WOMEN IN EPICS

16.DRAUPADI.
ONE IN EIGHT (GODDESSES) It is observed that Women in epics have been responsible for elimination of evils from the world. Draupadi in her lifetime suffered a lot but she could prove the tenacity, the will, the faith of character .The glory of avatar in completion of purpose of ending the evils and the vicious is partly realized through Draupadi.

Draupadi is the most chaste daughter of Maharaja Drupada an incarnation of goddess Sasi, the wife of Indra . Draupadi was born next to Drashtadyumna after a great sacrifice by Drupada. Draupadi , unfortunately extraordinary beauty that hearts of men. She seemed wrecked vengeance occasion she fought the courage, assurance, skill was veritably a goddess of Draupadi as his sister Draupadi and vows to greatest example of whenever and wherever was a victim of her own inflamed the desire in the to attract violence and thereafter. On each outrage with matchless and presence of mind. She war. Krishna treats pledges his friendship to show the world the friendship. He protects her she asks him for the help.

Draupadis special characteristic fight against an injustice reflected as Parvathi or Shakti, or Kali. Draupadi was also avatar of Goddess Shree or Wealth. we find in Draupadi, a composite avatar of Kali, Parvati, Sachi, Shyamala, Usha, Bharati, Shree, Swaha, the eight goddesses. Naradapurana also tells as Draupadi was composite Avatar of Goddesses Shyamala (wife of Dharma), Bharati (Wife of Vayu), Sachi (wife of Indra), Usha (wife of Ashwinis) and hence married their earthly counterparts in the form of the five Pandavas. Enraged at a jest by Parvathi, Shyamala, Sachi and Usha, Brahma cursed them to human birth. Parvathi thought of the solution wherein they will be born as one woman, Draupadi and hence share the earthly body for a smaller period of time. Draupadi is worshipped as Draupadi Amman in South India as a personification of Shakthi, and called as Parshati , Panchali , Draupadi , Shri , Yajnaseni . ONE IN FIVE (Swayamvara ) As in sloka '"Ahalya Draupadi Kunti Tara Mandodari tatha panchakanya svaranityam mahapataka nashakam" Draupadi is one in five Panchakanyas. She was also one wife to five husbands. Draupadi was a daughter of Drupad king of Panchala and sister of Dhrishtadyumna. As Arjuna defeated Drupad he wanted a great warrior like Arjuna to be married to Draupadi. She was known for her beauty, valorous and fearless conduct, humanitarian compassion and pity. She was true incarnation of perfect humanity terse and soft. Draupadi was very brave and beautiful. She was equally intelligent. Draupadi put a condition for her marriage as she would

