The doorkeeper, Pratikami, told Draupadi that her husbands had lost her in a game of dice and that her new masters, the Kauravas, demanded her presence in the gambling hall. ‘Go ask my gambler husband if he staked himself first or me. For if he staked himself first and lost himself first, how can he still have
any rights over me?’
Draupadi’s question irked Duryodhana. He felt it was beneath him to be answerable to any woman, even Draupadi.
They sent the doorkeeper to fetch her once again. This time Draupadi said,
‘Ask the elders if it is morally appropriate for a woman, the royal
daughter-in-law at that, to be staked and lost so in a game of dice?’
Draupadi’s questions further annoyed Duryodhana.
‘She speaks too much,’
he said. Turning to Dusshasana, he said, ‘Go and fetch her, by force, if
necessary.’
The ever-obedient Dusshasana went into the women’s quarters where
Draupadi sat with hair unbound dressed in a single cloth stained with
blood. Draupadi was startled by his audacity but before she could protest,
Dusshasana grabbed her by her hair and dragged her through the palace
corridors into the gambling hall. Draupadi kicked and tried to hold on to the pillars, but to no avail. She was no match for Dusshasana’s brute force.
She screamed but the women in the palace corridors withdrew into the
shadows, too terrified to help.
The gambling hall saw what could not be imagined—Draupadi, barely
covered, hair unbound, pushed to the floor at Duryodhana’s feet. Not one
of the assembled men came to Draupadi’s rescue.
The elders maintained a
stony silence while we Pandavas hung their heads in shame. ‘For shame, stop! I am the daughter of the king of Panchala, your sister-in-law, the king’s daughter-in-law,’ cried Draupadi.
No one responded.
Duryodhana who could never stand Draupadi’s haughtiness said, ‘Your
husbands are useless. They cannot protect you. They have staked and lost
their kingdom, their weapons, themselves and even you. So come to me".
Sit on my thigh. I will take care of you.’ He then exposed his left thigh and mocked Draupadi with a lascivious look. Draupadi was disgusted by Duryodhana’s vulgarity. And horrified that not one among the assembled Kshatriyas protested. Everyone stared and watched the fun.
‘Is this dharma,’ she asked, ‘to treat a woman so?’
Vikarna, the youngest of the Kauravas, said, ‘Yudhishtira staked himself first and lost. He had therefore no right over anyone, hence could not stake Draupadi.’
To this Karna retorted, ‘Young prince, where is your allegiance? Your
brothers have broken no law. When a man loses himself in gambling, his
master becomes the master of all his possessions including his wife. Thus
Draupadi became the slave of the Kauravas the moment her husbands
became slaves. Yet, out of consideration, she was allowed to be staked independently, when there was no need for it. In your immaturity you let emotions cloud your judgement.’
Turning to Draupadi, who had
disqualified him from participating in her swayamvara, he said, ‘Ancient
law allows a woman to go to only four men with the permission of her
husband. You have been with five husbands. That makes you a whore,
public property, to be treated as your master’s will.’
‘Yes, we can do anything we want with you,’ said Duryodhana arrogantly.
‘I want my slaves, all six of them, to be stripped of their clothes.’.
We brothers lowered our heads and did as told, removing their upper garments.
Draupadi wailed at their misfortune. ‘Her too,’ said Duryodhana pointing to Draupadi, ‘Strip her naked, Dusshasana. Let the world see the legendary beauty of our new slave.’
Everyone was shocked by Duryodhana’s instructions, yet no one spoke up:.
I remained silent as Pandavas because they were not in a position to do so and the elders because they felt Duryodhana was behaving within the confines of dharma.
Yuyutsu, Dhritarashtra’s son by a maid, tried to protest. But he was
silenced and so lowered his eyes in shame. Dhritarashtra, the king, said
nothing because he loved his sons too much and could never find fault
with them. Bhishma and Drona and Kripa struggled with their own
emotions; no law had been broken, so they found it difficult to even
register a protest.
Draupadi realized she was all alone and helpless. As Dusshasana grabbed
her robe and started to yank it, she raised her arms towards the heavens
and cried, ‘Save me, God, there is none but you who I can turn to.’
Her wail reached the heavens. The pillars of the gambling hall began to
weep. The skies turned dark. The sun hid in shame. Then, something
happened—something truly incredible!.
Every time Dusshasana pulled away Draupadi’s sari, he found her covered with another sari. When he pulled that away, he found her still covered with yet another sari. He pulled several reams of fabric off Draupadi’s body but she remained covered, her honour intact.
This was unbelievable. This was without doubt a miracle, an act of God defying the laws of logic, space and time. God was on the side of Draupadi and against the Kauravas.
God had stood up when man had not.
It was worst day of my life...and I couldn't protect the honour of my wife.
YOU ARE READING
Savyasachi's Subhadra: A Queen Of Warrior's Heart✅#FansLoveToWrite
Historical Fiction"Savyasachi's Subhadra:A Queen of Warrior's Heart" is a timeless tale of friendship blossoming into a deep and enduring love. From their childhood days spent playing and exploring together, a bond formed that transcended mere companionship. As they...
