerings of gajra, a string of flowers to tie up

the hair. In the Ramayana, the last jewel of Sita is the hairpin that she gives Hanuman

to convey to Ram that her honor, and his reputation, stands in a precarious position.

Shiva‘s dreadlocks represent the potent power of his mind that enables him to catch

and bind the unruly and wild river-goddess Ganga.

Karna’s Tribute to Draupadi

Shocked by the disrobement of Draupadi And counselling by Vidur ,

Dhritharashtra scoffed at Duryodhana and asked Draupadi for any three

boons. But Draupadi sought that her husbands should at once be freed

from slavery and as the second boon she asked for their weapons. When

Dhritharashtra asked her to ask for more, she replied that her husbands

were strong and capable to win all the rest that they had lost by

themselves.

When Draupadi succeeded in winning back freedom for her enslaved

husbands, Karna paid her a remarkable tribute, saying that none of the

world‘s renowned beautiful women has accomplished such a feat. L ike a

boat she has rescued her husbands who were drowning in a sea of

sorrows

Motherlessness

Being born from yajna; Draupadi was devoid of motherly affection in her

childhood. And If Draupadi had hoped to find her missing mother in her

mother-in-law, she was tragically deceived, as Kunti thrust her into a

polyandrous marriage that exposed her to salacious gossip reaching to

tragic climax in Karna declaring her a whore who‘s being clothed or naked

is immaterial. As if that were not enough, Kunti urged her to take special

care of her fifth husband Sahadeva, as a mother! No other woman has had

to face this peculiar predicament of dealing with five husband as spouse,



then as elder or younger brother-in-law (to be treated like a father or as a

son respectively) in an endless cycle.

Another folk retelling tells us how Kunti, the mother of the Pandavas never

shared her kitchen secrets with her daughter-in-law, Draupadi. Through

food Kunti ensured her sons still came to her and were not totally smitten

by their beautiful wife. But Draupadi was determined to wean her way into

her husbands‘ hearts through their stomachs. She kept observing and

smelling what Kunti served each of her husbands and figured out the recipe

and ended up preparing the dishes, adding her own innovation, until the

Pandavas craved more for Draupadi‘s food than Kunti‘s.

Draupadi‘s Motherlessness seemed to be carried forward into her lack of

maternal feelings. When Draupadi causes the blood of Bhimasena to sow

itself in the earth; her five sons ( Upa- Pandava‘s) Prathivindya, Srutasoma,

Sruthakeerthi, Sataaneekaa,Sruthasena , all Raksasas , according to

Terukkutu folklore of the Draupadi cult, immediately sprung up from the

ground. So Draupadi never enjoyed the pain of motherhood. Also her five

sons were not even nurtured by her. She sent them to Panchala and

followed her husbands into exile to share the wounds of injustice and insult

inflicted upon them. On the other hand all other wives of Pandavas kept

their sons along with them: Hidmimba‘s Ghatotkacha, Subhadra‘s

Abhimanyu, Ulupi‘s Iravan and Chitrangada‘s Babhruvahana.

Bhakti and Shakti

Draupadi was a personification of both Bhakti( where she submitted herself

to Lord Krishna) and Shakti ( where she dared and never let the fire of

vengeance die). Lord Krishna considered her as His sakhi as well as sister

and always helped her whenever she sought it.

During their exile when Pandavas were in Kamyaka Forest, Duryodhana

sent the short-tempered but highly knowledgeable sage Durvasha and his

thousand disciples to visit Yudhishtra. His intentions were to get Pandavas

cursed by the sage Durvasha. Yudhishtira invited the sage and his

disciples to dine. But everybody including Draupadi & kunti had taken their

meals and the Akshaya Patra was empty. Sage Durvasha went to take a



bath in the Ganges. Draupadi got worried and she prayed to Lord Krishna

to save her and her husbands from the wrath of Durvasha when he would

find out that the Pandavas had nothing to offer him & his disciples. Lord

Krishna reached the hut of Draupadi and ate the single grain of rice left in

the Akshaya Patra. There at the river bank, sage Durvasha and his

disciples felt as if they had a sumptuous meal with many delicacies.

Durvasha rishi blessed the Pandavas.