wed the prince who would pierce the eye of the rotating wooden fish by looking at its reflection. Her swayamvara was arranged in Kampilya . A pole was erected in the courtyard at the tip of which a rotating device was fixed. A wooden fish was mounted on the top this device. A water tub was kept at the bottom for reflection of the fish to be seen. The competitors were asked to hit the eye of fish with an arrow through this reflection in one chance. Many princes including Duryodana , Jarasanda, Shisupala, Shalya, Karna, Arjuna and other pandavas tried their luck. Arjuna in the disguise of a Brahmin was liked by Draupadi and Krishna. When Karna came, Krishna alerted and pointed Draupadi to object as it was likely that this great archer could win. Draupadi then said she wants his credentials, details of parents, status and she had no desire to marry him. This caused hatred and anger to Karna as he was the son of charioteer. .Duryodhana then protested and sought her apology. Then Duryodhana and Karna left the court of king Drupad, with a vow to avenge the insult at some later time. Arjuna then pierced the eye of the fish. So Draupadi was pleased and put the garland in the neck of Arjuna and they were married. Lord Krishna and Balaram were present on this occasion. Though Arjun married Draupadi, destiny changed it as otherwise strangely. Pandavas on seeing their mother, just wanted to introduce Draupadi in a jocular way said ascome and see our alms today". It caused confusion as though they were talking about the food they had received, and said to them to divide the same amongst themselves and enjoy. This command then forced to make a wife being divided amongst the five brothers. Then Sri Krishna advised the Pandavas to accept Draupadi as common wife of all the five brothers. Thus Draupadi, also known as Panchali, became wife of five brothers. Narada then advised the Pandavas to honour the privacy of Draupadi when she was alone with any other brother. All the brothers agreed not to enter the room of Draupadi when she was with other brother .Otherwise they would be forced to self exile as the punishment. But as Draupadi's swamvara details were known to Duryodana in Hastinapuram, he consulted Karna and he advised to wage a war against Pandavas. Draupadi though married to five Pandava men, i.e.,polyandry , she was all alone , with no protection, no care, and with no love from anybody. She lamented to Krishna as she is without any husband, brother or son. Even Krishna was not mine (Vana Parva 10.125 ) . But He is bound to protect her ever, as she was related, renowned, sakhi and He rules over all. (Vana Parva 10.127). Her husbands could neither offer nor protect the respect and honour that a woman should have as a wife and as a mother. All that they succeeded was making her into a queen. The five Pandavas through Draupadi begot a son each, Yudhishtra begot a son named Pratibhit, Bhima begot Sutasoma, Arjuna begot Srutakirthi, Nakula begot Satanika, and Sahadeva begot Srutakarma . ONE IN HUNDRED (stripping saree ) Duryodana felt happy to note a way from his maternal uncle Sakuni, to drive Pandavas out of Indraprastha without any fight and shedding of any blood. As Yudhishtra was very fond of the game of dice, he had plans in inviting him for a game and with a trick to defeat him; he can win his kingdom and wealth easily. Yudhishtra was confident of defeating Duryodana but felt diffident against Sakuni as he is an expert player. Initially gold, silver and ornaments were wagered and Yudhishtra lost one by one. His chariots, servants, horses, armies were lost then which were kept as pledge. After loosing step brothers Nakula and sahadeva, Bhima and Arjuna became wagers. At last Draupadi became a victim to this game. Duryodana then roared like a lion and declared Draupadi as his maid and dragged her to the assembly. With exceeding limits of decency he ordered to pull out Draupadis sari.

When Duryodhana commands the Pandavas to strip themselves in the manner of dasa, they obeyed by stripping off their upper garments. Then Kauravas demand the same from Draupadi who refuses. Then to the horror of everybody present, Dushasana tries to strip Draupadi of her sari. Seeing her husbands unable or unwilling to help her, Draupadi prays to Lord Krishna to protect her. A miracle occurs henceforward, which is popularly attributed to Krishna. As Dushasana unwraps layers and layers of her sari, her sari keeps getting extended. Bhima is furious at Dushasana and said as he will tear open Dushasana's chest and drink his blood, he will not show his face to his ancestors." Finally, a tired Dushasana backs off without being able to strip Draupadi. Duryodhana repeatedly challenges Yudhishthiras four brothers to disassociate themselves from Yudhishthiras authority and take their wife back. No one dares to denounce their loyalty to their eldest brother. In order to provoke the Pandavas further, Duryodhana bares and pats his thigh looking into Draupadis eyes, implying that she should sit on his thigh. In rage Bhima vows in front of the entire assembly that one day he will break that very thigh of Duryodhan in battle. Finally, the blind monarch Dhritarashtra's conscience is stirred, in part fearing the wrath of Pandavas against his sons. He intervenes and asks Draupadi to wish for whatever she desires. Draupadi asks her husbands the Pandavas to be freed from bondage. Dhritarashtra grants her wish and also restores to Pandavas all they lost in the game of dice. Free from the bondage Bhima immediately proposes to his brothers to slay all Kauravas present then and there itself. Yudhishthira and Arjuna prevent him from taking any rash action. After many words of reconciliation between Pandavas and Dhritarashtra, Pandavas withdraw to their kingdom along with Draupadi and their entourage. Few more of one in . Will be continued in next week.

ARUMBULIYUR JAGANNATHAN RANGARAJAN