The Mahabharata is the longest epic in Indian literature as well as world literature. Besides the narrative of the Kurukshetra War and the fates of the Kauravas and the pandavas,the Mahabharata contains much philosophical and devotional materials. Draupadi is the heroine of the epic. She is the wife of the five pandava princes in the epic. Arjuna won her at the archery competition; but because of supposed misunderstanding among the five brothers and their mother,she eventually became the wife of all five pandavas.

In Hindu mythology, few women stand out as much as the character of Draupadi. She is an unpredictable and unwavering woman who possesses the austerity of a traditional Hindu wife. Many see Draupadi  as an early feminist because of her fearlessness in admonishing those who harmed her or her family. Draupadi existed in a time when a women's role was to serve her husband.

Draupadi is the woman with her own opinion, and not the one to follow her husbands authority timidly. She speaks for herself. She is conscious about her rights and doesn't falter to point a finger when she sees them violated. She protected when Yudhishtira staked and lost her at the dice game ,while being disrobed by Dussasana and insulted by Duryodhana and Karna,and when all the elders of Hastinapura ramained silent.

The unique relationship between Draupadi and her husbands is what makes her story so exceptional. Draupadi, the wife of the mighty pandava brothers was not a conventional wife,she was smart,bold and would often lead her husbands into action. She ,with her vivacity, challenged the conventional patriarchy.

Draupadi was a very charming woman. There were few women that could compete with the beauty of Draupadi ;all those that met her adored her. Her beauty was so great that she delighted all of the human senses. When Sakuni won her at the dice game ,even Dhritarashtra could not hide his excitement; although he hasn't even seen her. Duryodhana ,Karna and Dussasna always had a lustful eye on her. Draupadi's beauty would gain her much attention, but it is her ability to balance her beauty with the desirable traits of a wife that gain her such devotion.

Her opinions were well respected and supported by her family due to her vast knowledge of many subjects. Unlike many would in her era ,Draupadi was well educated.  Having such a complete education would have given Draupadi a sense of confidence unfamiliar to most women.Her intellect and knowledge did not however hinder her ability to be a dutiful wife. Draupadi was a devoted wife,chaste ,religious minded and adhering  to duty. Her integrity and fidelity were admirable. She was always careful to please her husbands. She was concerned with the common good of all her family and believed that a family functioned best as a whole unit . Draupadi was so devoted to her husbands that she followed them into exile and a life without lavishes 

Draupadi's husbands were the five of the best men of the generation, in terms of glamour, might and handsomeness ;and apart from the incident at the dice game they did their best to protect her. They honoured her and were eager to make her happy. Of course, the relationships she shared with them were not identical; each was special in their own way . She looked up to yudhishtira as somewhat of a naive elderly person;whom she censured often for his ultra righteous notions and for being the root cause of their travails at the wilderness but also loved and respected in a sympathetic manner. Nakula and sahadeva were like young ones of the family needed to be taken care of,and to be sheltered from the adversities of life. Bhima and Arjuna had more important roles . Arjuna was the one who had won her through a competition of the utmost skills of archery, and either for that reason or simply because of his fascinating personality she had a pronounced preference for him. 

Draupadi possessed the desirable traits of many women, and was able to use these traits to influence and control.Draupadi had a great understanding of the balance between being bold and forthright, and being submissive and dutiful. She was fully aware of her identity and never hesitated to remind her husbands that they were the cause of her miseries.And yet she didn't abandon them;and yet she accompanied them during their exile at the forests for 12 years . And when Dhritarashtra wanted to grant her a wish in order to appease her after her insult she asked for the freedom of her husbands; the same husbands who had gambled her away as a mere wealth item moments ago.