Draupadi is an exemplification of bhakti, and she experienced God‘s divine

presence constantly in her life. When she questioned Krishna about

everything that had happened to her, he reassured her: “Soon wilt thou, O

Krishna, behold the ladies of Bharata's race weep as thou dost. Even they,

O timid one, will weep like thee, their kinsmen and friends being slain. They

with whom, O lady, thou art angry, have their kinsmen and warriors already

slain. With Bhima and Arjuna and the twins, at Yudhishthira's command,

and agreeably to fate, and what hath been ordained by the Ordainer, I will

accomplish all this. Their hour having arrived, the sons of Dhritarashtra, if

they do not listen to my words, will surely lie down on the earth turned as

morsels of dogs and jackals. The mountains of Himavat might shift their

site, the Earth herself might spilt into a hundred fragments, the firmament

itself with its myriads of stars might fall down, still my words can never be

futile. Stop thy tears, I swear to thee, O Krishna, soon wilt thou see thy

husbands, with their enemies slain, and with prosperity crowning them."

The Shakti of Draupadi lies in the fire of vengeance. After all the futile

attempts to make peace with Kauravas, Lord Krishna decided to visit

Hastinapur. Sitting with his brothers, Krishna and Draupadi , Yudhishtira

asked ―Is it worth all this conflict .―He said ―We should avoid a war at all

costs, especially when we are certain of victory. They are our kinsmen,

after all. Oh, Krishna, what shall I do? Advise me, guide me please―.

Krishna replied, ―For your sake I will visit the Kauravas at their court. If I

can obtain peace without compromising your interest, I will do so.‖

―Krishna, don‘t threaten them‖, said Bhima.‖Duryhodhana is hostile and

arrogant , but he should not be roughly addressed. Please be mild with

him. All of us, O Krishna, would rather suffer in obscurity than see the kuru



dynasty destroyed.‖ Arjuna & Nakula also advocated mildness in approach

and way to the peace.

Sahadeva alone among the brothers wanted an ultimatum to be given by

the envoy.‖Even if the kaurava‘s want peace, provoke them to a war. How

can I , remembering the plight of Panchali the other day at the assembly,

feel satisfied with anything less than the death of Duryodhana? Even if all

my brothers are disposed to practice vesture and morality, I will go up

alone and kill Duryodhana. It is my life‘s greatest aim‖.

Draupadi came forward to express her views. The backsliding of four

brothers made her indignant.‖O Krishna, the scriptures declare that it is a

sin to kill a harmless person and the same scriptures declare that not to kill

one who deserves it, is a sin. Has there been any woman on earth like me?

Born out of fire, Daughter of the great Draupad, Sister of Dhrishtradyuman,

Daughter-in-law of Pandu, Wife of five heroes of the world, and by them

mother of five sons. Still I was dragged by my hair and insulted by

depraved men under the very nose of these heroes, and they sat silently

watching my distress. I don‘t know what would have happened if you,

Krishna, had not responded to my call for help. And now even Bhima

speaks of morality. There is no one to help me …. Even if my husbands

abandon me, my sons are worth of talking up arms to avenge our wrongs

…‖ She was choked with tears and so was everybody. All the four

Pandavas were sitting with their heads down in shame.

Krishna assured her and went to Hastinapur as a messenger.

Plight of a women: Abduction and Molestation

Simhika appears in the malayalam text (attakatha) for the Kathakali play

"Kirmiravadham" by Kottayam Tampuran (17th century). In this work, the

author introduces two new characters outside of Vyasa's text: A rakshasa

named Saardduula and his wife Simhika. Simhika also happened to be the

sister of Kirmira. Saardduula was killed by Arjuna. To take revenge,

Simhika decided to abduct Draupadi and present her to brother Kirmira. To

achieve this goal, Simhika took the form of Lalita (a beautiful woman) and

approached Draupadi. Draupadi suspected foul play and refused to go.



Simhika resumed her original form and forcefully took away Draupadi.

Hearing Draupadi's cries, Sahadeva came and cut off the nose and breasts

of Simhika.

