Yajnaseni: The Story of Draupadi

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Yajnaseni: The Story of Draupadi Page 7

by Pratibha Ray


  Hearing my husband's words, I flared up. I wished I could turn into a searing flame of the sacrificial fire and destroy the world and in it these five brothers too. If my husband were to turn into a fistful of ashes I would not be sorry. He, who with undisturbed heart, could hand over his wife to another man for fear of his own dharma being destroyed, might be the most virtuous soul in the world, but he could never be a proper husband for any woman of discrimination.

  I burnt in inner anguish. But not a word came through my lips. Perhaps Mother understood my inner turmoil. After all, she was a woman and therefore it was natural for her to sense a woman's feelings.

  In a soft, sympathetic tone she began speaking, "I have heard that princess Krishnaa is wise, intelligent, learned in scriptures. In this situation of perilous distress let her resolve the dilemma herself. We cannot forcibly impose our wishes on her."

  Exactly then scripture-learned Lord Vyas arrived. I thought: "What link does Vyasdev have with this Brahmin family? How did he happen to land up here? Anyhow, as he has arrived by God's grace it will be appropriate for him to resolve this dilemma. By leaving the responsibility of the solution to me, Mother is wanting to keep herself free of all blame. The elder brother, right from the beginning, has been speaking of how to keep both sides happy. My husband, too, is anxious to be free from blame. Then what shall I do?"

  Hearing everything, Vyasdev became grave and was lost in thought. Softly, Mother said, "Had they announced right from the beginning that having won Krishnaa they had brought her, all this difficulty would not have arisen. Now please find a way so that my words remain true, my sons honour their mother's command, and yet no sin touches princess Krishnaa."

  I wondered how these two conflicting statements could be reconciled? It seemed to me that the elder brother had deliberately uttered such equivocating sentences to convey the news of my arrival to Mother. The elder brother knew that every day the food and money obtained as alms was divided equally amongst themselves. Then why did he not say, "Mother, your third son, having won princess Krishnaa in the svayamvar, has brought her here and your third daughter-in-law is waiting at the door for your blessings?" Therefore, if he did not state this openly, clearly there was an ulterior motive behind his words. Mother was bound to say before opening the door that the beautiful object should be enjoyed equally by all the five brothers. That was why he had used such words. Perhaps, like others, he too had been infatuated with my beauty and had conspired in this fashion to obtain me! The other brothers would also have been attracted to me. Therefore, why would they let such an opportunity slip from their grasp?

  My mind was whirling with such thoughts. Vyasdev was speaking to Mother — "You know that I had sent you word to send all the five brothers to the svayamvar of the princess of Panchal. You knew that the conditions of the svayamvar could not be fulfilled by anyone other than your third son. Therefore, despite knowing everything if you gave such a directive to your sons then what is there left for thinking? You knew this too that even if the earth should dissolve your sons would not violate your directive. What was to happen has happened. No amount of regret will call back the words that have been uttered. Therefore, let the entire decision be left to princess Krishnaa. Aryan virgins have been vested with the freedom to choose their husbands. How can we intervene in this?"

  I was not pained by the words of Gurudev Dvaippyan. I was astonished, taken aback. I thought in this world no one invited blame upon himself. Everyone was busily shifting the responsibility onto others to remain blameless. What the mother wanted, the elder brother wanted, Gurudev wanted, I knew. I wanted to make it abundantly clear that I had only one husband. It was he who had won me. Him alone I had chosen. But then the mother's words would not be honoured. The brothers would be guilty of violating the mother's command. My husband, too. In fact, his sin would be greater. In such circumstances would I be able to found a household of joy with my husband? From the very beginning I would become the target of everyone's aversion for not honouring the mother's and the elder brother's words. Ultimately my husband, too, would blame me for turning him into a rebel against his mother. In such a situation, how could I speak out my mind openly?

  If this was not possible, how could I accept the alternative? There was no precedent for one woman marrying, five men. This would not add to the fame of woman as a species.

