PRAATIKAAMEE AND DRAUPADI

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > SABHA PARVA > DYOOTA PARVA > CHAPTER 66(A) - PRAATIKAAMEE AND DRAUPADI

“Vaishampaayana said, ‘Intoxicated with pride, the son of Dhritarashtra (Duryodhana) spoke, ‘Fie (Dhigastu in Sanskrit) on Kshatta!’ and casting his eyes upon the Praatikaameem in attendance, commanded him, in the middle of all those respectable seniors, saying, ‘Go Praatikaamee, and you bring Draupadi here. You have no fear from the Paandavaas. It is Vidura alone that talks in fear. Besides, he never wished our prosperity!’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Thus commanded, Praatikaamee – who was a Soota, hearing the words of the king (Duryodhana), proceeded quickly, and entering the abode of the Paandavaas, like a dog in a lion’s den, approached the queen of the Paandavaas. He said, ‘Yudhishthira having been intoxicated with dice, Duryodhana, O Draupadi, has won you. Come now, therefore, to the abode of Dhritarashtra. I will take you, O Yaagnaseni, and put you in some menial work.’

“Draupadi said, ‘Why, O Praatikaamee, do you say so? What prince (Raajaputra in Sanskrit) is there who plays staking his wife? The king was certainly intoxicated with dice. Else, could he not find any other object to stake?’

“Praatikaamee said, ‘When he (Yudhishthira) had nothing else to stake, it was then that Ajaatashatru (Yudhishthira) – the Paandavaa, staked you. The king had first staked his brothers, then himself, and then you, O princess (Raajaputri in Sanskrit).’

“Draupadi said, ‘O son of the Soota race (Sootaja in Sanskrit), go, and ask that gambler (Yudhishthira) present in the sabha, whom he has lost first, himself or me. Discovering this, come here and then take me with you, O son of the Soota race.’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘The messenger coming back to the sabha told all present the words of Draupadi. He spoke to Yudhishthira sitting in the middle of the kings, these words, ‘Draupadi has asked you, whose lord (Eeshaa in Sanskrit) were you at the time you lost me in play? Did you lose yourself first or me?’

“Yudhishthira, however, sat there like one that is mad and deprived of reason and gave no answer good or bad to the Soota (Praatikaamee).

“Duryodhana then said, ‘Let Krishna – Paanchaali come here and put her question. Let everyone hear in this sabha the words that pass between her and Yudhishthira.’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘The messenger (Praatikaamee), obedient to the command of Duryodhana, going once again to the palace, himself much distressed, said to Draupadi, ‘O princess, they that are in the sabha are summoning you. It seems that the end of the Kauravas is at hand. When Duryodhana, O princess, is for taking you before the sabha, this weak-brained king will no longer be able to protect his prosperity.’

“Draupadi said, ‘The great ordainer of the world has, indeed, ordained so. Happiness and misery pay their visit to both the wise and unwise. Dharma, however, it has been said, is the one highest object in the world. If cherished, that (Dharma) will certainly dispense blessings to us. Let not that Dharma now abandon the Kauravaas. Going back to those that are present in that sabha, repeat these my words in harmony with Dharma. I am ready to do what those elderly and virtuous persons knowledgeable with Dharma will definitely tell me.’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘The Soota, hearing these words of Yaagnaseni (Draupadi), came back to the sabha and repeated the words of Draupadi. But all sat with faces downwards, uttering not a word, knowing the eagerness and resolution of Dhritarashtra’s son (Duryodhana).

“Yudhishthira, however, O bull of the Bharata race (Janamejaya), hearing of Duryodhana’s intentions, sent a trusted messenger (Dootam in Sanskrit) to Draupadi, directing that although she was dressed in one piece of cloth with her navel itself exposed, in consequence of her (menstrual) season having come, she should come before her father-in-law weeping bitterly. That intelligent messenger, O king (Janamejaya), having gone to Draupadi’s abode with speed, informed her of the intentions of Yudhishthira. The illustrious Paandavaas, meanwhile, distressed, sorrowful, and bound by promise, could not decide what they should do. Casting his eyes upon them, king Duryodhana, glad at heart, addressed the Soota and said, ‘O Praatikaamee, bring her here. Let the Kauravaas answer her question before her face.’

“The Soota, then, obedient to his commands, but terrified at the (possible) wrath of Draupadi, disregarding his reputation for intelligence, once again said to those that were in the sabha, ‘What shall I say to Krishna (Draupadi)?’”