An Index to the Names in the Mahabharata, with Short Explanations and a Concordance to the Bombay and Calcutta Editions and P. C. Roy's Translation c5.s3.551
An Index to the Names in the Mahābhārata, with Short Explanations and a Concordance to the Bombay and Calcutta Editions and P. C. Roy's Translation c5.s3.551
- Language
- English
c5.s3.551.1
Vidura complained of the ingratitude of kings and their fondness of flattery (II, 64). Yudhishthira lost his wealth, kine, horses, goats, and sheep, "from Parnada to the eastern bank of the Sindhu," his city, country, lands, and the wealth of all dwelling therein, except that of the brahmans, and all those persons themselves except the brahmans, the ear-rings and nishkas and other ornaments of the princes who were present, then Nakula, Sahadeva, Arjuna, Bhima, himself, and Draupadi; now Bhishma, Drona, Krpa, Vidura, etc., all gave way to grief, but Dhrtarashtra, Karna, Duhsasana, etc., were glad (II, 65).—§ 299: Duryodhana ordered Kshattr (i.e. Vidura) to bring better Draupadi to sweep the chambers and stay with the servant maids; Vidura declared that having lost himself, Yudhishthira could not lawfully stake Draupadi, and said: "A goat had once swallowed a knife, and when it was pierced by it the huoter placed the head of the animal on the ground, and when drawing the knife out he tore its throat frightfully; therefore do not swallow the wealth of the Pandavas" (II, 66). Then Duryodhana ordered the prati-tikamin (a suta) to bring Draupadi; she ordered him to ask Yudhishthira whether he had lost himself or her first; as Yudhishthira said nothing, Duryodhana ordered that Draupadi should come and put her question in the assembly; she sent the suta back to the assembly saying that she would do what aged and virtuous persons would tell her; all sat without uttering a word;
c5.s3.551.2
but Yudhishthira sent a trusted messenger to Draupadi, directing that, although in consequence of her season having come she was attired in one piece of cloth only, she should come before her father-in-law weeping bitterly. Duryodhana again ordered the pratikamin to bring her, and as he seemed irresolute, he asked Duhsasana to do so. As she would flee to the ladies' household, Duhsasana dragged her in by her hair, while she was praying to Krishna and Jishnu (i.e. Arjuna), who were Narayana and Nara, and blaming Drona, Bhishma, Vidura, etc., for locking silently on this crime. As she was casting a glance upon her enraged lords, Duhsasana, dragging her still more forcibly, addressed her, "Slave! slave!" and laughed aloud, applauded by Karna, Cakuni, and Duryodhana, while all the others were filled with sorrow. Bhishma declared himself to be unable to decide the question she had put. As she then asked the others present to decide it, Duhsasana spoke many harsh words, and Bhima, looking at Yudhishthira, gave way to wrath (II, 67). Bhima blamed Yudhishthira, and ordered Sahadeva to bring fire, as he wanted to burn the hands of Yudhishthira, but Arjuna appeased him. Vikarna repeatedly appealed to those present to decide the question, and as they did not say one word, he declared that as Yudhishthira must be regarded as of no authority, because he had shown himself addicted to the vice of gambling, etc., he regarded Draupadi as not won.
c5.s3.551.3
All applauded him, except Karna, who maintained that she had been justly won, and as, contrary to the ordinance of the gods that a woman should have only one husband, she had five husbands, there was no impropriety in dragging her to the assembly, and even to uncover her. Karna then asked Duhsasana to take off the robes of the Pandavas and the attiro of Draupadi. The Pandavas took off their upper garments, and Duhsasana began to drag off the attire of Draupadi. But as she thought of and cried to Hari (i.e. Krishna), Dharma continually covered her anew with excellent clothes. Bhima swore that he would drink the blood of Duhsasana. All blamed Duhsasana and Dhrtarashtra. Vidura exhorted the assembly to answer the question put by Draupadi, and related the dialogue of Prahlada (q.v.) and Angirasa (i.e. Sudhanvan) (§ 300).—§ 300: v. Prahlada.—§ 301: The kings answered not a word, and Karna told Duhsasana to take away the slave-woman Krishna to the inner apartments (II, 68). Dragged by Duhsasana, Draupadi saluted the assembly, complained of being exposed to the gaze of the crowd, and again asked them to answer her question. Bhishma again declared himself unable to decide it, but thought Yudhishthira ought to decide it (II, 69).
c5.s3.551.4
Duryodhana said to Draupadi: "Let thy husbands decide the question, and, by making Yudhishthira the just a liar, free thee from slavery." Bhima said that only his obedience to Yudhishthira and the admonitions of Arjuna retained him from killing the wretched sons of Dhrtarashtra. Bhishma, Drona, and Vidura asked him to forbear (II, 70). Exhorted Draupadi to choose a new husband among the sons of Dhrtarashtra, and Duryodhana, after having exhorted Yudhishthira to decide the question, uncovered his left thigh and showed it to Draupadi. Bhishma swore that he would break this thigh of his. Vidura warned them, and was of opinion that Yudhishthira had no right to stake her. Duryodhana said that if Bhima, Arjuna, and the twins declared that Yudhishthira had not their master, then Draupadi should be free. Arjuna said that he was certainly their master before the play, "but having lost himself, let all the Kauravas judge whose master he could be after that." Just then a jackal began to cry near the agnihotra of Dhrtarashtra, and other terrible omens were heard. On that account Gandhari and Vidura remonstrated with Dhrtarashtra, who blamed Duryodhana and granted a boon to Krishna. She chose that Yudhishthira should become free from slavery. As she was granted a second boon, she asked that Bhima and his brothers with their chariots and bows should regain their liberty. She refused to ask a third boon (II, 71). Karna praised Draupadi for having saved her husbands.
c5.s3.551.5
Bhima threatened to slay all his foes instantly, but was retained by Arjuna and Yudhishthira (II, 72). Dhrtarashtra sent Yudhishthira with his brothers and Krishna upon their chariots to Indraprastha, having asked him not to remember the harshness of Duryodhana (II, 73).