THE MAHABHARATAM : 13. Swami Advayananda Acharyaji.
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Wednesday, April 20, 2022. 20:00.
Prelude to the Bhagavad Geeta :
Meditation on the Bhagavad Geeta.
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18 Episodes :
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Episode 1: How the Writing Began
Episode 2: The Story of Bhishma
Episode 3: Amba Seeks Revenge on Bhishma
Episode 4: The Story of Vidhura
Episode 5: The Story of Queen Kunti
Episode 6: The Young Princes Grow Up Together
Episode 7: The Development of Karna
Episode 8: The “Wax Palace”
Episode 9: The Pandavas Enjoy Some Peace!
Episode 10: Draupadi’s Swayamwaram
Episode 11: The Pandavas Settle in Indraprastham
Episode 12: The “Gambling Match”
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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 Vidura and Bhishma were worried as to what was going to happen next.
Everyone else was completely caught up in the fever of gambling.
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. The brave Pandavas themselves
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 stunning 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 onto 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.
Then a miracle took place.
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.
We raise our hands in salutation to a devotee 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 am glad it is over.”
“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. Rugmani 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!
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NEXT
Episode 14:
The Twelve Years in Exile
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