Yajnaseni: The Story of Draupadi

by Pratibha Ray

  Flaming in anger and horror I shrieked, "Get out, Nitambini! Do not show your face to me! How dare you carry such instructions to me?"

  Like a tongue of flame my eyes and every pore of my body were burning. My anger against Yudhishthir I poured out on my companion. I began to make myself firm.

  Right then with a loud, coarse laugh Duhshasan appeared before me. Full of shame I slipped out of sight. But shamelessly he came forward, "Come, lovely one, now you have become our property. Your self-respect, chastity, modesty, hesitation-keep them to yourself. Forget the five husbands. Accept Duryodhan and his ninety-nine brothers as your lords. You will see that such a catastrophe will never recur."

  Out of shame, grief, fear, hatred, I shut my eyes. Duhshasan laughed demoniacally. It seemed to me that his lustful arms were advancing towards me. I moved backwards towards the women's apartments. I ran in that direction. Perhaps on reaching the feet of mother-in-law Gandhari my modesty might be saved or shelter would be available from sisterly Bhanumati or the other queens. But everyone's doors were shut.

  Before I could cry out at the doors, Duhshasan put out his powerful hairy hand and catching hold of my long thick curly hair pulled hard. Helpless, I lost my balance. As the wild buffalo drags some broken creeper along, similarly Duhshasan dragged me to the assembly-hall. With great difficulty I tried to cover my breasts with my single garment. The end of it had slipped off my head. Face, neck, arms were all bare. The hair was already in disarray. Out of kindness they had covered my bare back from the sight of spectators. Like a creeper trembling in a storm, I was shivering with fear and shame. My diamond nose stud was sparkling like a star.

  Even after dragging me into the assembly-hall, Duhshasan was pulling at my hair, as though I were a lifeless statue devoid of reaction, sorrow, emotion, excitement.

  Laying aside shame and modesty I folded my palms, "Let me remain alone in private. I am single-garmented, menstruating..."

  Laughing aloud Duhshasan said, "Whatever state you might be in, whatever you might or might not be wearing, what do we care about that? To us you are a mere slave."

  To hide my anguish and shame my long blue-black hair was once again kindly covering my face. Duhshasan's barbaric behaviour was disarranging my single cloth. I was at a loss what to do. With difficulty I folded my hands over my breast. I began silently to pray to sakha Krishna. Who would come to my help in this extremity but Krishna?

  In front of me were seated my heroes, my five kshatriya husbands, silent like offenders. Before their very eyes their wife was being insulted and they were sitting helpless, silent! At the other end were seated my father-in-law (blind, but surely he was hearing my cries? He must be aware of my helplessness), grandfather Bhishma (wise, valorous, celibate since birth, he too was a silent spectator), guru Drona, Kripacharya — all had become dumb. Seeing my state, Karna was perhaps savouring great self-satisfaction in the cruel joy of revenge. He kept looking at me scornfully out of the corner of his eye. The kings and princes present, good people all, were dumb. It seemed that other than Krishna there was no one in the world to help me.

  Laughing loudly in glee, Duhshasan tugged at my hair, "Slave! Slave!"

  Karna, Shakuni, Duryodhan and others were all encouraging Duhshasan.

  More than danger, it is the apprehension of danger that frightens man. Once the danger is in front of you, I do not know from where the strength comes to face it, I do not know from where so much courage fills one.

  With hands folded I looked towards the elders. My tears were flowing incessantly. Casting aside shame, modesty, I enquired loudly, "My elders are present in this assembly. They are all wise and brave men of Aryavart endowed with noble qualities. In my condition is it not shameful to drag me by the hair into this crowded hall? All are silent? Will no one answer my question?"

  All were silent. A mild murmur arose and died down. Would any woman dare to demand an explanation of her elders with such firmness? No one could believe this.

  Shakuni said to karna, "The greatest offence a woman commits is to try to be learned. It is because she became wise and scholarly that her condition is thus! If she had grovelled at our feet and begged, perhaps she might have escaped such a gross insult. Just as knowledge and power enhance a man's attraction, similarly ignorance and helplessness increase the charm of a woman. However, Draupadi, strengthened by pride in her learning and wisdom, is like a burning tongue of flame. Can anyone have pity on her?"