Draupadi was dragged into court after yudhistira had lost her in a bet to the Kauravas ,along with all of his wealth and kingdom. Dusssasana,one of the Kaurava brothers, attempts to strip off Draupadi's sari. However ,Draupadi prays to Krishna  whose miracle prevents her sari from running out of layers. Draupadi is humiliated by this and is angered by the pandavas' inability or reluctance to help her. It is her reaction to this abhorrence that we see Draupadi's bravery,as she reprimands those around her in the court . Draupadi had presence of mind and fearlessness even during calamities. She could rebuke and threaten the kauravas, and was bold enough to argue with the members of the assembly. It is Draupadi's reaction to situations like these that set her apart from her husbands; she is often the first to react to any injustices and is a visibly powerful figure often controlling the pandavas

Draupadi is Possessed of ready wit and a clever tongue. Her ability at debate is soon demonstrated when we see that her wit has saved her husbands from impending slavery. The pandavas are inclined to listen to her and frequently rely upon her for decision making.

Draupadi is practical and argumentative. But she is emotional too. She is a woman with human emotions and feelings like anger,love,hate,happiness and grief .Her  life was full of ups and downs and she maintained her dignity in every situation. It is Draupadi's ability to adversity in a venerable manner that sets her apart from other women.

After the incident at the court of the kauravas,Draupadi emerges as a much more powerful character and this is seen in the interactions with her husbands. Draupadi was not a dumb follower of her husbands. She had her own individuality. Though soft speaking, she used harsh words to her husbands and others when necessary.

Draupadi was in many ways equal to her husbands and they desired her respect . Despite the fact that Draupadi eventually forgives her husbands, she is left with a desire for vengeance, and is quick to seek revenge on those who offend her or her family. Although Draupadi was desperate for revange on those who harmed her ,her distinction between right and wrong was rarely clouded and she was often in pursuit of justice. Her moral strength has made her get rid of humiliation by the kauravas. She was saved by the divine intervention due to her moral trait. She is grateful to Krishna, the saviour.

Draupadi's distinction among other women is paramount and well deserved; she was far ahead of her time. It is her ability to use her position with responsibility and insight that show her true power as a woman.Draupadi's fearlessness and uncompromising nature make her of great importance in the history of world literature.

Give a Character Sketch of Draupadi

Green Land | June 15, 2018 | 1comments

The Mahabharata is the longest epic in Indian literature as well as world literature. Besides the narrative of the Kurukshetra War and the fates of the Kauravas and the pandavas,the Mahabharata contains much philosophical and devotional materials. Draupadi is the heroine of the epic. She is the wife of the five pandava princes in the epic. Arjuna won her at the archery competition; but because of supposed misunderstanding among the five brothers and their mother,she eventually became the wife of all five pandavas.

In Hindu mythology, few women stand out as much as the character of Draupadi. She is an unpredictable and unwavering woman who possesses the austerity of a traditional Hindu wife. Many see Draupadi  as an early feminist because of her fearlessness in admonishing those who harmed her or her family. Draupadi existed in a time when a women's role was to serve her husband.

Draupadi is the woman with her own opinion, and not the one to follow her husbands authority timidly. She speaks for herself. She is conscious about her rights and doesn't falter to point a finger when she sees them violated. She protected when Yudhishtira staked and lost her at the dice game ,while being disrobed by Dussasana and insulted by Duryodhana and Karna,and when all the elders of Hastinapura ramained silent.

The unique relationship between Draupadi and her husbands is what makes her story so exceptional. Draupadi, the wife of the mighty pandava brothers was not a conventional wife,she was smart,bold and would often lead her husbands into action. She ,with her vivacity, challenged the conventional patriarchy.

Draupadi was a very charming woman. There were few women that could compete with the beauty of Draupadi ;all those that met her adored her. Her beauty was so great that she delighted all of the human senses. When Sakuni won her at the dice game ,even Dhritarashtra could not hide his excitement; although he hasn't even seen her. Duryodhana ,Karna and Dussasna always had a lustful eye on her. Draupadi's beauty would gain her much attention, but it is her ability to balance her beauty with the desirable traits of a wife that gain her such devotion.

