Gita Gyan Part 2

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-

1. 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
2. Or maybe Bhima was wrong, Yudhishthir would instead abandon everything and take Sanyas, and all his brothers would follow him
3. 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.

(To know the complete reason why Krishna wanted war please refer to http://ankit221215.blogspot.com/2018/09/gita-gyan-part-1.html  )

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)