  Again I said, "I do not beg for anyone's pity. I demand justice. To protect the honour of women is the dharma of a king. Then does it befit the Kuru kings to insult the bride of their own clan? I wish to know: has my husband got the right to stake me after he has already staked and lost his own self?"

  Even then everyone was silent. However, in a calm voice Bhishma said, "Immaculate one! One who is dependent does not have the right to stake someone else's wealth. But the wife is ever her husband's dependent. Therefore, whether, after having lost himself, Yudhishthir has the right to stake you or not, is genuinely a dilemma. I am unable to provide an answer. The way of dharma is extremely subtle. Explaining dharma is not an easy matter. Yudhishthir's very life is dharma. He is your husband. When he is silently bearing this insufferable insult against you and Bhim, Arjun, Nakul, Sahadev are ignoring it, remaining spectators in the hall, then what answer can I provide about dharma? Therefore, I do not feel like replying to your question."

  Hearing these cruel, cold words of Grandfather whatever little hope I had left was ground to the dust.

  Controlling my anger I said, "My husband, Yudhishthir, is not only the soul of dharma, he is also extremely simple and pure in nature. Taking advantage of his simplicity they have unjustly defeated him in the game. Only a king can play with another king. But deceiving Shakuni played for Duryodhan. In a dice-game one person cannot play for another. Even after knowing all this do the elders think that I have become a slave of the Kauravs?"

  The question faded away in the air. Duhshasan again pulled my hair, "Stop this nonsense, lovely one! Legal arguments do not suit beautiful women. Now if you do as we wish, it will be well for you."

  Helplessly I looked all around. All was blurred by my tears. I did not even feel like looking towards my five husbands. Seeing my helpless and pitiable condition, Bhim flared up in anger, "Nowhere in history will an instance be found of any man having staked his mistress, slave or even a prostitute to lose in a dice-game. When Yudhishthir staked us four brothers and lost, I remained silent. But I cannot forgive the crime of making our wife Draupadi the stake. For what offence will Draupadi suffer this insult? I wish to burn the hands that staked Draupadi and lost. Sahadev! Arrange for fire." It was not that Phalguni was not suffering for me. But in such a huge assembly how could he endorse the insult of his eldest brother? In a calm voice he said, "Bhim! Have you lost your senses? Yudhishthir is the eldest. He is like our father. In a game, victory and defeat do occur. What is the use of blaming anyone for that?"

  The assembly was wondering at Arjun's nobility but it stabbed me to the heart. I thought, "Well! What respect for tradition and culture! So much respect! Elders must not be spoken ill of ... Arjun is advising Bhim while petty persons are insulting and outraging his wife. He is bearing it all. Is this the evidence of the great Bharatan civilization and tradition? Is this the heritage of the Aryans?"

  A son of Dhritarashtra, Vikarna, taking my side said, "Devi Yajnaseni's question remains unanswered yet. In my opinion, Yajnaseni is not a dependent of the Kauravs. For Yajnaseni is not merely the wife of Yudhishthir. The other four brothers have equal rights over her. On the basis of what logic did he stake her? Further, did he retain the right to stake her after having lost himself? In my opinion, legally the Kauravs have not been able to win Draupadi."

  All of a sudden Karna grew impatient. He told Vikarna, "Have you forgotten the past? Is it not because of this very Yajnaseni that one day all princes were insulted and defeated? Why so much of sympathy today? The extent to which Yudhishthir
has rights over Draupadi, within that he did no wrong in staking her. Then if you feel that the insult of a woman is unjust and against dharma, has this woman not violated law and dharma? The condition of the svayamvar was piercing the target, that is manly prowess and ability. Why did questions of race, birth, history and family background arise there? Was that not unjust and devoid of dharma? If Phalguni was desired by her then what was the necessity of holding the mockery of the svayamvar? Why was the entire ruling class insulted? The final issue is that of a woman's chastity, modesty, shame, good character. Even the gods have prescribed one husband for a woman. But by accepting five husbands she has discarded her modesty, shame and womanhood. Moreover, she has profound intimacy with her husband's bosom sakha, Govind! I have heard that there is no earthly word by which that relationship can be described, that it is unearthly, heavenly. Therefore, the woman who, besides five husbands, is dear to yet another man, even to strip her naked in this assembly will not be committing any adharma, any injustice. For, we have won the entire kingdom, possessions, wealth of the Pandavs. They do not even have any rights over any clothes of theirs. First strip the five Pandavs, then arrange to honour Yajnaseni appropriately."

