MH_02_05 Draupati Humiliated

திரௌபதி மான பங்கம்

Mahabharata – Sabha Parva

When Shakuni suggested to Yudhishtra to pledge Draupati, Vidhura told Dridhrashtra that the act of his sons would lead to the destruction of the Kuru clan, the King ignored him.  Yudhishtra even though hesitated first, agreed to pledge Draupati and play, in the hope of regaining all the wealth lost. Shakuni threw the dice and Yudhishtra lost again, losing Draupati in the process.

Duryodhana was elated with joy and asked Vidhura to bring all the wealth the Pandavas lost, including their armory, girls and other valuables, and also to bring Draupati to him.

Vidhura advised Duryodhana that Draupati was one among Pancha Kanyas (five sacred women – Ahalya, Sita, Tara, Mandothari and Draupati), and humiliating her would destroy their clan. Vidhura further said, “It is said that all Asuras killed by Lord Vishnu are born in the Dwapara Yuga on Earth as human beings, and Goddess Earth went to Brahma and Devas saying that their weight is too much to bear and requested them to do something. Brahma with other Devas went to Lord Vishnu and pleaded with him. Vishnu said that he would be born in the world and destroy three generations of evil people and reduce Earth’s misery. It is rumored that He is now born as a King among us and I am very much worried about this now. So be careful and avoid misery to all of us.”

அந்தவன் திகிரியானும் நம்மிலோர் அரசனாகி

வந்தவதரித்தானென்று மண்ணெல்லாம் வார்த்தையானது

எந்தவல் வினையால் எவ்வாறெய்தும் என்றிக்கே சால

நொந்துகண் துயில்பெறாதே நோதகப்புரிந்தேன் மன்னோ

(வில்லி பாரதம், சபா பருவம்)

Duryodhana ignored him and asked his Charioteer Prathigami to bring Draupati to the Sabha. As Draupati was in her periods, wearing a single cloth, she was hesitant to come to the Sabha. She asked through Pratigami whether Yudhistra lost him first and then pledged Draupati; if so, what right he had to pledge her after having lost himself. Dhuryodhana became angry on hearing this. He asked his brother Dussasana to go and fetch Draupati as she was a Dasi now. Karna also echoed the same view. Except Duryodhana, Karna, Shakuni and Dussasana, all others present were sad. Dussasana went in and fetched Draupati while she was running away from him. He grabbed her by her long hair and dragged her to the Sabha. (Villi Bharatham says, Draupati ran towards Gandhari, but Gandhari did not protect her but advised her to go to the Sabha and ask questions).

Draupati went to the Sabha and cried in front of all the dignitaries. She asked Bhishma her question whether Yudhistra had right to pledge her after having lost himself. Bhishma was indecisive saying even though her question was right, her husband also has right to pledge her. The entire Sabha kept silent to Draupati’s question, except Vidhura.

At that time, Vikarna, one of the brothers of Duryodhana criticised the Kings present there and said, Yudhishtra had no right to pledge Draupati as he had lost himself and her other husbands first. He asked the people there to support Draupati.

தன்னேரில்லாத்தருமன் தனதென்று உரைக்கத்தக்க வெலாம்

முன்னே தோற்றுத் தங்களையும்முறையே தோற்றுமுடிவுற்றான்

சொன்னேருரைக்குத் தான்பிறர்க்குத் தொண்டாய்விட்டுக் கரிகுழலைப்

பின்னே தோற்க உரிமையினாற் பெருமோவென்று பேசீரோ

(வில்லி பாரதம், சபா பருவம்)

Karna criticised Vikarna as he was very young. Duryodhana then asked Dussasana to remove the clothes of Pandavas and Draupati. Bhima became very angry and asked Sahadeva to bring fire so that he could burn the hands of Yudhishtra which played the Dice. Arjuna pacified him. Pandavas threw their clothes of.

Dussasana started disrobing Draupati. Sage Vyasa had once advised Draupati to think about Lord Krishna when she was in trouble. Draupati then put both her hands up surrendered at the feet of Lord Krishna and started praying to Him, the ruler of Dwaraka, to help her. When Krishna heard her prayers He helped her without appearing there. The saree drawn by Dussasana started growing many folds and Dussasna could not complete disrobing her, he became tired and fell down to the ground. Devas threw flowers on Draupati.

அருமறைசொல்லிய நாமமாயிரமும் உரைத்தழைக்க அமரர்போற்றும்

திரிமலர்ச் செஞ்சீறடியோன் திருச்செவியில் இவ்வண்மொழி சென்றிசைத்த காலை

மருமலர்மென் குழல்மானின் மனநடுங்காவகை மனத்தேவந்து தோன்றிக்

கரியமுகிலனையானும் பிறரெவர்க்குந்தெரியாமற் கருணை செய்தான்

(வில்லி பாரதம், சபா பருவம்)

Bhima had uncontrollable anger and swore that in the war, he shall break open the chest of Dussasana and drank his blood. Draupati also swore that she would not tie her hair unless it is drenched in Dussasana’s blood.

Duryodana asked Draupati to sit in his left lap. (Left lap is meant for wife to sit). Karna also endorsed it. Bhima then swore that he would kill Duryodhana by hitting him on his left thigh with his mace and kill all his brothers. Arjuna swore to kill Karna in war, Nakula, Shakuni’s son Uluka and Sahadeva, the evil Shakuni. Lot of bad omens were seen by those present.

Dridharashtra became afraid and called Draupati near him and consoled her and asked her to pardon his sons and allowed Pandavas to get back whatever they lost in gambling and return to Indraprastha.

When Pandavas were returning, Shakuni instigated Duryodhana that Pandavas would never allow them to live peacefully. Duryodhana asked Yudhishtra to leave, but without his country to rule.  Dridharashtra on pestering from Duryodhana, changed his mind and asked Yudhishtra to play the game of dice once more. If we wins, he can get back all his Kingdom to rule, otherwise, the Pandavas with Draupati should live in forest for twelve years and one year they should live hidden without being found by anyone before getting the Kingdom back. If they were recongnized by any one, they should go to forest for another twelve more years.

Yudhishtra played against Shakuni and again he lost. Pandavas and Draupati left Kunti in custody of Vidhura in Dridharadhtra’s Palace and left for forest to live there for twelve years.

This ends Sabha Parva.

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