  For all future time Draupadi would remain condemned in the history of the world as a woman of despicable and stained character. So much so that in the Kaliyuga people would call fallen women having many men "Draupadis of this era", making me the butt of scorn. What would they understand of the situation in which Panchali became the wife of five men? I was angry with the mother. Animosity against her rose in me. But the moment I looked at her I forgot the sorrow of leaving my mother. Knowing everything, why did she utter such a sentence? She had sent her sons to Panchal. She knew that her third son would surely win me. Then, why did she say that?

  Every mother wants that her daughter-in-law should be beautiful and, if not wise, full of discrimination and knowledge, be of blameless character, chaste and virtuous, spending her entire life concentrating lotus-like on one husband. But how contrary was this situation! For the sake of her own word how she was hinting to her daughter-in-law to take five husbands!

  It seemed to me that the matter was not that simple. There was surely some deep mystery behind this. There might, perhaps, be some greater design. But, however noble the intention, how could I marry five men? I had already chosen one husband.

  In my heart the memory of Krishna arose. I poured out all my heart's anguish before him. I thought, if he had been present he would have rescued me from this perilous distress. All of them wanted to accomplish their own aims by using me, but were chary of acknowledging it. Krishna was not like that. By a mere gesture he would have conveyed to me what ought to be done. Was it the integrity of my womanhood that was of greater moment to me or the mother's word, the protection of my husband's and his brothers' dharma? To sacrifice myself for safeguarding the dharma of others — was that my duty, or was it my duty to choose one husband for the sake of my self-respect and happiness? This I could not make out! In the secrecy of my heart I cried, "O Govind! I have accepted you as sakha. I have offered myself before you. In all Aryavart it is you who are the most wise, qualified and discriminating. Did you not know that these Brahmins would enact such a play for sacrificing Krishnaa in their dharma-yajna? Then why did you not give me a hint? Now what am I to do?"

  Then, suddenly, it happened. I had just thought of him and Krishna and Balaram appeared at the door!

  Both pranam-ed Mother. Mother affectionately embraced them. Moved by gratitude, she said, "Govind! Thanks to your limitless foresight we could escape that conspiracy of Duryodhan's. Princess Krishnaa, too, has been won. Now we are in an awkward situation regarding Krishnaa. You have to advise us what we should do so that everyone's dharma is preserved."

  Aah! It raised gooseflesh on my whole body. I was bewildered with joy, surprise and imagining happiness beyond expectations. So, it was the third Pandav Arjun who had won me! I had really got the man to whom I had offered myself. Then Govind had created this drama knowing everything all along! But then Govind was a past master in creating drama out of others' joys and sorrows. How should I express my gratitude?

  On Krishna's face was a wicked smile. He said, "Who will not be attracted to lovely Krishnaa? Whoever is not attracted is either no man or is a eunuch or lifeless. Grave conflict over Krishnaa has already started throughout Bharat. Arjun has won Krishnaa. Therefore, all the other princes have become impatient. Driven by jealousy and the shame of failure, they are seeking excuses for rebelling. They are not to blame. Whoever has seen Krishnaa once — how can he rest without getting her? There is a chance of fratricidal strife breaking out in future among these five Pandavs. Even though they may deny it out of shame, which of them will swear with Dharma as his witness that he is not infatuated with Krishnaa? If Arjun alone gets Krishna
a, will they not be filled with envy? Bhim! In your heart comparing your rakshas wife Hidimbaa with Krishnaa are you not cursing your fate? Are you not envious of Arjun? Rather will it be beneficial for everyone that such a sentence happened to escape Mother's lips. Considering all these matters and for preserving the dharma of everyone and to establish dharma on earth Yudhishthir has created such a situation. Actually, if unity does not prevail among the five Pandavs it will not be possible to subjugate the wicked and villainous Kauravs. It is unity that is the basic mantra of organisation and success. The unity of a family is destroyed because of women. So for maintaining unity among the five Pandavs Yudhishthir has thought of making Krishnaa the wife of all of them. What more is to be said in this? I will certainly not be able to shoulder the responsibility of all the five brothers. The person who will take that responsibility should examine whether it is possible or not."

  My endurance, wisdom, intelligence, discrimination and chastity — a summons to test them to the ultimate limit was before me. What a desperate dilemma it was! I was full of joy that it was Arjun himself that I had obtained as my husband. Yet I was agitated that along with Arjun I would have to take five husbands.