  Stunned, I kept listening. Discriminating, knowledgeable, noble, handsome, the dearest son of Kunti was raging about the ancient insult he had suffered! karna could utter such words! And for me? Whom he had desired at one time! Whom he worshipped in his heart? I placed my hands over my ears. Living was impossible.

  Suddenly Duhshasan stripped my husbands of their garments. Wearing only a single cloth each, they sat without ornaments, with heads bowed. Who was present there to feel sad or ashamed for them? Before my own pain and suffering and shame, all the grief of others appeared insignificant.

  Letting go of my hair Duhshasan began pulling at my garment. So this wicked person would actually translate into action the words of karna!

  Calling to the ten directions to witness, I said, "Since the beginning of time till today never has such a hellish, horrible thing happened, nor will it ever happen till the end of eternity. When Ravan was abducting chaste Sita, trees and plants, animals and birds — everyone shed tears. Even though born a bird, Jatayu opposed him and sacrificed his life. To rescue Sita, an army of bears and monkeys laid down their lives. But today, in the presence of elders, in the midst of the assembly, before everyone, the hellish scene of Draupadi's indescribable outrage went on being played, yet everyone remained silent, inert! Rather, everyone seemed to be waiting in anticipation for some thrilling scene of the drama. Alas! At one time comparing Dharmaraj Yudhishthir's personality to that of Ram I used to feel immensely glorified. For protecting the honour of chaste Sita how much sorrow and pain did Ram not undergo? He bore the profound anguish of raising the question of the test by fire to prove in public her chastity. While my husband having staked me and having handed me over to others is sitting there. A mute spectator, he is watching me being insulted. These wicked Kauravs are so much meaner and pettier than the demon Ravan. Ravan abducted Sita but did not rape her. Despite finding her alone he did not misbehave with her. Despite being moved by his perverted lust, he did not touch her body in the Ashok forest. He only kept begging her for love. That was natural. But here, wicked people, driven by perverted lust, are insulting the bride of the Bharat dynasty and stripping her body naked in the assembly-hall! Such a gross outrage on womanhood will never be wiped out in history. The descendants of this country will blame the Kuru king for this. This lawless, gross injustice and tyranny of the Kuru clan will demean the entire male sex for all time. It will outrage all the chaste women of the Bharat dynasty and the entire female sex on earth. For this insult there is no forgiveness, for this sin there is no expiation."

  After vomiting out this poison I was exhausted. I surrendered myself to Krishna. Pierced sharply by the arrows of my words, Duhshasan was roaring with excitement. He began pulling at the cloth round my waist. With both hands on my breast I was calling Krishna...

  "O Krishna Vasudev! You know my heart. In whichever end of the world you might be, can you not understand how your sakhi is being tormented by the wicked Kauravs? In the long history of the world its blackest and most hellish chapter is being written. Are you unaware of that? O beloved of the gopis, Govind! This insufferable shame and anguish never occurred in the life of any woman. God willing, may it not be repeated in the life of any woman. O Creator! You know that the primitive man used to roam the forests naked. Even then the naked body of one woman would not have been stared at by hundreds of men all at once with such horrible lust. Even then a woman had her independent status and honour. But today this outrage on queen Krishnaa has surpassed all the crimes in the three worlds. From this insufferable shame and danger only you can rescue me. Govind! Save me!"

  My lamentation was encouraging Duhshasan further. The more strongly he pulled at my cloth, with equal strength did I hold on to it with both hands. I kept trying with all my strength to cover my breast. Even after sinking up to one's nose, fools still keep depending on themselves so much! In his pride, how pitiable and oppressed does the condition of man become. I wanted to protect myself — but I was failing absolutely! Without total surrender of the self, God's compassion is not found. The moment this thought came to me, I forgot all shame, modesty, doubt. Leaving hold of that single cloth, I raised up both my hands. In anguish I cried, "Lord, I am not mine own. This body is not mine. Therefore, the whole responsibility of this body is yours. All is yours. Hurt, reproach, insult, shame, doubt, modesty, everything is yours. It is you who are the primal cause. I know nothing."

