हरी ॐ
Dear Parents,
Dear Parents,
Opening Prayers: Om Sahanā vavatu, followed by the chants Om Sree Ganeśaya Namaha, Sree Saraswatyai Namaha, Sree Sat Gurubhyo Namaha.
Story: The Pandavas, having been invited by Dhritarashtra, arrived in Hastinapur. Vidura (the messenger who brought the invitation) pleaded with Yudhisthira, to reject the invitation. Instead, Yudhisthira, out of duty and Dharma, had to accept the invitation while knowing the true intention of the sender.
The welcome given by the citizens of Hastinapur brought much joy, amidst the unpredictability of the visit's outcome. They were shown around the new palace, with particular attention given to the Sabha. A friendly game of dice was mooted by Śakuni. This was rejected by Yudhisthira, stating that such games only brought unpleasantness. Śakuni did not give up, and kept insisting that a friendly game will not affect relationships. Yudhisthira refused to back down, and wanted no part in this game that promoted cheating extensively. Śakuni used his wiles, and had Yudhisthira termed a coward. He said that Yudhisthira was so used to all the wealth and power he enjoyed in Indraprastha, that he did not want to give up of any of it. This struck a chord, and Yudhisthira rejected that claim, saying he was not a coward or proud of his power. This gave Śakuni the edge, prodding Yudhisthira to accept a friendly game of dice. Defeated with words, Yudhisthira gave in.
The game of dice, as addictive as it gets, can lose many a man his very head. Knowing Yudhisthira's weakness for the game, the Kauravas used this information to turn it from a 'friendly game' to a rather competitive one. From a simple ante of money and jewelry, the wagers started getting bigger and more promising for the Kauravas. Śakuni used the dice given by his departed father, and won at every turn.
With each toss of the dice, Yudhisthira lost everything dear and precious to him, With the loss of all the palaces, the kingdom and the freedoms of all of his brothers and himself, Yudhisthira was at a loss. The elders sat in the audience, spellbound by the turn of events. With the King's approval of this tournament, none could whisper their disgust. It was at this victorious moment that Duryodhana suggested Draupadi as a wager. Despite the outraged expressions on the faces of his brothers, Yudhisthira Went ahead with the wager. The roaring applause from the Kauravas indicated that Draupadi (the one who couldn't be won by the Kauravas in a fair Swayamvara) was now a slave of theirs. Vidura objected to this unfair wager of Draupadi. He could not sit by and watch the wife of Pandu's sons being humiliated. He also warned them of being vanquished by the Pandavas and an after life in hell. But Duryodhana had had enough of the 'low born uncle' and did not pay heed to his words
A messenger was sent to bring Draupadi, who was in the Queen's quarters with Gandhari. She asked if she was summoned by one of her husbands. The courtier did not have an answer and returned to the court. When he returned, she asked why she was being summoned? The courtier again returned to the court without Draupadi. This angered Duryodhana, who then sent Dusshasana to drag her to court, if need be. Dusshasana, taking his brother's words literally, dragged the confused and furious Draupadi by her hair. The Kauravas laughed at the sad predicament of the Pandavas and their wife. When she fell to the floor in the court, Duryodhana patted his lap and asked if she wanted to sit there instead.
Draupadi, with her mane unraveled, stood in front of the elders in raging fear. She did not know the reason why she was dragged to the court, or why none of her husbands responded to her disgraced position. All the unasked questions in her eyes, made Duryodhana smirkingly admit that her husband had wagered her in a game of dice and lost, and that she was now a slave of the Kauravas along with her husbands. She turned to the elders, questioning the King first. She asked him if he was truly blind to all of his son's faults, that he should not so much as object to this unfair game of cheating. She turned to Bhishma, Drona and Kripacharya asking if all their teachings were in vain. She turned to Vidura, and asked if the true well wisher in him could stand by and watch this injustice as it unfolded. With bowed heads, all she heard was silence. She turned to her husbands next. She asked Yudhisthira how he alone could wager her, when she belonged to all 5. Dusshasana told her not to speak of the truth as propagated by her husbands, but the reality of their current situation. She was Duryodhana's slave, and should learn to please her master.
Vikarna, one of the Kaurava brothers, could take no more. He stood up for Draupadi and declared that she was not a fair wager, and that she cannot be a slave to the Kauravas. This angered Radheya, who defied Vikarna and asked him not to interfere in a matter beyond his scope. He also spoke of how Draupadi could act so modest being the wife of five men, disregarding the presence of so many elders. He then suggested that a slave should dress like a slave and not wear royal garments, prompting all the Pandavas to shed their royal robes. When Dusshasana suggested the same to Draupadi, she gave him a menacing glance. This did not stop him from attempting to disrobe her. Knowing fully well that her husbands and the court elders will not come to her rescue, she called out to that one Lord that she knew would protect her. Her prayer to Krishna reached the ears of all present, while Dusshasana was pulling her saree away from her. All the elders and the Pandavas closed their eyes, not willing to be a spectator of this gruesome scene. Little did they know that Krishna, the ever present savior, was there in spirit to protect his sister. He never let her garment end, despite Dusshasana's fervor in disrobing Draupadi. Finally Dusshasana got tired, let Draupadi go.
That was the final straw for Draupadi. She called upon each and every member of the court, asking how they could sit by and watch the atrocities, Radheya claiming her to be a slave and most of all watch her being disrobed by her own brother in law. She swore revenge on Dusshasana, Duryodhana, Radheya and Śakuni, for perpetrating and executing such a malicious plot against her and her husbands. Bheema spoke up, on behalf of his brothers, to let them all know that Duryodhana was alive today only because of his brother, Yudhisthira, angering Duryodhana to a great extent. He insulted the Pandavas even more, and included Draupadi in his barbs. Bheema then went to say that he will tear open Dusshasana, drink his blood, and also slaughter Duryodhana with his mace. While the Kauravas laughed away their words, Vidura and Bhishma knew that these words would ultimately come true.
Dhritarashtra, upon hearing these terrible vows, then told Draupadi that she will never be a slave to the Kauravas. Even with Duryodhana and Śakuni arguing on that, he continued to ask Draupadi for 3 wishes. She told him that she only wanted her husbands to be free and to return to their kingdom with their wealth and kingdom intact. Having granted these, the Pandavas left Hastinapur with their wife, their heads bowed in shame.
Pranāms,
Akshay and Nivedita
