Brainy Draupadi
She manages to pull of
the impossible (That How can Yudhistir stake her if he had lost himself) when
her husbands are unable to help her, she uses a law technicality to argue her
way out of slavery, though Kaurava do everything in their power to humiliate
her, she gets her husbands and herself freed from slavery and also everything
else Yudhistir staked.
Her
humiliation happened precisely for this reason that she had managed to figure
out a loophole to get her husbands slavery annulled. The carefully crafted plan
to cheat Pandavas out of their kingdom and make them slave forever (therefore
legally ineligible to rule any kingdom ever again) was being torn up by
Draupadi when she emphasised her stake was invalid.
It was
Karna's and Duryodhan's frustration over their plan being destroyed in front of
them that forced them to try the age old tactic of using threat of assault or
rape to shut up a woman.
But that
didn't work either and she managed to get Pandavas freed by using her
humiliation, the chaos in the court that scared Dhritarashtra to free them.
Which is
when the second dice game is proposed by Kauravas and Yudhistir accepts and
this time Shakuni puts a straightforward stake that if Yudhistir loses then Pandavas
and Draupadi will go on exile
when
Krishna came to meet them as soon as heard, she tells him “I've no husbands
father's or brothers or even your support or else why would I be treated so.
She even
questions Bhim and Arjun's ability
But other
that occasion she uses her anger positively to get justice instead of raving
and ranting at her husbands,
in the entire epic in any version
Draupadi never blames Yudhishthir to his face that he is responsible for her
misery.
She ensured she is avenged by directly approaching Krishna
- the only person who could make it happen. She knew the best and worst of each of
her husbands. And she knew how to deal with each of them to get the job done.
Blaming
Yudhishthir on his face would not only not work; it would have backfired badly
for her.
The
decision maker in the Pandavas was Yudhishthir. He decided and the brothers
followed and no one would ever question him. None of the brothers ever
questioned his right to decide their lives not even Bhima.
Imagine a
scenario where Draupadi blames and shames Yudhishthir on his face or publicly
what would happen-
- Bhima in Kichaka Pravas says
make sure he doesn't hear you blaming him as Yudhishthir would commit
suicide, and then all brothers would follow him
- Or maybe Bhima was wrong,
Yudhishthir would instead abandon everything and take Sanyas, and all his
brothers would follow him
- Or even Abandon Draupadi out
of anger and all brothers would follow him (Yudhishthir says he kept playing
the game because of his Pride and Anger)
In each
of the three scenarios who would lose more - Draupadi. Blaming Yudhishthir
wouldn’t undo what happened to her but would take away her right to live too.
A fourth
thing could also have happened Yudhishthir feels remorse, accepts the blame
grace fully and asks her to punish him. What punishment could she give to him?.
What ever he gets the brothers will share that too. And then what will happen
to her vengeance from Kaurava.
Remember
her statement to Krishna and the sub text within it - I have no husbands
oh Krishna, I have no father, brothers or sons and not even you.
i.e. I am
not a priority for any man.
She meant
No man is going to fight for me neither my husbands or father or brothers or
sons or even you.
They will
fight for their own priorities not for her.
She made
sure her husbands fought Kaurava to make Yudhishthir King because apparently he
was cheated of his kingdom, She made sure her brothers and father Dhrishtadyumn
/Shikhandi/Drupad fought to finally settle scores with Dronacharya and Bhishma.
She made sure her sons and stepsons fought for their fathers and she made sure
Krishna fought for Dharma Sansthapna.
When the
men in her life wudnt fight for her. She fought for herself with her best
weapon - her brains by giving those men other reasons to fight.
Krishna Wanted war
Krishna had promised
Draupadi she will get her justice, he wanted the war, he made sure it happened.
He did not break his promise to Yudhishthir either he offered peace to Duryodhan
but made sure it was rejected by him
Bhima says it's better
to have peace then shed the blood of millions,wars ruin families and lives so
oh Krishna try for peace. But do remember Duryodhan is short tempered, use kind
and pleasing words when you talk to him. If you offend him he will not agree to
peace so please use the right words and polite tone to convince him.
Krishna goes for the
peace mission but when he starts speaking to Duryodhan he does exact opposite
of what Bhima told him. He uses a threatening and condescending tone, insults
Duryodhan multiple times, lists down each crime of Duryodhan in great detail
and that he should be punished and basically reiterates that you better give
back the Kingdom or Pandava will destroy you with all your friends and
relatives. In between he quietly slips the peace offers of Yudhishthir as he
had promised to him.
Death of Soldiers in Krishna’s Army that he
gave to Drutodhan
Although
Krishna gave his army to Druyodhan. The soldiers were not conscripted by force,
they had all joined by choice. Also kshatriya of those times believed the glory
of death in battlefield Infact every soldier / warrior who came to fight the
war came of his own choice and took the side he wished to.
At the
start of battle Yudhishthir makes the announcement whoever wants to change
sides and come to us is free to do so. And Yuyutsu joins Pandavas.. that option
was available for everyone.
Krishna
wanted to make one thing very clear: it is that the history should
remember the Mahabharata war as the victory of Dharma over Adharma, the
victory of Good over Evil. If Narayani Sena would have been with
Pandavas, then they would have been a far superior army in the war.
Then, all said and done, the Mahabharata war would have simply been the
victory of a superior army.
Krishna conveyed that no matter how strong is your army, if you are on the side of Adharma you are destined to lose..
Punishment for Draupadi attempted outrage
Those who participated in it
a) Duryodhan
- He laughed at Draupadi and showed his thigh to her, His thigh was broken by
Bhima and he bled to a painful death all alone after he saw all his brothers
nephews and son die in front of his eyes
b) Dusshasan
- He dragged Draupadi to assembly and tried to assault her, His arm was ripped
from his body and Bhima tore his chest. He died just before Duryodhan and Karna
c) Karna - He
was killed by beheading when he was alone without any help or weapon in his
hand (an inglorious death for a warrior)
Those who
remained mute spectators
a) Dronachary
- He was beheaded by Dhrishtadyumn his own student after he laid down his
weapons and ceased fighting (an inglorious death for a teacher of martial
skills)
b) Bhishma -
Every inch of his body was covered with arrows and in that state he saw the
family he tried to protect dying one by one.
c) Kripachary
and Ashvatthama - cursed to live an immortal life alone (a lonely long life is
worst than death)
d) Somadatt
and Shakuni similarly saw all the male children in their family die before
their eyes and then died
e)
Yudhishthir - finally won a kingdom of windows and orphans and empty coffers.
And that too was handed over to Brother's grandson and not his own. His son
from Draupadi died in the war. His son from Devika was not made the King
f) Bhima -
His sons died in the war. And when his son from Draupadi died he was not
present there to protect him
g) Arjun -
same as Bhima above and the one principle that he followed all his life was
never go against his older brother always obey him even if he was wrong, well
he ended up killing his oldest brother
h) Nakul and
Sahadev - punished same as Bhima
Look at how Duryodhan
treats Pandavas and Draupadi when Pandavas are at his mercy and compare it with
how Pandavas treat Duryodhan and his wife and brothers after they were captured
by Gandharvas. Inspite of all their mistreatment of Pandavas they still freed
Duryodhan and his wives and sent them off respectfully.
(Aforesaid has been compiled
from write up by Preeti from Tamil Nadu)
