Reading Notes: PDE Mahabharata, Part B

In this reading, I wanted to focus my notes on Draupadi, the wife of all five Pandava brothers. Draupadi is a really fascinating character because she is one of the very few women in Indian epics who engaged in polyandry (having several husbands). More commonly, we find men having multiple wives, but not vice versa. Later, Draupadi gets a lot of hate for it (namely Karna during the gambling scene).

I conducted some more research on Draupadi, and I found that she is the incarnation of Goddess Sachi (goddess of beauty), who is known for being the source of much jealousy amongst men because no one can refrain from lusting after her. Draupadi is described to be extremely beautiful, and she often finds herself being almost taken advantage of by men if it weren't for the Pandava brothers coming and saving her. I decided to compile some significant plot points/details about Draupadi that I found significant in this part of the Mahabharata. Her humiliation at the dice game was a significant moment for Draupadi and is definitely one of the main highlights (if not the main highlight) of this section of the Mahabharata.

Draupadi dragged from her chamber by Dushasana

• After Arjuna defeated King Drupada (under the orders of Drona), Drupada wished to gain revenge on Drona and performed pooja to obtain a blessing
• Received two children, Dhristadyumna and Draupadi (most beautiful woman of the time)
• Drupada wished for Draupadi to marry Arjuna --> after it was presumed that Pandavas died in a fire, Drupada holds a swayamvara for Draupadi
• Karna completes the challenge, but Draupadi refuses to marry him due to his caste
• Arjuna, dressed as a brahmin, completes the challenge and Draupadi chooses Arjuna
• Other attendees protest, saying a brahmin cannot participate
• Arjuna and Bhima defeat them all and take Draupadi to their mother
• Kunti (the mother) misunderstands Arjuna, telling him to share whatever they brought equally
• Draupadi is taken to marry all five brothers (polyandry)
• Although the clarification is made later, Draupadi states that she is okay with it
• When Pandavas are given a deserted land (Khandavaprastha) and rebuilt it with the help of Krishna into a glorious land (Indraprastha), the Kauravas come to visit
• Duryodhana is tricked in the Palace of Illusions --> falls into water
• Draupadi is said to have laughed at Duryodhana, saying "a blind man's son is also blind"
• Duryodhana is humiliated by her and the Pandavas, and seeks revenge on them all
• In the dice game, Yudhisthira first stakes his brothers, then himself, then stakes even his wife Draupadi
• He loses everything, resulting in the Kauravas (and Karna) mocking them
• Dushasana (second Kaurava) goes to her chambers and drags her out to the hall by her hair
• Draupadi argues that Yudhisthira cannot stake her having already lost himself
• Karna is angered by these words, and counters by saying Yudhisthira lost her after losing himself --> orders Dushasana to disrobe her
• Draupadi prays to Krishna, who extends her saree (infinitely long) until Dushasana gets tired of pulling it; Draupadi remains dressed
• Fearing bad omens as a result of the Kaurava's misdeeds, Dhritarastra offers Draupadi a boon, which Draupadi uses to free her husbands from slavery as well as allow them to have their weapons
• Pandavas and Draupadi return to Indraprastha, but Yudhisthira is offered another dice game that he does not refuse --> ends up losing again
• Pandavas and Draupadi are forced to undergo 12 years of exile

Bibliography: PDE Mahabharata, Written by Arnold, Besant, Devee, Dutt, Ganguli, Kincaid, Macfie, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Seeger, and Tagore, Link.