  For preserving unity among the five Pandavs I would have to become the wife of them all. The five Pandavs would establish dharma on earth. If they were not one it would be dharma that would be vanquished. Therefore, my role was clear.

  Once Lord Ram had taken birth on earth for the establishment of dharma. He had three brothers. Chaste Sita did not have to face such a situation then. For preserving unity among Ram, Lakshman, Bharat and Shatrughna, Sita did not have to marry all the four brothers. Perhaps she was the World-Creatrix, Mother Lakshmi, and here was I, an ordinary mortal! That was why my ordeal — this dilemma of husband-choice.

  Despite not getting Sita as their wife, Lakshman, Bharat, Shatrughna had remained loyal brothers of Ram. Why would the five Pandav brothers not remain loyal to one another without me?

  What would sati Sita have done if she had found herself in such a situation? Perhaps she would have sought refuge in Mother Earth saying, "Mother Earth! Giving me shelter in your lap, remove my shame." But I was not patient, all-suffering like Sita. If necessary, I could rebel, I could even take revenge. Swiftly I reached a decision. Everyone's eyes were turned towards me. From Krishna's hint I had comprehended this much that for a greater cause a lesser interest could be sacrificed. If I did not take five husbands then my renown as a sati would increase, but thereby Mother's words would not be honoured, the Pandavs would not be able to safeguard truth. The establishment of dharma on earth would be hindered. Therefore, I should sacrifice myself.

  I, Yajnaseni, bom of the sacrificial altar for the preservation of dharma! If, impelled by greed for this mortal body, heroes like the Pandavs had bound themselves by a vow to their mother, then in their dharma-yajna let this body become an oblation! In reality what was this body? From where did it come and where will it go? What did I know? For I was not that body. My hands, feet, limbs were not Krishnaa. No one part of my body was Krishnaa. So let everyone be happy getting this body. Let them be united. Why should I be an obstacle? This body made up of five elements — fire, water, earth, air, ether — after offering it to five husbands would I be able to remain a sati? What was the definition of sati? I knew that remaining faithful to one's husband was chastity. So I would have to remain faithful to five husbands. While offering myself to one, I would have to surrender myself wholly. If I did not do so, I would be unchaste. I thought — man's mind is so distrustful and so full of mysteries that it does not itself know whether it is capable of surrendering itself fully to another or not. Therefore, if for this reason I was called unchaste, that was nothing to grieve over. In having five brothers as husbands I would get Arjun too — this was enough to remove all my depression and sorrow.

  In a calm voice I said, "I am ready to accept the five Pandavs as my husbands."

  Mother's face lit up. She blessed: "May you be renowned!" Wondering how men and women of coming ages would sing the praises of five-husbanded Panchali, I grew absent-minded. I was lost in my own thoughts.

  All events of my life were similarly dramatic. From that day till the last instant of my life I would have to appear in five roles. I would have to prepare my mind and this body made up of five elements according to the characters and inclinations of my five husbands.

  8

  That was my first night in the potter's hut — with my husbands, with my mother-in-law. Only one room. My five husbands lay down on beds of grass and went to sleep one after another. Mother-in-law went to sleep at the upper portion of the bed, touching her sons' heads. My bed was at my husbands' feet.

  Making a cushion of my body of five elements, all ten feet would be placed on it. This would be my appropriate dharma as a woman!

  But a woman going to bed at the same time with more than one man — how shameful and painful it was! Who besides myself would realise this: how shameful it was for me to touch the feet of five husbands all together?

  With bowed head I was thinking — till now my marriage had not been completed according to the prescribed rites. Therefore my place was at the mother's feet. I spent all night pressing her feet. I did not know in what grief my tears kept flowing, wetting the earthen floor of the hut. Some drops fell on the mother's feet as I was pressing them. She was not startled. She had known for quite some time that I was weeping. She whispered, "I know your grief. At one time I, too, choosing your father-in-law in svayamvar, had dreamt of happiness. But there was a curse on him. Even this did not grieve me. I never blamed fate for frustrating my motherhood. Concentrating on serving my husband, I kept him happy. But for preserving the dynasty, for safeguarding the kingdom, to produce suitable dynasts, at my husband's request I gave birth to sons obtained through various gods — Dharma, Vayu, Indra and the Ashvinikumars. Sometimes I had to face ridicule and scorn on this account. I bore it all. I have not committed any sin, I have practised virtue — this is how I have kept consoling myself. For what I did was necessary for the welfare of the world. The situation you are in today is necessary for the preservation of dharma on earth. Therefore, consider yourself as having earned merit. How many are fortunate enough to be fated to sacrifice themselves for the welfare of the world?"