Another episode of her abduction was by Jayadratha, the son of

Vriddhakshatra, the husband of Duryodhana‘s sister Dussala, while he was

passing through Kamyaka forest on the way to Salwa Desa. There he saw

Draupadi alone as Pandavas had gone out for hunting. Jayadratha then

started beseeching her to go away with him and desert her husbands who

had fallen upon bad times. Draupadi pointed out that it was wrong to desert

one‘s spouses when they were in difficulty and then gave him a rather long

and deliberately delaying speech on exactly the sort of bad time her

husbands would give him on their return.Jayadratha then said ―thou canst

not frighten us (he was with several other Kings when he saw and

abducted Draupadi) now with these threats. We, too, O Krishna, belong by

birth to the seventeen high clans, and are endowed with the six royal

qualities.‖ and was sure that he could beat the Pandavas in battle.

Draupadi said ―Even Indra himself cannot abduct her for whose protection

Krishna and Arjuna would together follow, riding in the same chariot.‖ And

she spoke of the way in which Jishnu (Arjuna) would rout Jayadratha and

his armies. She also said, ―The warring princes of the Andhaka and the

Vrishni races, with Janardana at their head, and the mighty bowmen of the

Kaikeya tribe, will all follow in my wake with great ardour‖. Failing with

words Jayadratha tried violence and she called for Dhaumya‘s help.

Though she pushed him to the ground, he overpowered her and forced her

onto his chariot. Meanwhile the Pandavas had finished their hunt and

Yudhisthira observed that all the animals were disturbed in one direction

and was suddenly overcome by premonitions. So he and his brother

climbed their chariots pulled by horses of Saindhava breed and gave chase

in the direction of the disturbance. And on learning of their wife's abduction

by Jayadratha they rushed towards that host with great fury( like hawks

swooping down on their prey. And possessed of the prowess of Indra, they

had been filled with fury at the insult offered to Draupadi. But at sight of

Jayadratha and of their beloved wife seated on his car, their fury knew no

bounds).Then follows the exciting description of a battle in which the five



pandavas routed the Sauviras, Ikshwakus, Sivis, and Saindhavas and their

armies. Jayadratha in fear ran away, leaving Draupadi behind in all this

confusion. Dharmraja urged Bhima to spare Jayadratha‘s life for the sake

of Dussala and Gandhari, much to the indignation of Draupadi. And that

highly intelligent lady said to her two husbands, Bhima and Arjuna with

indignation mixed with modesty, 'If you care to do what is agreeable to me,

you must slay the chief of the Saindhava clan! That foe who forcibly carries

away a wife, and he that wrests a kingdom, should never be forgiven on the

battle-field, even though he should supplicate for mercy!'.Thus

admonished, it was decided to make him humiliated. Then the two valiant

warriors went in search of the Saindhava chief. Bhima and Arjuna caught

up with Jayadratha and Arjuna asked him how an unmanly fellow like

himself had the guts to take a woman away by force. Thereafter there was

more running away than actual fighting and Bhima caught Jayadratha and

wanted to kill him. Arjuna reminded him of Dharmaraj(Yudhisthira)‘s words,

so they brought Jayadratha to their hermitage.After bringing the chained

Jayadratha back to the hermitage where he was to declare to be slave of

Pandavas and was hence, shaved on his head at five places and then

freed.

While the Pandavas were leading their normal life in their own disguised

form [5]

. One day Kichaka, the brother of Sudeshana, and the commander

of king Virata‘s forces, happened to see Draupadi. He was filled with lust by

looking at her. He asked her to marry him, but Draupadi refused him saying

that she was already married to ‗Gandharvas‘, so as not to reveal their true

identity as they were in exile. She warned Kichaka that her husbands were

very strong and he would not be able to escape death at their hands. Later

he forced his sister, queen Sudeshna to help him win Draupadi. Sudeshna

ordered Draupadi to fetch wine from Kichak's house. Draupadi tried to

dissuade the queen from sending her to kichaka's house but failed. When

Draupadi went to get wine, Kichaka tried to molest her. Draupadi escaped

and ran into the court of Virata. Kichaka kicked her in front of all the

courtiers including Yudhisthira who was also present in the court at that

time. The king being weak in front of Kichaka did not take any action.

Draupadi asked about the duties of a king and dharma. Draupadi then



cursed Kichaka in the court that her husbands ‗Gandharvas‘ would surely

kill him. However, Kichaka only doubted their whereabouts and asked

those present in the court that where were they then. Yudhisthra then in

disguise of being the king's adviser replied that they Gandharvas would not

come as they wanted her to forgive Kichaka for the time being. With this

the king asked Kichaka to leave for the honour of the court and praised

Yudhistira's reply as he himself could not think of anything. Later on, Bhima

killed Kichaka.