Her opinions were well respected and supported by her family due to her vast knowledge of many subjects. Unlike many would in her era ,Draupadi was well educated.  Having such a complete education would have given Draupadi a sense of confidence unfamiliar to most women.Her intellect and knowledge did not however hinder her ability to be a dutiful wife. Draupadi was a devoted wife,chaste ,religious minded and adhering  to duty. Her integrity and fidelity were admirable. She was always careful to please her husbands. She was concerned with the common good of all her family and believed that a family functioned best as a whole unit . Draupadi was so devoted to her husbands that she followed them into exile and a life without lavishes 

Draupadi's husbands were the five of the best men of the generation, in terms of glamour, might and handsomeness ;and apart from the incident at the dice game they did their best to protect her. They honoured her and were eager to make her happy. Of course, the relationships she shared with them were not identical; each was special in their own way . She looked up to yudhishtira as somewhat of a naive elderly person;whom she censured often for his ultra righteous notions and for being the root cause of their travails at the wilderness but also loved and respected in a sympathetic manner. Nakula and sahadeva were like young ones of the family needed to be taken care of,and to be sheltered from the adversities of life. Bhima and Arjuna had more important roles . Arjuna was the one who had won her through a competition of the utmost skills of archery, and either for that reason or simply because of his fascinating personality she had a pronounced preference for him. 

Draupadi possessed the desirable traits of many women, and was able to use these traits to influence and control.Draupadi had a great understanding of the balance between being bold and forthright, and being submissive and dutiful. She was fully aware of her identity and never hesitated to remind her husbands that they were the cause of her miseries.And yet she didn't abandon them;and yet she accompanied them during their exile at the forests for 12 years . And when Dhritarashtra wanted to grant her a wish in order to appease her after her insult she asked for the freedom of her husbands; the same husbands who had gambled her away as a mere wealth item moments ago.

Draupadi was dragged into court after yudhistira had lost her in a bet to the Kauravas ,along with all of his wealth and kingdom. Dusssasana,one of the Kaurava brothers, attempts to strip off Draupadi's sari. However ,Draupadi prays to Krishna  whose miracle prevents her sari from running out of layers. Draupadi is humiliated by this and is angered by the pandavas' inability or reluctance to help her. It is her reaction to this abhorrence that we see Draupadi's bravery,as she reprimands those around her in the court . Draupadi had presence of mind and fearlessness even during calamities. She could rebuke and threaten the kauravas, and was bold enough to argue with the members of the assembly. It is Draupadi's reaction to situations like these that set her apart from her husbands; she is often the first to react to any injustices and is a visibly powerful figure often controlling the pandavas

Draupadi is Possessed of ready wit and a clever tongue. Her ability at debate is soon demonstrated when we see that her wit has saved her husbands from impending slavery. The pandavas are inclined to listen to her and frequently rely upon her for decision making.

Draupadi is practical and argumentative. But she is emotional too. She is a woman with human emotions and feelings like anger,love,hate,happiness and grief .Her  life was full of ups and downs and she maintained her dignity in every situation. It is Draupadi's ability to adversity in a venerable manner that sets her apart from other women.

After the incident at the court of the kauravas,Draupadi emerges as a much more powerful character and this is seen in the interactions with her husbands. Draupadi was not a dumb follower of her husbands. She had her own individuality. Though soft speaking, she used harsh words to her husbands and others when necessary.

Draupadi was in many ways equal to her husbands and they desired her respect . Despite the fact that Draupadi eventually forgives her husbands, she is left with a desire for vengeance, and is quick to seek revenge on those who offend her or her family. Although Draupadi was desperate for revange on those who harmed her ,her distinction between right and wrong was rarely clouded and she was often in pursuit of justice. Her moral strength has made her get rid of humiliation by the kauravas. She was saved by the divine intervention due to her moral trait. She is grateful to Krishna, the saviour.

