Madhuvidya

Author(s): S D Laddu, T N Dharmadhikari, Madhvi Kolhatkar, Pratibha Pingle
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 452

DRAUPADI'S QUESTION
185
Duhśāsana was as if waiting for this opportunity. He immediately rushes to the quarters where Draupadi stays, and instead of simply conveying to her Duryodhana's message, he starts speaking indecently to her. He says: "Draupadi, we have won you. Come to the Hall and, throwing decorum to the winds, have a look at Duryodhana, kurün bhajasva (2. 60. 20)". Draupadi realizes there is no point in arguing with this man, so she hastens to the quarters where the women folk of the Kauravas lived. But Duḥsāsana restrains her by holding her flowing hair in his hand, and taking no note of her pitiful requests, ruthlessly drags her to the Assembly. Although she has made the issue of the assumption that she is a slave and although Duryodhana has admitted it, Duhsisana insults her by calling her time and again .dāsi'.
(7) Draupadi is now facing the elders in the Assembly. Duryodhana has got her there so that she may directly put her question to the Assembly, and know her fate. But even before she formally puts the question to the elders, Bhişma assumes she has already done so, and begins his reply :
"Draupadi, I am unable to give a decisive answer to your question since the law is subtle. On the one hand, the rules of the game of dice say that one who has been deprived of all his property in the game is not entitled to stake any other property not belonging to him. Since Yudhisthira has lost himself first, Draupadi no longer belongs to him, hence ho cannot stake her. On the other hand, a wife is always dependent on her husband, hence he can stake her. Since I am caught on the horns of the dilemma I cannot decide your case. Moreover, Yudhişthira did not say that there was any deception in the play. (If he did, we could cancel the game and nullify its effect.")
(8) Draupadi might have pinned high hopes on Bhişma. But when he disappoints her, she puts her question to the other Kauravas present in the Assembly.
When no one opens his mouth, Vikarņa, Duryodhana's younger brother, exhorts the assembly members to give their impartial judgement. When his persistent pleas fall on deaf ears, he declares: “Whether you speak out or not, I am now going to say what in my opinion is just. And I declare that Draupadi has not been won (manye na vijitam imam 2.61.24). My opinion is based on the following grounds :
(1) Ground No. 1: (i) Four addictions are listed as peculiar to a king, and gambling is one of them';
(ii) When one is under the influence of an addiction, one takes to an unlawful course ;
(iii) When Yudhişthira staked Draupadi he had lost control of himself ;
| The other three being drinking, women, and hunting.
Madhu Vidyā/427