[5] Twelve years of exile for Yudhishthira, his brothers and their wife Draupadi were

coming to an end and the thirteenth year of incognito existence, as demanded by the

terms for the losing side in the game of dice, was about to begin. After some

consideration and consultation with their preceptor Dhaumya, the Paandavas and

Draupadi all decided to seek employment, in one form or the other, in the same

kingdom. The fish-shaped realm of Matsya was chosen, whose king was the old Virata.

The brothers hid their weapons in a forest in the outskirts of Matsya and approached

Virata, all at different times, seeking his benevolence. Yudhishthira became Kanka,

a brahmin skilled at dice and counselor to the king. Bheemasena became a chef named

Vallabha; Nakula took the name of Arishtanemi, the keeper of horses; Sahadeva

assumed the identity of Granthika, keeper of cows, while Draupadi became Malini,

a sairandhri, or maid. The most curious guise, however, was assumed by Arjuna. The

third Paandava used a curse he had once obtained to his advantage. The curse, given

to him by the celestial nymph Urvashi, was that he would become devoid of masculinity

and would become a woman in a man's body. However, the god king Indra, father of

Arjuna, had begged Urvashi to relent and her heart had softened. She had altered her

curse to last only for one year and any one at that. Thus, Arjuna became Brihannala, a

eunuch who was appointed to teach music and dance to the king's daughter Uttaraa.

Obedient Wife

In the end of the Pandavas' twelve years of banishment and the beginning

of the thirteenth year during which they had to live in concealment.

Duryodhana issued the order that only roasted grains—and no fresh grains

which could be sown—should be given to beggars, tramps and other

nomads, because they might turn out to be the Pandavas trying to survive.

His soldiers and spies could not confirm whether the Pandavas were dead

or alive. Therefore Duryodhana decided to carry out the kariyam ceremony,

a funeral ritual observed by non-Brahmin communities, usually on the



sixteenth day after a person's death. Once this rite had been carried out, it

would prevent the Pandavas, now officially declared 'dead', to return to

regular society. Krishna came to know of this plan. He visited the Pandavas

and instructed Draupadi that she should disguise herself as a Kuratti, a

lady of the Kurava tribe (basket-makers and fortune-tellers). She should

take Sahadeva on her hip disguised as a child and go to Hastinapura

where she should tell fortune to the Kaurava women. Draupadi protested:

How can she enter Duryodana's Palace without doing up her hair and

breaking her vows. But finally agreed when krishna reminded her about her

duties toward her husband and also assured her that vow can be

suspended when she is in disguise.

When she arrived at the Kaurava court she met the Kaurava women,

among them Gandhari, the mother of the Kauravas and wife of the blind

Dhritarashtra, and Peruntiruval, Duryodhana's wife. The women requested

the Kuratti to tell fortune. She invited her 'family deity' and entered into a

trance to do so. During the séance the Kuratti provided details of

Peruntiruval's past and recounted the prior events that had led to the

Pandavas banishment to the forest, including Draupadi's disrobing and her

violent vow—facts with which the Kuratti-in-disguise, as the principal victim,

was intimately familiar with. She predicted that all the Kaurava women

would be robbed of the auspicious signs of their marriage, because their

husbands would die in the impending war. The Kuratti's forecast of doom

outraged the Kaurava women who refused to pay up the fresh grains

demanded by her. Peruntiruval complained to her husband Duryodhana,

who decided to question the Kuratti himself. Hearing her grim predictions,

Duryodhana grew suspicious that she might be Draupadi and put her in jail.

Krishna heared Draupadi's prayers and ordered Arjuna to go to

Hastinapura in the disguise of a Kuravan, a male member of the Kurava

tribe, to demand her release. The Kuravan arrived proclaiming his love for

his independent wife, boasting of his own prowess and provoking

Duryodhana to fight. Duryodhana lost the fight and was forced to release

the Kuratti and paid up the grains. When Draupadi and Arjuna return to the

forest the grains turned out to be roasted. But Krishna promised them that

he would make the roasted seeds grow as if they were fresh seeds.