  Suddenly it seemed that Mother had knowingly, deliberately placed me in this predicament. Even though she had had sons through different gods at her husband's request, Mother's own conscience must at times have been weighed down with a sense of sin, shame and hesitation. She would have felt guilty. Perhaps even at such times she would have become the target of scorn and ridicule. In case the mother was shamed before her daughter-in-law and looked small, she had deliberately compelled the daughter-in-law to accept five husbands. For getting children she had slept with different men. Was this conspiracy hatched in case the daughter-in-law, coming to know of this, taunted or looked down on her? Or was it that for subjugating the hundred sons of her elder sister-in-law, Gandhari, and giving the throne to her own sons, it was essential for them to remain one in heart and soul and, therefore, she cast her daughter-in-law into this terrible predicament? In any case, this could not have come about suddenly. Thinking thus, my mind gave way.

  My brave brother had quietly followed us in secret. Father had deputed him to find out who these five brahmins were. Having gathered all the information, he returned satisfied to the Panchal capital. Next day in the morning Father despatched palanquins, horses etc. The five Pandavs, Kunti and I went to the capital. Father was overjoyed on getting to know their true identities. His desire was about to be fulfilled.

  With great pomp Father was making arrangements for the wedding. When Kunti advised that five wedding altars should be made, Father asked in surprise, "Have you selected four other girls for your third son? Or have you selected brides for the other four sons?"

  In a calm voice mother Kunti said, "Your daughter, princess Krishnaa, has already accepted all my five sons as her husbands
. Therefore, the marriages of all five with Krishnaa will be completed according to the rites."

  Father was stunned. Agitatedly he said, "What are you saying? There is precedence for the marriage of many women with one man. But if one woman marries many men it will destroy the dharma of the woman. If my daughter concludes such a marriage the world will mock her. Her dharma will be destroyed...!"

  In a soft voice Yudhishthir said, "Man's greatest dharma is obeying the commands of his elders. Parashuram, obeying his father's command, became his mother's slayer. We are fatherless since childhood. Mother is our all-powerful governor. Obeying her command, if all five of us marry Krishnaa it will only be following dharma for us."

  Dhrishtadyumna was filled with annoyance — "If the command of elders seems unjust, then will compliance with it be following dharma?"

  Yudhishthir said in a calm and soft voice, "Ma Kunti is a learned lady of Aryavart, devoted to dharma. Her command can never be unjust."

  Noticing that the argument was warming up, Father intervened — "Eldest Pandav! I am proud that Arjun won Krishnaa in the svayamvar. What if Arjun objects to Krishnaa marrying five husbands?... And has such a thing ever happened?"

  Yudhishthir provided Father with instances from the Purans and explained to him that Jatila, too, had married seven husbands for preserving dharma and that for preserving dharma there was no sin in accepting several husbands.

  At that moment Krishna Dvaipayan arrived there. Learning of the cause of Father's dilemma he said, "King Drupad! Whether it be pearls or flowers, they have to be strung into necklaces and garlands for adorning the neck of the deity. Without the thin thread it is not possible to string the pearls or flowers together. In the same fashion, for the preservation of dharma in Aryavart today, it is necessary for the five Pandavs to be strung together. Only your beautiful daughter Krishnaa is capable of keeping them tied together. The flower-garland is resplendent on the deity's neck but who can discount the significance of the thread hidden in the flowers? Similarly, even if it is the five Pandavs who will establish dharma in Aryavart, Krishnaa's noble role will be recorded in sacred letters in the annals of time. The life of Krishnaa, who was born of the sacrificial altar is exceptional and incomparable. Then where is the dilemma?"

 

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