DRAUPADI DRAGGED TO THE SABHA

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > SABHA PARVA > DYOOTA PARVA > CHAPTER 66(B) - DRAUPADI DRAGGED TO THE SABHA

“Duryodhana, hearing this, said, ‘O Duhshaasana, this son of my Soota, of little intelligence, fears Vrikodara. Therefore, you go yourself and forcibly bring here Yaagnaseni (Draupadi). Our enemies at present are dependent on our will. What can they do you?’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Hearing the command of his brother, prince Duhshaasana rose with blood-red eyes, and entering the abode of those great warriors, spoke these words to the princess, ‘Come, come, O Krishna (Draupadi), princess of Paanchaalaa, you have been won by us. O you of eyes large as lotus leaves, come now and accept the Kurus for your lords. You have been won as per Dharma, come to the sabha.’

“At these words, Draupadi, rising up in great pain, rubbed her pale face with her hands, and distressed she ran to the place where the ladies of Dhritarashtra’s household were. At this, Duhshaasana roaring in anger, ran after her and catched the queen by her (hair) locks, so long, blue and wavy. Alas! those (hair) locks that had been sprinkled with water sanctified with mantras in the great Raajasooya yagna, were now forcibly catched by the son of Dhritarashtra (Duhshaasana) disregarding the prowess (Veeryam in Sanskrit) of the Paandavaas. Duhshaasana dragging Krishna (Draupadi) of long dark (hair) locks to the presence of the sabha – as if she were helpless though having powerful protectors – and pulling at her, made her tremble like the banana plant in a storm. Dragged by him, with body bent, she faintly cried ‘Wretch (Manda Buddhi in Sanskrit)! it is not appropriate for you to take me before the sabha. My (menstrual) season has come, and I am now dressed in one piece of cloth.’

“But Duhshaasana dragging Draupadi forcibly by her black (hair) locks while she was praying piteously to (Sri) Krishna and Jishnu (Arjuna) who were Hari and Nara (on earth), said to her ‘Whether your season has come or not, whether you are dressed in one piece of cloth or entirely naked, when you have been won at dice and made our slave, you are to live among our serving-women as you please.’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘With hair dishevelled and half her dress loosened, all the while dragged by Duhshaasana, the modest Krishna (Draupadi) consumed with anger, faintly said ‘In this sabha are persons knowledgeable with all the branches of Shaastraas devoted to the performance of yagnas and other rites, and all equal to (Lord) Indra, persons some of whom are really my Gurus and others who deserve to be respected as such. I can not stay before them in this state. O wretch! O you of cruel deeds, drag me not so. Uncover me not so. The princes (my lords) will not pardon you, even if you have the Devas themselves with (Lord) Indra as your allies. The illustrious son of Dharma is now bound by the obligations of Dharma. Dharma, however, is subtle (Sookshmaa in Sanskrit). Those only that are possessed of great clearness of vision can discover it. Even in speech, I am unwilling to admit an atom (Anu in Sanskrit) of fault in my lord forgetting his virtues (Guna in Sanskrit). You drag me who am in my (menstrual) season before these Kuru heroes (Kuru Veera in Sanskrit). This is truly an unworthy act. But no one here criticises you. Assuredly, all these are of the same mind with you. O fie! Truly has the virtue of the Bharata gone! Truly also has the Dharma of those acquainted with the Kshatriya practice disappeared! Else these Kurus in this sabha would never have looked silently on this act that crosses the limits of their Dharma. Oh! both Drona and Bhishma have lost their energy, and so also has the Mahatma Kshatta (Vidura), and so also this king (Dhritarashtra). Else, why do these foremost of the Kuru elders look silently on this great crime?’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Thus did Krishna (Draupadi) of slender waist cry in distress in that sabha. Casting a glance upon her enraged lords – the Paandavaas – who were filled with terrible anger, she inflamed them further with that glance of hers. They were not so distressed at having been robbed of their kingdom, of their wealth, of their costliest gems, as with that glance of Krishna (Draupadi) moved by modesty and anger. Duhshaasana, seeing Krishna (Draupadi) looking at her helpless lords, dragging her still more forcibly, and addressed her, ‘Slave (Daasi in Sanskrit)’ and laughed aloud.

“At those words Karna became very glad and approved of them by laughing aloud. Shakuni, the son of Subala, the Gaandhaara king, similarly applauded Duhshaasana. Among all those that were in the sabha except these three and Duryodhana, everyone was filled with sorrow at seeing Krishna (Draupadi) thus dragged in sight of that sabha.

“Seeing it all, Bhishma said, ‘O blessed one (Draupadi), Dharma is subtle (Sookshmaa in Sanskrit). I therefore am unable to duly decide this point that you have put, seeing that on the one hand, one that has no wealth cannot stake the wealth belonging to others, while on the other hand wives are always under the orders and at the disposal of their lords. Yudhishthira can abandon the whole world full of wealth, but he will never sacrifice Dharma. The Paandavaa (Yudhishthira) has said ‘I am won.’ Therefore, I am unable to decide this matter. Shakuni has no equal among men at dice-play. The son of Kunti (Yudhishthira) still voluntarily staked with him. The illustrious Yudhishthira does not himself regard that Shakuni has played with him deceitfully. Therefore, I can not decide this point.’

“Draupadi said, ‘The king (Yudhishthira) was summoned to this sabha and though possessing no skill at dice, he was made to play with skilful, wicked, deceitful and desperate gamblers. How can he be said then to have staked voluntarily? The chief of the Paandavaas was deprived of his senses by wretches of deceitful behaviour and unholy instincts, acting together, and then vanquished. He could not understand their tricks, but he has now done so. Here, in this sabha, there are Kurus who are the lords (Eesha in Sanskrit) of both their sons and their daughters-in-law! Let all of them, thinking well upon my words, duly decide the point that I have put.’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘To Krishna (Draupadi) who was thus weeping and crying piteously, looking at times upon her helpless lord, Duhshaasana spoke many disagreeable and harsh words. Looking her who was then in her (menstrual) season thus dragged, and her upper garments loosened, seeing her in that condition which she little deserved, Vrikodara (Bhimasena) pained beyond tolerance, his eyes fixed upon Yudhishthira, gave way to anger.’”