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Oppiliappan List Archive: Message 00183 Mar 2005

 
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Dear Devoptees,

A few weeks ago, we discussed the episode in Mahabharata about the insult to Draupadi by the Kauravas. Recently, I was reading the Bhagavatam translation by Bhagawan Satya Sai Baba in his Bhagawata Vauhini. I am reproducing below the extracts relating to this episode. Since, from this, the Bhagavatam version appears to be slightly different from the Maha Bharata version, I am bringing it to the notice of members.

Dasan
Krishnaswamy M.K.

http://home.comcast.net/~mkkmkk/bhagavatavauhini/bhagavathavahini/bhagavatha068.html

???.. the Lord, took upon Himself the burden of rescuing her from distress; He moved in silent and unseen, and blessed her, unnoticed. And, wonder of wonders, the Sari which the human ogres were attempting to remove in order to disgrace her was rendered endless; every one, including the tormentors, were stunned at the demonstration of Krishna's grace and Droupadi's devotion. Good men and wise realised that Sathya and Dharma can never come to harm. The tears of joy that rolled from their eyes gave proof of the exaltation they experienced. The wicked Dussasana fell down, exhausted and humiliated. Droupadi did not suffer the least dishonour. All the dishonour fell to the lot of the Kauravas, and the Pandavas were unaffected."

"Can God permit the just and moral Pandavas to suffer humiliation? The harm that the Kauravas planned to inflict on the Pandavas recoiled on them only. This was the direct consequence of the grace that Lord Krishna showered on your grandfathers and grandmother and of the devotion and faith they had reposed in Lord Krishna."

"Intending to declare to the world the intense devotion of the Pandavas and its efficacy, and also to hold them up as examples for the Kali Age that was to come, the Lord contrived this thrilling drama; there is nothing more in this than that purpose of the Lord. You may be subjected to calumny, insult and dishonour; you may be plunged in poverty or pain; but, the person who has surrendered to the will of God will welcome each of these gladly and bear it with equanimity. The Lord will never give up His children; those devoted to God have to be patient and calm, under the most poignant provocations. The fact is the pious and the God-fearing are those who are visited by travails and troubles; in order to teach mankind these great truths, Krishna enacted this drama, with the Pandavas as the cast. Every incident in their lives is but a scene in His play.

http://home.comcast.net/~mkkmkk/bhagavatavauhini/bhagavathavahini/bhagavatha069.html

Sage Vyasa continued, "Listen O king!"

"Droupadi was overwhelmed with amazement when she experienced the grace of Krishna who granted the boon of clothing to protect her honour; she shed profuse tears of gratitude and exclaimed in ecstasy, 'Krishna ! Krishna!' with such a rush of feeling and zeal that those present in the audience-hall were struck with fear. The shining splendour of her face made them suspect that she must be the veritable Goddess (Sakthi) who energises the universe."

"Meanwhile, Krishna manifested Himself in concrete form before your grandmother, Droupadi and said, 'Sister! Why are you troubled in mind? I have taken birth with the express purpose of destroying these evil men blinded by pride. I shall see that the glory and fame of the Pandavas are held high for the admiration of this world for generations to come. Console yourself.'"

"At this, she fell at the Lord's feet, washing it with her tears darkened by the collyrium in her eyes; the tresses of her long thick hair, unloosened by wicked hands, fell over His feet and covered them. She rolled on the ground round the feet."

"Her furious contentment and her angry excitement steeped the assembly of courtiers and warriors in astonishment. Krishna raised her up and placing His hand upon her head, He blessed her. 'Rise! Tie the hair into a knot. Await patiently the events that will happen in the days ahead. Go, join your companions in the inner apartments', He implored her. Hearing these words, Droupadi started like a serpent that has raised its hood. Her eyes shone through the veil of hair that covered her face; her glances were like flashes of lightning among the clouds."

"She stood in the centre of the assembly and turning on Krishna, she said in deliberate tones, 'Krishna! Cloth that gets torn can only be stitched; the rents cannot be mended otherwise. A virtuous bride can be given away only once. Curdled milk cannot be restored to its primal purity. The tusks of the elephant can never be withdrawn into the mouth, from out of which they came. Droupadi's tresses have been loosened, by the foul hands of these evil men. They can never be knotted again, as formerly, to mark the happiness of a wife.' At this, every one sat silent with bent head, overcome with the shame of the insult of the queen."

http://home.comcast.net/~mkkmkk/bhagavatavauhini/bhagavathavahini/bhagavatha070.html

"But, Krishna broke the silence. 'Then when do you dress your hair as of old? Sister! These loose tresses make you really frightening'. At this the heroic queen roared like a lioness, 'Lord! Pray listen! The filthy rascal who dared touch this hair, hold it in his foul hand and drag me into this hall must have his head broken into bits and his corpse gnawed by foxes and dogs; his wife must be widowed; she must unloosen her tresses and wail in unquenchable grief; that day, I shall dress this hair into a knot; and not till then'. Hearing this imprecation, the elders in the hall were alarmed at its terrible consequences. They covered their ears so as not to hear more; they pleaded, 'Pardon', 'Peace', 'Quieten yourself', for they knew how calamitous was the curse of a woman of virtue. The heart of Dhritharashtra, the old blind father of the wicked gang that insulted her, very nearly burst with fear; his sons tried to put on brave faces but, within them, they were struck down by a tornado of panic. A wave of dread swept over the assembly, for, they knew that her words must come true, the wrong must be avenged by the punishment she has pronounced."

"To reinforce this apprehension, Krishna too said, 'O! Droupadi! May it happen as you have said. I shall destroy these wicked men who caused so much sorrow to your husbands. The words you spoke now must come true, for you have not tainted your tongue with falsehood, even in fun, since the moment of birth. Your voice is the voice of truth; truth will triumph, in spite of everything.'"

"This was the assurance given to your grandmother by the Lord; the Kauravas were destroyed and the righteousness of the Pandavas vindicated, before the world. Where Dharma is, there the Lord is; where the Lord is, there victory is; this holy axiom was taught to the world by the Lord through this tragedy."

 


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