Secret Desire

Once Draupadi, plucked a Jambul fruit without realizing that it was a

special fruit that a Rishi had sworn to break his fast of twelve years, with.

―You have contaminated the fruit,‖ said Krishna, ―If the sage finds out, he

will curse you and your husbands. But if you open up your heart and

confess to a secret that you have hidden from your husbands, the power of

the truth will cause the fruit to join the branch once again.‖

With great trepidation, Draupadi looked into the eyes of her husbands and

said, ―I love five of you. But I love a sixth too. I love Karna. I regret not

marrying him on account of his caste.‖

The revelation came as a shock to the Pandavas. They were not sure

whether to be angry with Draupadi or ashamed of themselves. They

realized they had failed her individually and collectively. Having revealed

the truth of her heart, Draupadi had been cleansed. She was now able to

reattach the fruit to the tree.

Bait for Karna

After failing in peace negotiations with Duryodhana, Krishna approached

Karna, who was acknowledged as Duryodhana's finest warrior. Krishna

revealed to Karna that he was the eldest son of Kunti, and therefore,

technically, the eldest Pandava, and asked him to change sides. Krishna

assured him that Yudhisthira would give the crown of Indraprastha to him.

But Karna refused Krishna offer to change the course of war.

Krishna as a last try threw Draupadi as the ultimate tempatation in Karna's

way. These efforts of Krishna were followed by Kunti urging Karna to enjoy

Yushisthira Shri(Another name of Draupadi).

Filled with Compassion

The Fiery heroine Draupadi was not without kindness and affection. She

was insulted, taunted and driven to the forest by the son of Dhritarashtra

and Gandhari. When, Dusshasena pulled her saree, Dhritarastra and

Gandhari had not helped her. But still after the war of Mahabharata,



Draupadi looked after Gandhari with respect and affection. She treated her

the same way as she treated Kunti.

Another Episode of her compassion was when Jayadrath , king of Sindh,

abducted her when they were in exile.After capturing Jayadrath, upon

Yudhistra‘s request of considering him husband of Dusshala, Panchali

supported of leaving him alive .

Similarly when Aswathama (Son of Drona who killed the sons of Draupadi

called upa-pandavas [6]

) came to Pandavas, she moved forward and

touched his feet and paid him his due respect, inspite of her great grief at

the loss of her children. Bhima was unable to bear such sorrow and

because of this, he was in great emotions which drove him to the point of

exhibiting his physical prowess to the world. In fact he was looking at this

quality of forebearance of Draupadi as a laughing matter. He thought that

the suffering of having lost all her children had driven her to insanity. But

without thinking much, Bhima uprooted the Shiromani(Divine Diamond) off

the forehead of Ashwasthama.

―Thus Speaks Draupadi to Aswasthama‖ by Indira Kumari

(The following is Draupadi‘s expression of her feelings when Aswathama,

the assassinator of her five sons was captured and brought by Arjuna to

her presence. She in a tear-filled yet smooth, soft and gentle voice thus

speaks to Aswathama)

Don‟t you know, O you Learned Man! Is it not your

Father Drona who taught archery to all our

people? Are you not Drona in the form of a Son?

How with a heart bereft of pity you did put to death my innocent children?

A Brahmin by birth, you are and with intelligence and kindness

You are the greatest and the foremost of the great intrepid heroes.

Is it good on the part of a revered one like you



To commit such a heinous deed as you have done? Sir!

Did my children rise in rage against you? O Gentle Man!

Or did they confront you on the battlefield with weapons?

Not a bit of harm to you they ever did, Alas!

If so, how you, by unyielding strength did deign

To be heartless to assassinate my sons so guileless

And untutored in fighting while still in the soft bosom

Of sleep were they lying in all innocence at night.

Unsuspecting of fate awaiting them in future. Alas!

Ah! Overwhelmed with sorrow infinite I made

Arjuna to fight with you and bring you here indeed.

But, how the knowledge, O Man! Of this most tragic fact

Stabs the mother‟s heart of your own dear mother, I know not!

Then turning to Arjuna, Krishna and others, she says thus forgiving Aswathama with a

mother‟s heart!

She (Drona‟s wife) so unwillingly still lives after her husband‟s demise

Ah! how her heart like mine tilled with deep sorrow feels depressed! Alas!

