DRAUPADI: THE DOOMED

The Proud and angry heroine of the epic Mahabharata, Draupadi has remained an enigmatic woman of substance. She was the daughter of Drupad, the king of Panchala, and the wife and queen of the five great Pandavas, renowned alike for her loveliness and her granite will. Volcanic, she reduced her enemies to the ashes. This fiery princess bent on vengeance could be compassionate and generous, too. Draupadi had developed the strength to bear the trials of life. She had resolved firmly not to harm the good people, and not to bend before the wicked. Though Draupadi was a woman, she became as famous as the heroic Pandavas because of her determination. Her personality was one of lightning and thunder. This unforgettable heroine is in no way less than Bheema or Arjuna in strength and spirit, valour and virtue. Her story is a saga of suffering and disgrace but she took everything in her stride and vanquished each one responsible for her humiliation and agony.

The Birth

For many years Drupad, the king of Panchal, had no children. After years of prayer, God blessed him, and two children were born out of the haven fire lit by Drupad to fulfill his determination of vengeance against his enemy Dronacharya, through his death. The first to emerge out of the holy pyre was a son, called Dhrishtadyumna, and the second, a daughter called Draupadi. Thus Draupadi was born from the fire of vengefulness, anger and passion. At the time of her birth, a celestial voice had proclaimed: "This unparalleled beauty has taken birth to uproot the Kauravas and establish the rule of religion".

Draupadi, meaning daughter of Drupad, was known by several other names as well. As the princess of the kingdom of Panchal she was known as Panchali. Draupadi is born of fire and therefore, often referred to as Yagnyaseni. She is also called Krishnaa because she was copper skinned, fiery eyed and had long, black hair. Draupadi alone enjoys a very special and unique relationship of sakhi (female-friend) with her sakha (male-friend) Krishna. She always considered Lord Krishna as her Sakha or beloved friend and Krishna addressed her as Sakhi, this as symbolic of the platonic love existing between the fiery Draupadi and the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Krishna. There are few women in Hindu mythology who were aggressive and who spoke their mind in a world of men. Draupadi was one of them. She is considered by many as the first feminist of Indian mythology.

The Marriage

Both Krishna and Draupadi appear for the first time together in the Swayamvara Sabha and make decisive interventions. Pandavas in disguise of brahmins came to the Swayambhara Sabha, and Arjuna won Draupadi by piercing with arrow, the eye of a moving fish on a high pole.

Arjuna announced to his mother that he had brought home a prize that he so skillfully won. When Kunti (mother of Pandavas) heard this without seeing them, she asked them to share whatever they had brought among themselves. Keeping their mother's word, they divided Draupadi amongst themselves as if she were an object.

In certain ways therefore, Arjuna degraded Draupadi by claiming her as a prize and his elder brother, Yudhishtira, further insulted her by carrying out their mother's wish by treating her as if she were an object won in a contest.

Despite the degradations she emerged as one of the most respected women in the epic story. She bravely accepted this challenge to her womanhood, shouldered the task and brought it to a fruitful conclusion.

Disrobed !!!

Yudhishthira lost Draupadi to Kauravas in a game of dice. Duryodhana ordered that Draupadi be dragged into the court. When Draupadi heard this news she was dazed. But instead of meekly obeying her husband Yudhishthira, she sent back a query which none could answer. She questioned her husband Yudhishthira, if he had pledged her before or after he had lost himself in the gamble. She argued that if he had pledged himself first, he had no right over her as he was already a slave. She later challenged the game as illegal as she argued, that Duryodhan, a Kaurava, had not placed his brothers and wife as a matching stake. Mahabharata tells us how the assembly started to hiss loudly when Yudhishthira staked Draupadi.

Draupadi had a marvelous blend of intensity that suits kshatriyas and forgiveness that fits devotees. She was very intelligent and knowledgeable. She had a brilliant mind, and did not hesitate in reprimanding the Kuru elders for countenancing wickedness. Her saviour, friend and protector Krishna, gave her divine garments which protected her during the ordeal.

It was then that Draupadi, took a vow to tie her hair only after washing them with the blood of Dussasana, the man who attempted to disrobe her and to punish all those who had disgraced her. She induced the fire of revenge burning in her heart into the hearts and minds of Pandavas. The glow of Draupadi's lustrous prototype of womanhood shall always be a source of inspiration for the women.