  And truly, I became free of all shame, hesitation, sorrow, reproach, pain. On leaving everything to Krishna, if one got so much happiness, peace and courage then why did he suffer so much getting his own self entangled in every matter? Could even I comprehend this? At that moment, regarding Krishna Vasudev as God instead of as sakha, I was standing free from doubt and fearless in the midst of danger. Earlier, I had never been able to be so fearless and free from doubt.

  Something was going on all around me. I was unable to know what was happening. I only saw the sudarshan discus spinning and through it Krishna's compassionate hand and from it layer after layer of cloth was covering me. Like holy water sanctified by mantras, grace was being showered on me. After that I did not know where all the sense of anguish and outrage within me disappeared.

  Duhshasan was going on pulling my cloth. Till he grew tired and exhausted, he went on pulling with both hands. The more he pulled, the more my body would get clothed with costly garments. Seeing this amazing sight the entire hall was stunned. Shouts of "Sati! Sati!" resounded in the hall. Tired, defeated, exhausted Duhshasan tripped and fell on the heap of garments. Noticing this laughable condition of his, Duryodhan's companions, Kutila, Jatila, Karna, Vasana, karna's companion, Asmita, were commenting wickedly. Even now Duryodhan, uncovering his thigh and slapping it, was making obscene gestures towards me, inviting me to sit there.

  Bhim's anger and excitement broke all barriers. He roared out, "Tearing apart wicked Duhshasan's chest I will drink his blood. Shattering that thigh of obscene Duryodhan I will appease the ancestors." I too vowed, "Till I wet my hair with the blood of Duhshasan's breast, I will leave it unbound thus."

  Just then Vidur stated gravely, "This vow of Bhim will be the cause of severe danger to the Kuru clan. Bhim is exceptionally dedicated in fulfilling his vows. Moreover, chaste Draupadi's vow is even more terrible. What was to happen is over. Now free Draupadi. Yudhishthir's staking Draupadi after having lost himself does not appear to be proper."

  Duryodhan laughed scornfully, "Then let the four Pandav brothers acknowledge that Yudhishthir is not their lord. I will free Draupadi." In a solemn voice Arjun said, "Before the dice game and during the dice game it is Yudhishthir who is our lord. But after having lost himself whose lord he can be, we do not know."

  Now Dhritarashtra opened his mouth. With affection he said, "Krishnaa! You are the first among the daughters-in-
law and the finest of all. Your chastity and devotion are honouring you today. You have revealed your greatness. I am extremely pleased with your dedication. What boon do you want? Speak!"

  I looked at Yudhishthir for the first time and said, "Free king Yudhishthir. At least my eldest son Prativindhya will not be called the son of a slave."

  "So be it", he said.

  Yudhishthir sat with head bowed, full of grief and shame.

  "Ask one more boon, Yajnaseni!"Dhritarashtra coaxed me.

  "The fathers of my four other sons be also made free. Their weapons be also returned," I said calmly.

  "So be it. But ask yet another boon."

  "Forgive me, sire! The scriptures sanction up to two boons for a kshatriya woman. My brave husbands are now free. So long as they can bear arms, there will be no need to ask for any boon for their happiness and prosperity."

  "But, auspicious one, you have not asked for your own freedom! I am asking you to take another boon. Then why hesitate?"

  Full of reproach and hurt I said, "My husbands are courageous. My absence will not prove any obstacle to their happiness and prosperity. Had it been so then Yudhishthir would not have staked me in the dice game. He has several other wives. He did not stake them. Therefore, I am free. They will look after my husbands' needs."By the time I finished speaking, my tears had begun to flow.

  Karna jested, "Well! What selfless devotion to husbands! Forgetting about herself, Yajnaseni, heroine of five husbands, is rescuing such valiant husbands as the Pandavs from the vast ocean! Perhaps she may not wish to return under the authorty of the Pandavs. So she has cleverly rejected the opportunity to ask for her own freedom."

  "Excellent! Karna, you are extremely wise. Draupadi's anguish her husbands could not understand, but you have. The gathering is enchanted by the supreme chastity of Draupadi. If she is unwilling to return to the Pandavs then she can accept the Kauravs before this assembly, or our friend, the best of warriors, generous-hearted Karna is present here," mocked Duhshasan.