Draupadi's distinction among other women is paramount and well deserved; she was far ahead of her time. It is her ability to use her position with responsibility and insight that show her true power as a woman.Draupadi's fearlessness and uncompromising nature make her of great importance in the history of world literature.

South Asian Classics , Veda Vyasa:The Mahabharata

Discuss the significance of the game of dice in the Mahabharata

The Mahabharata, the longest Sanskrit epic, is a story of two sets of paternal first cousins who became bitter rivals with each other. The epic revolves around the struggle for the throne of Hastinapura. The two collateral branches of the family that participate in the struggle are the Kauravas and the Pandavas. The Kauravas were collectively a hundred sons of the blind king Dhritarashtra and the Pandavas were the five sons of Pandu. The five brothers named Yudhistira(eldest son), Arjuna, Bhima, Nakula, and Sahadeva were always obedient and dutiful. Draupadi was the common wife of the five Pandavas. The Kauravas behaved viciously and brutally toward the Pandavas in many ways. Their malice displayed itself when they took advantage of the eldest Pandava, Yudhistira in a game of dice.

Living in the new territory of Indraprastha, Yudhistira turns his poor land into a wealthy kingdom and declares himself King of Kings. Duryodhana, the eldest of the Kauravas, is jealous and humiliated on his visit to the magnificent palace. He mistakes a glass floor for a pool, then later falls into a pool thinking it is glass. Draupadi and Bhima laugh at him. He returns home bent on devising their destruction.

game of dice

Game of dice

Duryodhana follows the advice of his uncle, the cunning Sakuni, an infamous dice player, and invites Yudhistira to a game of dice. They know well that gambling is Yudhistira's one weakness. Vidura is sent to invite the Pandavas to visit Hastinapura and play a dice game there. Yudhistira accepts the invitation. Both Dhritharashtra and Yudhistira ignore Vidura's warning to avoid the game which may result in a destructive consequence. Sakuni was confident that he could defeat Yudhistira easily and thus Duryodhana could fulfill his ill -motive of outdoing the Pandavas.

Before the dicing, a lot of discussions were there, but Yudhistira is obliged to play. But Sakuni comes in to play for Duryodhana. During the dicing event, Yudhishtira stakes his wealth, Jewelry, Indraprastha, and the belongings of his brothers one by one and loses them one by one. Sakuni mocks and provokes Yudhistira at each stage and demands to stake. He thus loses his brothers Nakula and Sahadeva. The Sakuni mocks him that at best those are the stepbrothers he lost, but Arjuna and Bhima are not so and he won't bet them. This forces Yudhistira to stake Arjuna, and hid liberty at the stake as demanded by Sakuni.

At this moment of his complete defeat including himself, Yudhistira is again mocked to stake Draupadi. Yudhistira stakes Draupadi and loses her also. There were strong reactions from the assembly when Yudhistira staked her. Draupadi questions the legality of staking her when she was forced and dragged in front of the assembly. There were favoring reactions to her questions. Interestingly, Vikarna, a younger brother of Duryodhana, reacts in support of Draupadi. He says courageously that Yudhistara is enticed to play the game deeply plotted by Duryodhana and Sakuni. And that a lost Yudhistira has not the right to stake Draupadi. The assembly supported him. But Karna silenced him,b by saying that he is too young before the others in that hall.

Duryodhana in the open court chides Druapadi and invites her to sit on his thigh, patting and baring his thigh. He orders Dussasana to disrobe her in front of the court. Dussasana begins to execute the act. But Draupadi cannot be bared. She is endowed with the divine grace of being in a new dress to whatever extent the clothes are pulled by Dussasana. The strong Dussasana fails and becomes exhausted. The Assembly stands stunned at the miracle. Bhima sends shivering signals by an oath that he will tear open the Dussasana's heart and drink the blood of him, and he shall break the thigh of the Duryodhana on which Draupadi was tauntingly invited to sit. The invincible Draupadi by the divine blessing made Dhritarashtra still more afraid of the Pandavas. He asks the pardon of Draupadi and releases all that was worn on the dicing events.

