DRAUPADI RESCUES PAANDAVAAS

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > SABHA PARVA > DYOOTA PARVA > CHAPTER 70 - DRAUPADI RESCUES PAANDAVAAS

“Karna said, ‘Of all the persons in the sabha, three – Bhishma, Vidura, and the Aachaarya of the Kurus (Drona) appear to be independent; for they always speak of their master (Eeshwara in Sanskrit) as wicked, always criticize him, and never wish for his prosperity. O excellent one (Draupadi), the servant, the son, and the wife are always dependent. They cannot earn wealth, for whatever they earn belongs to their master. You are the wife of a slave incapable of possessing anything on his own account. Travel now to the inner apartments of king Dhritarashtra and serve the king’s relatives. We direct that is now your proper job. O princess, all the sons of Dhritarashtra and not the Paarthaas are now your masters. O beautiful one, you select another husband now – one who will not make you a slave by gambling. It is well-known that women, especially that are slaves, are not criticized if they proceed with freedom in electing husbands. Therefore, let it be done by you. Nakula has been won, also Bhimasena, also Yudhishthira, Sahadeva and Arjuna. O Yaagnaseni (Draupadi), you are now a slave. Your husbands that are slaves cannot continue to be your lords any longer. Alas, do not the Paarthaa (Yudhishthira) regards life, prowess (Paraakramam in Sanskrit) and manhood (Paurusham in Sanskrit) as of no use that he offers this daughter of Drupada – Paanchaali, in the presence of all this sabha, as a stake at dice?’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Hearing these words, the wrathful Bhima breathed hard, a very picture of misery. Obedient to the king (Yudhishthira) and bound by the tie (Paasha in Sanskrit) of Dharma, burning everything with his eyes inflamed by anger, he said, ‘O king, I cannot be angry at these words of this son of a Soota (Karna), for we have truly entered the state of servitude (Daasa Dharma in Sanskrit). But O king (Yudhishthira), could our enemies have said so to me, if you had not played staking this princess (Devi in Sanskrit)?’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Hearing these words of Bhimasena, king Duryodhana addressed Yudhishthira who was silent and deprived of his senses, saying, ‘O king (Yudhishthira), Bhima, Arjuna, and also the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva), are under your rule. You answer the question (that has been asked by Draupadi). Say, whether you regard Krishna (Draupadi) as unwon.’

“Having spoken thus to the son of Kunti (Yudhishthira), Duryodhana desirous of encouraging the son of Radha (Karna) and insulting Bhima, quickly uncovered his left thigh that was like to the stem of a plantain tree (Kadali Danda in Sanskrit) or the trunk of an elephant (Gaja Hastam in Sanskrit) and which was graced with every auspicious sign (Sarva Lakshanam in Sanskrit) and filled with the strength of Vajra, and showed it to Draupadi in her very sight. Seeing this, Bhimasena expanding his red eyes, said to Duryodhana in the middle of all those kings and as if piercing them (with his arrow-like words), ‘Let not Vrikodara (Bhimasena) attain to the regions, obtained by his ancestors, if he does not break (Bhindyaam in Sanskrit) that thigh of yours with Gada in the great conflict.’ Sparkles of fire began to be emitted from every organ of sense of Bhima filled with anger, like those that come out of every crack and opening in the body of a blazing tree.

“Vidura then, addressing everybody, said, ‘O kings of Pratipa’s race, look at the great danger (Bhayam in Sanskrit) that arises from Bhimasena. You know for certain that this great calamity that threatens to overtake the Bharatas has been sent by Destiny itself. The sons of Dhritarashtra have, indeed, gambled disregarding every proper consideration. They are now disputing in this sabha about a lady. The prosperity of our kingdom is at an end. Alas, the Kauravaas are now engaged in sinful consultations. O Kauravaas, take to your heart this high Dharma that I declare. If Dharma is persecuted, the whole sabha becomes polluted. If Yudhishthira had staked her before he was himself won, he would certainly have been regarded as her master. If, however a person stakes anything at a time when he himself is incapable of holding any wealth, to win it is much like obtaining wealth in a dream. Listening to the words of the son of Gaandhaari (Duryodhana), you fall not off from this undoubted Dharma.’

“Duryodhana, hearing Vidura thus speak, said, ‘I am willing to abide by the words of Bhima, of Arjuna and of the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva). Let them say that Yudhishthira is not their master (Eeshaa in Sanskrit). Yaagnaseni (Draupadi) will then be freed from her state of bondage.’

“Arjuna at this, said, ‘This son of Kunti, Dharmaraja Yudhishthira, was certainly our master before he began to play. But having lost himself, let all the Kauravaas judge whose master he could be after that.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Just then, a jackal began to cry loudly in the Agnihotra-chamber of king Dhritarashtra’s palace. O king (Janamejaya), to the jackal that howled so, the donkeys began to bray responsively. Terrible birds also, from all sides, began to answer with their cries. Vidura knowledgeable with everything and the daughter of Subala (Gaandhaari), both understood the meaning of those terrible sounds. Bhishma, Drona and the learned Gautama loudly said, ‘Swashti!’ Then Gaandhaari and the learned Vidura seeing that frightful omen, represented everything, in great pain, to the king (Dhritarashtra). The king (Dhritarashtra) immediately said,

‘O wicked-minded Duryodhana, O wretch (Manda Buddhi in Sanskrit), destruction has all ready overtaken you when you insult in language such as this the wife of these bulls among the Kurus, especially their wedded wife Draupadi.’

“Having spoken those words, the wise Dhritarashtra filled with knowledge, thought with the aid of his wisdom and desirous of saving his relatives and friends from destruction, began to console Krishna – Paanchaali and addressing her, the monarch (Dhritarashtra) said, ‘Ask of me any boon, O Paanchaali, that you desire, Chaste and devoted to Dharma, you are the first of all my daughters-in-law (Vadhoo in Sanskrit).’

“Draupadi said, ‘O bull of the Bharata race (Dhritarashtra), if you will grant me a boon, I ask the handsome Yudhishthira, obedient to every Dharma, be freed from slavery. Let not unthinking children call my child Prativindhya filled with great energy of mind as the son of a slave. Having been a prince, so superior to all men, and nurtured by kings it is not proper that he should be called the child of a slave.’

“Dhritarashtra said to her, ‘O auspicious one, let it be as you say. O excellent one, you ask another boon, for I will give it. My heart inclines to give you a second boon. You do not deserve only one boon.’

“Draupadi said, ‘I ask, O king (Dhritarashtra), that Bhimasena, Dhananjaya (Arjuna) and also the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva), with their chariots and bows, freed from bondage, regain their liberty.’

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘O blessed daughter, let it be as you desire. You ask a third boon, for you have not been sufficiently honoured with two boons. With Dharma in your behavior (Dharma Chaarini in Sanskrit), you are the foremost of all my daughters-in-law.’

“Draupadi said, ‘O best of kings (Dhritarashtra), O illustrious one, greed (Lobham in Sanskrit) always brings about loss of Dharma. I do not deserve a third boon. Therefore, I dare not ask any. O king of kings, it has been said that a Vaishya may ask one boon; a Kshatriya lady, two boons; a Kshatriya male, three, and a Brahmana, a hundred. O king, these my husbands freed from the wretched state of bondage, will be able to achieve prosperity by their own virtuous acts (Punya Karma in Sanskrit)!’”