Great Sin it‟ll be indeed, if he be rid of his life

So, I beseech you, kind Sirs, to pity this Brahmin and leave him with life.



[6] Ashwatthama attacked the Pandava camp in the middle of the night, but by error ended up

murdering the five sons of Pandavas by Draupadi instead of his plan to kill Pandavas as

promised to Duruyodana by him earlier.

Always, throughout the Hindu mythology, whatever seems senseless to us mere mortals, seem

to have a different objective. And the root of this death is traced to the time of Raja

Harischandra of Kosala.

The sage Viswamitra decided to test if king Harischandra really deserved his reputation as a

most truthful king. He managed to trick the king into giving up his Kingdom and everything in it,

including his clothes and ornaments and forced the king to leave, along with his Queen and son.

the sage actually beat the queen to push them out of the kingdom. The five guardian deities of

the kingdom were enraged by this and condemned the Sage. The sage became enraged and

cursed them to be born as mortals. Once they begged Viswamitra's pardon, the sage revised

his curse, saying that though they would be re-born as mortals, they would get their moksha

before forming any attachments that would reduce their status and sanctity as guardian deities.

And hence, the guardians were born as the sons of Draupadi, Their soul‘s attained relief from

Sage Viswamitra's curse, while their murderer Aswathama - not content with having killed the

five Upa-Pandavas

Remorseful Ending

After the war Pandavas travelled across the whole country and finally

started their ascent on the great Himalayas. On their way, Draupadi and

other Pandava brothers die midway except for Yudhisthira.

Draupadi was first to fall into hell. When Bhima asked Yudhisthira, "This

princess never did any sinful act. Then why is she fallen on Earth?"

Yudhisthir replied, "Though we were all equal unto her, she had great

partiality for Dhananjay(Arjun). She obtains the fruit of that conduct today."

Draupadi fell on the ground below and was dying a painful death when

Bhima came to her side, consoled her and remained by her side till her

death. During these last moments, it is said, Draupadi realized the futility of

her undying love for Arjuna and felt the selfless and unconditional love and

support that Bhima had provided her at each moment in her life and

repented the fact that she could never reciprocate the love of Bhima in

equal terms. Her last words were, ―In the next birth, be mine alone, Bhima,

so that I may rest alittle, my head in your lap."



Now the below poem ―Kurukshetra‖ Amreeta Syam which conveys the

angst of Panchali, born unasked for, bereft of father, brothers, sons and her

beloved sakha Krishna , makes complete sense to us:

“Draupadi has five husbands—butshe has none—

She had five sons—and was never a mother…

The Pandavas have given

Draupadi…

No joy, no sense of victory

No honour as wife

No respect as mother —

Only the status of a Queen…

But they have all gone

And I‟m left with a lifeless jewel

And an empty crown…

my baffled motherhood

Wrings its hands and strives to weep.”

Dropadi was a Devi in human incarnation with all the Divine qualities

The only human weakness I could find in her was her outspokenness. She

called Karna ―Sootputra‘‖ and insulted Duryodhna by calling him ―blind son

of blind father‖. And earned their animosity.

References:

1. A. Hiltebeitel Cult of Draupadi, University of Chicago Press, 1988, vol. I .

2. The Mahabharata, R.K.Narayan.

3. Paintings of Raja Ravi Verma.

4. Devdutt Pattanaik Blog : http://devdutt.com/category/topics/hindu-mythology/

5. Dolls of India : www.dollsofindia.com/draupadi.htm

6. ―As times goes by‖ & ― The sands of time‖ Ashok Sawhny.

http://devdutt.com/category/topics/hindu-mythology/

www.dollsofindia.com/draupadi.htm



7. Draupadi-Amma Temple , Varthur Village Bangalore



About the Author

After completing Bachelor of engineering in Information Technology from

NIT-Durgapur, Aditya Dogra started his career at Cisco Systems as a

software developer. Being an ardent Hindoo and curious to learn about his

religion, he pursues his hobbies of reading spiritual books and temple

photography. He has travelled in various temples all over India. He is

reachable @ [email protected]

W : http://dragonfliesinthesky.blogspot.in/

F : http://www.flickr.com/photos/addogra/

mailto:[email protected]

http://dragonfliesinthesky.blogspot.in/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/addogra/

Draupadi

Education

Transcript of Draupadi