Of course, dissatisfied at Dhritarashtra's act Sakuni and Duryodhana once again plead before Dhritarashtra for another dice game with Yudhistira. In the second spell of the dicing event, Yudhistira is again defeated and is forced to go into exile for 12 years. The condition is that they should live in forests and pass the 13th year in disguise without being identified by anybody. If they are identified by anybody during the period of disguise, they should repeat 12 years of exile in the forest and the 13th year in disguise.

Thus losers in the deceitful act of gambling, and insulted by Kauravas, the Pandavas started their exile in the forest. Vidura told Yudhistira to allow their mother Kunthi to stay back as she was old and weak. Yudhistira agreed. Draupadi, however, accompanied her husband to the forest. Duryodhana became the de facto ruler of both Hastinapura and Indraprastha.

The Pandavas are not alone in the forest but are followed by many loyal Brahmons and servants. The gods give them an inexhaustible supply of food for all of them. The Pandavas reached Kamyak forest and decided to rest there for a while. Krishna came to help them. After inquiring about their well-being, he advised Pandavas to be vigilant and not to lose heart. The ordeal they had to face was for their good. Good and bad experiences are essential to get the correct perspective and fulfillment in life. Suffering and sorrow bring a requisite feeling of renunciation essential to seek higher goals in life.

The future of the Pandavas was determined by the game of dice. They had to undergo plight and suffering due to their defeat in the game. Yudhistira's temptation brought about that unexpected consequence. His wife Draupadi and his younger brothers fell victim to the horrible experience. The tragic fact of the Kauravas was another consequence of the dice game.

Gambling is an immortal action. It most often favors the evils. The gamblers do not hesitate to adopt unfair means to win the game anyhow. A man with morality is likely to get defeated in gambling. The ultimate result of the game of dice is the bloody battle between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. The war of Kurukshetra fought between them brings about the ultimate downfall of the Kauravas. The victory of the Pandavas symbolizes the victory of the victor over evil.

Discuss the significance of the game of dice in the Mahabharata

Green Land | May 20, 2018 | 3comments

The Mahabharata, the longest Sanskrit epic, is a story of two sets of paternal first cousins who became bitter rivals with each other. The epic revolves around the struggle for the throne of Hastinapura. The two collateral branches of the family that participate in the struggle are the Kauravas and the Pandavas. The Kauravas were collectively a hundred sons of the blind king Dhritarashtra and the Pandavas were the five sons of Pandu. The five brothers named Yudhistira(eldest son), Arjuna, Bhima, Nakula, and Sahadeva were always obedient and dutiful. Draupadi was the common wife of the five Pandavas. The Kauravas behaved viciously and brutally toward the Pandavas in many ways. Their malice displayed itself when they took advantage of the eldest Pandava, Yudhistira in a game of dice.

Living in the new territory of Indraprastha, Yudhistira turns his poor land into a wealthy kingdom and declares himself King of Kings. Duryodhana, the eldest of the Kauravas, is jealous and humiliated on his visit to the magnificent palace. He mistakes a glass floor for a pool, then later falls into a pool thinking it is glass. Draupadi and Bhima laugh at him. He returns home bent on devising their destruction.

game of dice

Game of dice

Duryodhana follows the advice of his uncle, the cunning Sakuni, an infamous dice player, and invites Yudhistira to a game of dice. They know well that gambling is Yudhistira's one weakness. Vidura is sent to invite the Pandavas to visit Hastinapura and play a dice game there. Yudhistira accepts the invitation. Both Dhritharashtra and Yudhistira ignore Vidura's warning to avoid the game which may result in a destructive consequence. Sakuni was confident that he could defeat Yudhistira easily and thus Duryodhana could fulfill his ill -motive of outdoing the Pandavas.

