Dear members, Smt. Subha Narayan posed the following question to me several weeks ago on the Tiruvenkatam List. No one appears since to have responded to her very pertinent question. Since everyone else is unwilling to even attempt an answer, I take it upon myself to offer an explanation which although I cannot claim is based on any traditional commentary, is however based on an understanding of the Mahabharatha text and story-line. But please first take time to read Smt.Subha's question. My own comments follow thereafter: --- Subha Narayan <nssuba03@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > Dear Sir > > In the Mahabharata, it is the episode of > Draupadi?s humiliation in the Hastinapur Court. The story seems > > to be clear. Pandavas lost their kingdom in the > > dice-play & becomes slaves to Duryodana ; Draupadi > > was dragged to the royal court and was subjected > to> > the humiliation of being disrobed in front of the> > royal assembly. None of her husbands, the king or > > the royal courtiers including the wise Bheeshma or > > Dronacharya or anyone else came to her rescue. At > > the most critical moment of her life, Draupadi > > realized only Sriram Narayana could rescue her, if > > at all anyone and she emerges as a blessed one of > > His Karunyam. Many a time, I have heard Draupati > > being referred to as one of those who had complete > > faith in God, forsaking her sense of ego and was > > rewarded for her ?Maha Viswasam? ? I recall > Revered> > Sri Mukkur Swamy oft quoting ?Iru Kaiyyum Vitteno> > Draupadi-ay pole?. > > > > What happens after this? When she has realized > God,> > forsaking her sense of ego (?aham?karam / > > ?mama?karam), that she herself or anyone else > could> > save or help her and has been the recipient of his> > infinite power and compassion, Why then> immediately> > after all this, did she have to vow to have the> > Kauravas? blood ? Why then this hysterical> outburst> > and vengeance that she vowed that she would not> tie> > her hair until she had washed it in their blood ?> in > > the immediately preceding scene she seems to be a > > Brahma Gnani renunciating self / ego & realizing > God> > and in the very next moment, transforms into a> > hysterical women, demanding vengeance against the > > injustice done to her? I?m sure there must be a > very> > logical way of understanding these things and you> > would be kind & patient enough to give me a reply,> > at your convenience. > > Regards, > > > Subha. *************** My comments: It is true that Draupadi performed a singular and heart-rending act of self-surrender ("saraNagathi") in the court of Hastinapur. An act of genuine "saraNagathi" never fails the devotee and Draupadi too, as the Mahabharatha recounts, was saved by the Almighty in her moment of extreme crisis. Smt.Subha's question, if I may paraphrase it, is this: Isn't it odd that one who received, miraculously and directly, as it were, the benign Grace of God, remained still capable of that ordinary but vicious human urge called vengeance? One might expect Draupadi to have been so profoundly affected by the experience of "saraNAgathi" that it left her in an enduring if not permanent state of divine grace. It makes us expect Draupadi to have turned into some sort of saint, one who, as the French would say, "understands all, forgives all" ('tout comprendre, tout pardonner'). But Draupadi, as the story of the Mahabharatha goes, remained rather strangely untouched or un-transformed in spirit by the experience of her personal travails and redemption through "saraNagathi". She remained bitter and vengeful till the end, taking a terrible vow not to groom her hair until it was first washed in Kaurava blood. Is this sort of behaviour becoming of one who has performed "saraNAgathi"? Does vengeance behove she who had seen the Miracle of God with her own eyes? Should not have Draupadi been turned into a kinder,gentler, more compassionate, more forgiving and forbearing soul after the incident at Hastinapur? Isn't there some serious flaw in the very idea of "saraNAgathi" if, as in the case of Draupadi in the Mahabharatha, it is seen to clearly fail in fully cleansing the human heart of its vicious infirmities ("klEsha") such as vengeance? Smt.Subha's question is an extremely important and thought-provoking one indeed. I think I can offer a theory to explain the seeming but grievous flaw in Draupadi's character and, by implication, in the doctrine "saraNAgathi" as well. But I choose to disclose it after other members have had a chance to discuss it as well. I would like members to put forward any traditional "vyAkhyAna" that they may have come across. I will put forward my theory only after we have heard the traditional ones. Members, please do participate in this very interesting thread that Smt. Subha Narayan has begun. Thanks and regards, dAsan, Sudarshan ________________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your life partner online Go to: http://yahoo.shaadi.com/india-matrimony ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> What would our lives be like without music, dance, and theater? Donate or volunteer in the arts today at Network for Good! http://us.click.yahoo.com/WwRTUD/SOnJAA/i1hLAA/XUWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Oppiliappan/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: Oppiliappan-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
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