Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c11.69

v2.c11.69

If we are reminded by this haughty strong man, fighting in the service of his lady-love against giants and spirits, and fetching her the golden flower, of a lover from knighthood’s days, so he, too, shows knightly feelings towards Draupadī. It is he only of the brothers that is aroused by the shame put on the proud princess of Pañcāla by that disastrous game of dice, and so deeply aroused that he angrily reproaches his eldest brother, when this brother has played away his wife. That Yudhishṭhira has wagered and lost all their possessions, and then the four brothers themselves, he is quite willing to forgive; for he is their lord. “This it is I hold for a sin, that Draupadī was made a stake; for this youthful woman, who has been given the Pāṇḍavas, is through thy fault tormented by the low, cruel, rough Kauravas. Gambling ruffians have evil wives in their homes, O Yudhishṭhira, but for them they do not play; for they feel a loving sympathy even for them.” And since he cannot pour his anger out on the hallowed head of his eldest brother, he is minded to burn his own arms in the fire, before Yudhishṭhira’s eyes—a truly Indian way of revenge and branding (ii, 68.1 ff.).¹ In full sight of the brothers Duḥśāsana drags the but partly clad woman into the hall before all the men, and tears her clothing off her; but Bhīma blazes up, and with quivering lips and hand pressed against hand swears for this to drink the blood from the shameless man’s breast (ii, 68.50 ff.). And when Duryodhana shows her his bare thigh, flames of fire come out of every opening in the body of the giant Bhīma mighty in anger, as from the hollows of a burning tree,² and he swears by all his bliss to shatter with his club, in the fight, the insolent one’s thigh (ii, 71.13 ff.). And both these dread deeds he carries out afterwards.³ But he can never forget what has been done to Draupadī, and his soul is filled with pity for her that she must bear so heavy a burden (cp. too iii, 312.2 ; vii, 79.4; xi, 15.6–9 ; xii, 16.18, 21, 28 ; xv, 11.21 ; etc.). Afterwards all her sons fall at the hand of the foe, and in her agony she falls to the ground. Bhīma clasps her in his arms, lifts her up, and utters consoling, loving words to her. It is he then who takes on himself the charge from his mother, burning for expiation, to take revenge on the murderer of the five (x, 11.8, 9, 20 ff.). He also takes wrathful vengeance on King Jayadratha, when the latter has carried off Draupadī (iii, 264-272.24, especially 272.7 ff.). He alone, too, steps into the lists on her behalf, when the Lothario and royal favourite, Kīcaka at Virāṭa's court tries to rob her of her honour, a truly captivating chapter, inviting us to a more particular examination (iv, 14-24).