Before the dicing, a lot of discussions were there, but Yudhistira is obliged to play. But Sakuni comes in to play for Duryodhana. During the dicing event, Yudhishtira stakes his wealth, Jewelry, Indraprastha, and the belongings of his brothers one by one and loses them one by one. Sakuni mocks and provokes Yudhistira at each stage and demands to stake. He thus loses his brothers Nakula and Sahadeva. The Sakuni mocks him that at best those are the stepbrothers he lost, but Arjuna and Bhima are not so and he won't bet them. This forces Yudhistira to stake Arjuna, and hid liberty at the stake as demanded by Sakuni.

At this moment of his complete defeat including himself, Yudhistira is again mocked to stake Draupadi. Yudhistira stakes Draupadi and loses her also. There were strong reactions from the assembly when Yudhistira staked her. Draupadi questions the legality of staking her when she was forced and dragged in front of the assembly. There were favoring reactions to her questions. Interestingly, Vikarna, a younger brother of Duryodhana, reacts in support of Draupadi. He says courageously that Yudhistara is enticed to play the game deeply plotted by Duryodhana and Sakuni. And that a lost Yudhistira has not the right to stake Draupadi. The assembly supported him. But Karna silenced him,b by saying that he is too young before the others in that hall.

Duryodhana in the open court chides Druapadi and invites her to sit on his thigh, patting and baring his thigh. He orders Dussasana to disrobe her in front of the court. Dussasana begins to execute the act. But Draupadi cannot be bared. She is endowed with the divine grace of being in a new dress to whatever extent the clothes are pulled by Dussasana. The strong Dussasana fails and becomes exhausted. The Assembly stands stunned at the miracle. Bhima sends shivering signals by an oath that he will tear open the Dussasana's heart and drink the blood of him, and he shall break the thigh of the Duryodhana on which Draupadi was tauntingly invited to sit. The invincible Draupadi by the divine blessing made Dhritarashtra still more afraid of the Pandavas. He asks the pardon of Draupadi and releases all that was worn on the dicing events.

Of course, dissatisfied at Dhritarashtra's act Sakuni and Duryodhana once again plead before Dhritarashtra for another dice game with Yudhistira. In the second spell of the dicing event, Yudhistira is again defeated and is forced to go into exile for 12 years. The condition is that they should live in forests and pass the 13th year in disguise without being identified by anybody. If they are identified by anybody during the period of disguise, they should repeat 12 years of exile in the forest and the 13th year in disguise.

Thus losers in the deceitful act of gambling, and insulted by Kauravas, the Pandavas started their exile in the forest. Vidura told Yudhistira to allow their mother Kunthi to stay back as she was old and weak. Yudhistira agreed. Draupadi, however, accompanied her husband to the forest. Duryodhana became the de facto ruler of both Hastinapura and Indraprastha.

The Pandavas are not alone in the forest but are followed by many loyal Brahmons and servants. The gods give them an inexhaustible supply of food for all of them. The Pandavas reached Kamyak forest and decided to rest there for a while. Krishna came to help them. After inquiring about their well-being, he advised Pandavas to be vigilant and not to lose heart. The ordeal they had to face was for their good. Good and bad experiences are essential to get the correct perspective and fulfillment in life. Suffering and sorrow bring a requisite feeling of renunciation essential to seek higher goals in life.

The future of the Pandavas was determined by the game of dice. They had to undergo plight and suffering due to their defeat in the game. Yudhistira's temptation brought about that unexpected consequence. His wife Draupadi and his younger brothers fell victim to the horrible experience. The tragic fact of the Kauravas was another consequence of the dice game.

Gambling is an immortal action. It most often favors the evils. The gamblers do not hesitate to adopt unfair means to win the game anyhow. A man with morality is likely to get defeated in gambling. The ultimate result of the game of dice is the bloody battle between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. The war of Kurukshetra fought between them brings about the ultimate downfall of the Kauravas. The victory of the Pandavas symbolizes the victory of the victor over evil.

South Asian Classics , Veda Vyasa:The Mahabharata