DRAUPADI VASTRAHARAN

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > SABHA PARVA > DYOOTA PARVA > CHAPTER 67(A) - DRAUPADI VASTRAHARAN

“Bhima said ‘O Yudhishthira, gamblers have in their houses many women of loose character. They do not yet stake those women having kindness for them. Whatever wealth and other excellent articles the king of Kaashi gave, whatever, gems, animals, wealth, coats of armour (Kavacha in Sanskrit) and weapons that other kings of the earth gave, our kingdom, yourself and ourselves, have all been won by enemies. At all this my anger was not excited for you are our lord. This, however, I regard as a highly improper act – this act of staking Draupadi. This innocent girl deserves not this treatment. Having obtained the Paandavaas as her lords, it is for you alone that she is being thus persecuted by the low, hateful, cruel, and mean-minded Kauravaas. It is for her sake, O king (Yudhishthira), that my anger falls on you. I shall burn those hands of yours. Sahadevaa, bring some fire.’

“Arjuna hearing this, said, ‘You have never, O Bhimasena, before this uttered such words as these. Assuredly your high Dharma has been destroyed by these cruel enemies. You should not fulfil the wishes of the enemy. You practise the highest Dharma. Whom does it behave to cross his Dharmic eldest brother? The king (Yudhishthira) was summoned by the enemy, and remembering the Kshatriya Dharma, he played at dice against his will. That is certainly conducive to our great fame.’

“Bhima said, ‘If I had not known, O Dhananjaya (Arjuna), that the king had acted according to Kshatriya Dharma, then I would have, taking his hands together by sheer force, burnt them in a blazing fire.’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Seeing the Paandavaas thus distressed and also Paanchaali (Draupadi) thus pained, Vikarna – the son of Dhritarashtra said ‘O kings, you answer the question that has been asked by Yaagnaseni (Draupadi). If we do not judge a matter referred to us, all of us will assuredly have to go to hell without delay. How is that Bhishma and Dhritarashtra, both of whom are the oldest of the Kurus, as also the Mahatma Vidura, do not say anything? The son of Bharadwaja (Drona) who is the Aachaarya of us, and also Kripa, is here. Why do not these best of Dwijas answer the question? Let also those other kings assembled here from all directions answer according to their judgment this question, leaving aside all motives of gain and anger (Kaama Krodha in Sanskrit). O kings, you answer the question that has been asked by this Draupadi and declare after thought on which side each of you are.’

“Thus, did Vikarna repeatedly appeal to those that were in that sabha. But those kings answered him not one word, good or bad. Vikarna having repeatedly appealed to all the kings began to rub his hands and sigh like a snake. At last the prince (Vikarna) said ‘O kings of the earth, O Kauravas, whether you answer this question or not, I will say what I regard as Dhama and proper (Nyaaya in Sanskrit). O foremost of men, it has been said that hunting, drinking, gambling, and too much enjoyment of women, are the four evil habits of kings. The man, that is addicted to these, lives leaving Dharma. People do not regard the acts done by a person who is thus improperly engaged, as an act of proper authority. This Paandavaa (Yudhishthira), while deeply engaged in one of these evil acts, urged thereto by deceitful gamblers, made Draupadi a stake. The innocent Draupadi is, besides, the common wife of all Paandavaas. The king, having first lost himself offered her as a stake. Subala (Shakuni) himself desirous of a stake, indeed prevailed upon the king to stake this Krishna. Thinking upon all these circumstances, I regard Draupadi as not won.’

“Hearing these words, a loud uproar rose from among those present in that sabha. They all applauded Vikarna and criticized Saubala (Shakuni). At that sound, Raadheya (Karna), deprived of his senses by anger, waving his well-shaped arms, said these words, ‘O Vikarna, many opposite and inconsistent conditions are noticeable in this sabha. Like fire produced from a stick, consuming the stick itself, this your anger will consume you. These important personalities here, though urged by Krishna (Draupadi), have not uttered a word. They all regard Draupadi to have been properly won. You alone, O son of Dhritarashtra (Vikarna) in consequence of your immature alone, are bursting with anger, for even though you are a boy you speak in the sabha as if you were old. O younger brother of Duryodhana (Vikarna), you do not know what Dharma truly is, for you say like a fool that this Krishna (Draupadi) who has been won as not won at all. O son of Dhritarashtra (Vikarna), how do you regard Krishna (Draupadi) as not won, when the eldest of the Paandavaas before this sabha staked all his possessions? O bull of the Bharata race (Vikarna), Draupadi is included in all the possessions (of Yudhishthira). Therefore, why do you regard Krishna (Draupadi) who has been Dharmically won as not won? Draupadi had been mentioned (by Shakuni) and approved of as a stake by the Paandavaas. For what reason then, do you yet regard her as not won? Or, if you think that bringing her here attired in a single piece of cloth, is an action of misconduct, listen to certain excellent reasons I will give. O son of the Kuru race (Vikarna), Devas have ordained only one husband for one woman. This Draupadi, however, has many husbands. Therefore, certain it is that she is an unchaste woman. To bring her, therefore, into this sabha attired though she be in one piece of cloth – even to uncover her is not at all an act that may cause surprise. Whatever wealth the Paandavaas had – she herself and these Paandavaas themselves – have all been Dharmically won by Saubala (Shakuni). O Duhshaasana, this Vikarna speaking words of (apparent) wisdom is but a boy. Take off the dress of the Paandavaas and also the attire of Draupadi.’

“Hearing these words, the Paandavaas, O Bharata (Janamejaya), took of their upper garments and throwing them down sat in that sabha. Then Duhshaasana, O king (Janamejaya), forcibly seizing Draupadi's attire before the eyes of all, began to drag it off her person.’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘When the attire of Draupadi was being thus dragged, ahe thought of Hari (and she herself cried aloud, saying), ‘O Govinda, O You who dwell in Dwaraka, O (Sri) Krishna, O you who are fond of cow-herdesses (of Vrindavana), O Keshava, do You not see that the Kauravaas are humiliating me. O Lord, O husband of Lakshmi, O Lord of Vraja (Vrindavana), O destroyer of all pains, O Janaarddanaa, rescue me who am sinking in the Kauravaa Ocean. O (Sri) Krishna, O (Sri) Krishna, O You Mahayogi, You soul of the universe, You creator of all things, O Govinda, save me who am distressed, who am losing my senses in the middle of the Kurus.’

“Thus, did that pained lady (Draupadi) still glowing in her beauty, O king (Janamejaya), covering her face cried aloud, thinking of (Sri) Krishna, of Hari, of the lord of the three worlds. Hearing the words of Draupadi, (Sri) Krishna was deeply moved. Leaving His seat, the kind one from compassion, arrived there on foot. While Yaagnaseni (Draupadi) was crying aloud to (Sri) Krishna, also called (Lord) Vishnu, Hari and Nara for protection, the illustrious Dharma, remaining unseen, covered her with excellent clothes of many colours. O monarch (Janamejaya), as the dress of Draupadi was being dragged, after one was taken off, another of the same kind, appeared covering her. Thus, did it continue till many clothes were seen. O noble one (Janamejaya), owing to the protection of Dharma, hundreds upon hundreds of clothes of many colours came off Draupadi’s person. There arose then a deep uproar of many many voices. The kings present in that sabha seeing that most extraordinary of all sights in the world, began to applaud Draupadi and criticize the son of Dhritarashtra (Duhshaasana). Bhima then, squeezing his hands, with lips trembling in anger, swore in the middke of all those kings a terrible oath in a loud voice.’”