Madhuvidya

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

Page 545

170
Annals BORI, LXXVIII (1997)
5. Attempt at reconciliation
B.tore Krsna left for Hastinapura to make a final attempt to avoid war, Draupadi showed her hair to him and asked him not to forget them while negotiating with the Kauravas. Draupadi's hair at that time were delightful to look at, very dark, having the lustre of a cobra, curly at ends, scented with fragrant substances, possessed of all good marks, but first of all, loosely braided (mydusamhäram vrjināgram sudartanam sunilam punyagandha dhiväsitam sarvalakṣaṇasam pannam mahabhujagavarcasam | kesapakşam15 5. 80. 33-34). Referring to this incident H. says that in these words of Draupadi, the epic comes closest to her popular vow (not to braid her loose hair until they were smeared with Duḥsasana's (or Duryodhana's) blood (p. 200).
The truth of the matter, however, is that this description of Draupadi's hair is clear evidence to disprove H.'s contention that Draupadi wore her hair loose and did not take care of them for over thirteen years.
As for their being loose the epithet mṛdusamhäram gathered loosely together (in a vent form) goes against H. Hence he disagrees with Nilakantha's correct explanation venirupena samhṛtam api mydum. He, on his part, feels satisfied with the rendering softly gathered back' and considers it reasonably neutral' (p. 200, f. n. 71 end). But why should one try to be neutral when the Mbh. epithet is unambiguous ?1
H. has considered the difficulty presented to him by mrdusaṁhāram at least in a footnote. But he takes no note of the other epithets of Draupadi's hair which show that Draupad] did not have them dirty and dishevelled for a long peried.
Conclusion Between the Ajñātavāsa and the start of the battle Draupadi dit not wear her hair loose.
6. End of the battle
After the battle, Yudhişthira was grieved over the great loss of life, including that of Karna. All try to revive his spirits. When Bhima speaks
15 The word paksa added to kesa does not reveal whether the hair are tied up or loose. It signifies only their collection (pasaḥ pakṣas ca hastas ca kalaparthaḥ kacat pare / Amarakosa 2. 6.98, comm. kalapärthaḥ kesasamuhavācinaḥ ity arthaḥ).
16 A veni may be tied up tight or loose as desired.
17 H. himself renders samhara "binding up" when it occurs in the title of the drama Venisamhara (p. 179). In the context of the word samhara as in mṛdusamhāram, which is said about Draupadi's hair, the word veni, though not expressed can be easily assumed.
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