Draupadi Vastraharan Katha – Chapter 2: Draupadi's Plea and Dushasana's Disgrace

Draupadi's Cry and Dushasana's Humiliation

The magnificent aura of Indraprastha, described in the previous chapter, had now been lost on the chessboard of gambling. Dharmaraj Yudhishthira had lost all his possessions, his capital, his brothers, and finally, himself. The most terrible thing was that in anger and ego, he had also staked Draupadi. Now, Draupadi had to bear the consequence of that stake, which was to be written as a dark chapter in the history of Aryabhumi.

Dushasana Towards the Assembly

Silence prevailed in the royal assembly. The news of Yudhishthira's loss had stunned everyone. The atmosphere became even more dreadful with Karna's sharp taunts and Duryodhana's roaring laughter. King Dhritarashtra, despite being blind, was happy with his son's victory, but deep down, he also had a premonition. Duryodhana immediately ordered Dushasana, "Go, bring Draupadi to the assembly! Tell her that she is now our slave!"

Dushasana, Duryodhana's obedient and hateful brother, immediately got up and walked towards the inner chambers. His face was a mixture of lust and anger. He was eager to humiliate Draupadi. "I will show this proud wife of the Pandavas who are the slaves of the princes of Hastinapur!", he thought to himself. By making Draupadi a slave, he wanted to completely break the Pandavas.

Draupadi's Question

Dushasana entered the inner chambers and mercilessly dragged Draupadi by her hair into the assembly. Draupadi kept screaming, trying to free herself, but she was helpless against Dushasana's strength. All eyes in the assembly were fixed on Draupadi. Draupadi was trembling with shame and anger. As soon as she was brought to the center of the assembly, she asked a question that stunned the entire assembly.

"Dharmaraj Yudhishthira, did he stake me after losing himself? Does a person who has lost have the right to stake someone else?" Draupadi's voice held courage and a strong sense of justice. She sought justice from all the scholars present in the assembly, Bhishma Pitamah, Dronacharya, and Vidura. This question was like an arrow, striking the morality and principles of dharma of the assembly members.

Attempt at Disrobing

Breaking the silence that arose from Draupadi's question, Duryodhana ordered Dushasana to disrobe Draupadi. Dushasana immediately began to pull Draupadi's clothes. To save her modesty, Draupadi joined her hands and prayed to Lord Krishna. Tears were in her eyes, and she was desperate to protect her honor. Everyone present in the assembly was watching all this, but no one had the courage to stop Dushasana.

As Dushasana kept pulling Draupadi's sari, it kept growing longer by the grace of Lord Krishna. Dushasana got tired of pulling, but Draupadi's sari did not end. Everyone was astonished to see this sight. It was the divine play of Lord Krishna, who had appeared to save the honor of his devotee. Draupadi's cry reached God, and he immediately protected her.

The Assembly's Silence and Bhishma's Dilemma

After Dushasana's efforts failed, complete silence fell upon the assembly. Duryodhana went mad with anger, but now he could do nothing. Draupadi's question and Lord Krishna's grace had left him speechless. Bhishma Pitamah, who was a scholar of dharma, could not decide what to do in this situation. His conscience was urging him to speak out against the injustice done to Draupadi, but he was bound by his vows. This dilemma was eating him from within. Now, it remains to be seen when and how this silence will break in the next chapter, and what decision Bhishma Pitamah will take?