THE MAHABHARATAM: (in 18 Episodes) - PRELUDE to the Bhagavad Geeta : Episode 13 :

 

Chinmaya Mission :

Chinmaya Mission Mattancherry in Cochin recently hosted a successful Balavihar Summer Camp for children from the Chinmaya Kindergarten School in Vedakkemadom. The program is ongoing and has received positive feedback from participants.

The summer camp featured different themes each day, with the first day's theme being "Selfie with Success" for the older group, and "Forget Superman, Think Hanuman" for the younger children. Activities included understanding the Chinmaya Mission pledge, discussing family values, watching short films, playing games, and dancing.

On the second day, children learnt about building strong relationships, courage, and discipline. They listened to a discourse on fighting against false values and low tendencies and participated in games and activities to build courage and discipline.

The third day emphasized living a noble life of service and sacrifice, producing more than consuming, and giving more than taking. Children debated on the topic and learnt important values.

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Sunday, April 16, 2023. 08:00.

How the Writing Began :

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Episode 13:
The De-Robing of Draupadi 

In this land of Dharma, for such a thing to happen is most shameful. Acharyaji said, 

“It has always been the most painful portion for me to relate, but a narrator cannot skip a 

page of history. I have to tell it, so I am telling it. But I don’t like telling it.”

Yudhishthira had already wagered his palace, his kingdom, his brothers – they were 

now slaves of Duryodhana. Yet there was no sign of stopping the game. One more round, 

another great loss – this was the sequence, until finally, there was really nothing left to 

wager. Only Vidhura and Bhishma were worried as to what was going to happen next. 

Everyone else was completely caught up in the fever of gambling.

The cynical Shakuni dared to suggest the unsuggestible: “You still have Draupadi.”

Dhritarashtra could have stood up and said, “Enough is enough – Stop it!” But he 

was blind to all ethics by now. He also had lowered himself to his sons’ level, if he had not 

already been there.

Not a single person in the crowd raised a voice of protest. They could not bring 

themselves to challenge the wager. It was as if Fate had sealed the lips of everyone present. 

Where were the wise ones of India at that moment?

Shakuni’s heart was palpitating as he prepared to throw the dice. Shakuni won! 

Duryodhana’s circle roared with a lusty joy which was deplorable to witness. A lusty man 

does not realize how horrible he appears to others. As the Kaurava camp rejoiced at this 

spectacle, there was silence in the camp of the Pandavas – yes, the brave Pandavas were in 

stone silence!

Then Duryodhana fanned the flames of anger further by announcing, “Is it not true 

that all the Pandavas belong to us? Then don’t their clothes belong to us, as well?”

Karna applauded the move to take away all the upper clothes of the Pandava 

brothers. The cruel Duhsasana said, “Draupadi also belongs to us. Go and fetch Draupadi!”

Yudhishthira who was emperor barely hours ago, stood powerless to say anything. It 

was Vidhura who shouted, “Stop it! Stop it! Don’t bring destruction upon yourselves.”

Duryodhana stuck to his intention and asked Vidhura to stay out of it.

Duryodhana sent the order to have Draupadi brought before the assembly. Draupadi 

refused to come. “Go and ask Yudhishthira if he lost me before he lost himself?” The 

messenger came back. He was asked to fetch Draupadi to the assembly and then her 

question will be answered. Draupadi stood firmly for her right to protect herself. Again she 

refused to go. Duryodhana then ordered Duhsasana to go and drag Draupadi to the 

assembly.

This was how Draupadi was already humiliated before even coming there. And none 

of her husbands raised a finger to come to her protection. They were all tongue-tied.

Then Karna said the most horrible thing of all: “Duhsasana, Draupadi’s clothes 

belong to Duryodhana.” Hearing that, Duhsasana began tugging at Draupadi’s sari. 

There was a stunned silence from the assembled people. Most people turned their 

faces down. Others who were wicked by nature, saw this as an excitement. Draupadi in the 

middle of the assembly saw that she was alone, and no one present there would help her. 

She called for Krishna to come to her aid, while holding on to her sari desperately. 

Duhsasana’s physical force was too much for her. Eventually she raised both her hands to 

the heavens, calling for Krishna in desperation. 

The whole of India shuddered; the Himalayas quaked! A miracle had to happen –

As Duhsasana pulled her sari, more and more sari kept emerging from within 

Draupadi. There was no end to the sari. Duhsasana was getting tired drawing the sari; it was 

heaping up in the centre of the hall. Yet the supply was unending. Duhsasana was struck –

with amazement at first, then with FEAR. Draupadi was saved by her utter surrender to the 

Lord. When no earthly power could come to her aid, help came from her Lord and Master, 

Sri Krishna.

The incident teaches us what the litmus-test of Dharma is: “Ask your heart what is 

right.” Clarity was lost in the midst of the turmoil in the Sabha. No one could think straight.

Bhima was a very innocent, ‘heart-felt’ and straightforward person. He called his 

brother Yudhishthira aside after the whole drama and said, “Brother, look at what has 

happened to us! Even professional gamblers will not give their harlots as wager and you 

took the noble daughter of Drupada to this low situation!” He then asked Sahadev to bring 

fire and burn Yudhishthira’s fingers. Then he continued, “I have taken a vow that I will kill 

Duhsasana and drink his blood. Sahadev here will kill Shakuni, Arjuna will kill . . .” 

That was unsaid, for suddenly Dhritarashtra woke up and shouted, “What has 

happened to the most pure woman?” It was he that could have stopped all this drama. Now 

remorseful, he called Draupadi and gave her three boons. Draupadi only asked that her 

husbands be released with their weapons. Dhritarashtra said, “Done, Draupadi, ask for one 

more boon.” Draupadi said, “No, I will not ask anything more. Dharma is my husbands. This 

is sufficient.”

Then Dhritarashtra himself said, “Take back the entire kingdom of Indraprastha and 

Yudhishthira can rule there as before.” 

The dangers of falling prey to lust, envy, gambling and addiction are highlighted in 

this incident. Surrender to God at times like this is also highlighted. When Draupadi gave up 

the last traces of her ego and held up both her hands, the Lord ran to her aid, and saved her 

from the molestation by others.

Today, India raises her hands in salutation to a daughter like Draupadi. As Acharyaji closed the episode he repeated his earlier words, “This is one portion in 

the Mahabharata I find most difficult to tell. I have told it, and it has made me sad.”

“Acharyaji – what a blessed soul! What finesse, what sensitivity our Acharyaji has to 

tell this amazing story! What a saint we have in our midst!” – These were the actual words 

of one of the students immediately as Acharyaji finished this thrilling episode.

Acharyaji ended this dramatic story with an event in Draupadi’s life:

Krishna had once cut His finger. Rookmoney ran around looking for a cloth. 

Draupadi just tore off a piece of her sari and used it to cover the cut. It was a 

spontaneous act of love. That day she had given the Lord just a small part of her sari. 

The Lord returned the favour with an unlimited supply to save her modesty!

*****

Next
Episode 14:
The Twelve Years in Exile
To be continued

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