Our Devi of the Week: DRAUPADI

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>From the "Puranic Encyclopaedia" by Shri Vettam Mani, English

Edition - Delhi

© 1975 by the Author ; and A.C. Bhaktivedanta

Swami Prabhupada

Srimad Bhagavatam 1.13.3-4 Purport © A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

 

The most chaste daughter of Maharaja Drupada and partly an

incarnation of goddess Saci, the wife of Indra. Maharaja Drupada

performed a great sacrifice under the superintendence of the sage

Yaja. By his first offering, Dhrstadyumna was born, and by the second

offering, Draupadi was born. She is therefore the sister of

Dhrstadyumna, and she is also named Pancali. The five Pandavas

married her as a common wife, and each of them begot a son in her.

Maharaja Yudhisthira begot a son named Pratibhit, Bhimasena begot a

son named Sutasoma, Arjuna begot Srutakirti, Nakula begot Satanika,

and Sahadeva begot Srutakarma.

 

She is described as a most beautiful lady, equal to her mother-in-

law, Kunti. During her birth there was an aeromessage that she should

be called Krsna. The same message also declared that she was born to

kill many a ksatriya. By dint of her blessings from Sankara, she was

awarded five husbands, equally qualified. When she preferred to

select her own husband, princes and kings were invited from all the

countries of the world. She was married with the Pandavas during

their exile in the forest, but when they went back home Maharaja

Drupada gave them immense wealth as a dowry. She was well received by

all the daughters-in-law of Dhrtarastra.

 

When she was lost in a gambling game, she was forcibly dragged into

the assembly hall, and an attempt was made by Duhsasana to see her

naked beauty, even though there were elderly persons like Bhisma and

Drona present. She was a great devotee of Lord Krsna, and by her

praying, the Lord Himself became an unlimited garment to save her

from the insult. A demon of the name Jatasura kidnapped her, but her

second husband, Bhimasena, killed the demon and saved her. She saved

the Pandavas from the curse of Maharsi Durvasa by the grace of Lord

Krsna. When the Pandavas lived incognito in the palace of Virata,

Kicaka was attracted by her exquisite beauty, and by arrangement with

Bhima the devil was killed and she was saved.

 

She was very much aggrieved when her five sons were killed by

Asvatthama. At the last stage, she accompanied her husband

Yudhisthira and others and fell on the way. The cause of her falling

was explained by Yudhisthira, but when Yudhisthira entered the

heavenly planet he saw Draupadi gloriously present there as the

goddess of fortune in the heavenly planet.

 

Wife of the Pandavas

 

Draupadi was known by many names. She was known as Krsna due to her

beautiful dark complexion, Parsati because she was the grand-daughter

of King Prsata, Draupadi because she was the daughter of King Drupada

and Pancali because she was the daughter of the King of Pancala.

Pancali grew up in the palace of Drupada. Stories about her many

previous births are found in the Puranas. During all these births

many gods blessed her saying that she would have five husbands when

she was born as the daughter of Drupada.

 

Shiva's Blessings

 

When Sri Rama and his brother Laksmana were in exile in the forest

with Rama's wife Sita, Agni came to Rama once and told him in private

thus: "Oh Rama, you have incarnated on earth to kill Ravana (a great

demon). The time for that is drawing nigh and ere long Ravana would

carry away Sita. It is not proper that Sita, the incarnation of

Laksmi, should be touched by Ravana. Therefore I shall keep Sita safe

with me and I am giving you a phantom Sita to be with you in her

stead." Sri Rama took the Mayasita (phantom Sita) from Agni without

even Laksmana knowing it and handed over the original Sita to the

custody of Agni.

 

While Sri Rama, Laksmana and Mayasita were living together in their

hermitage (ashram) a golden deer was seen one day in the precincts of

their ashram. Sita was enamored of the beautiful deer and wanted it.

So Rama, asking Laksmana to watch over Sita, went in search of the

deer. Sri Rama tried his best to capture the deer alive. But all his

efforts failed he had come far from the ashram. So he discharged an

arrow and killed it. While falling dead, the deer raised a cry

imitating the voice of Rama and called Laksmana for help. The deer

was none other than Marica, the demon uncle of Ravana. On hearing the

call for help Laksmana rushed to the spot from where the sound came

and Sita was left alone for some time. Ravana then came to the ashram

and spirited Mayasita away to Lanka. Rama and Laksmana went to Lanka

with an army of monkeys and after killing Ravana rescued Sita. Rama,

in deference to public opinion, put Sita into the fire to test her

purity.

 

At that time god Agni taking back Mayasita gave the real Sita to

Rama, unscathed by the fire. When Mayasita was thus abandoned she

bowed down before Sri Rama and Agni and asked them thus "What am I to

do now ? Where should I go ?" They advised her to do penance there

and blessed her by saying that at the successful end of her penance

she would become known as Svargalaksmi.

 

Siva was pleased by her penance and appearing before her asked her

what boon she wanted. Mayasita who had become Svargalaksmi by then

requested Siva to give her a husband. She repeated the request 'Patim

dehi' (Give me a husband) five times and Siva said that she would

have five husbands in her next life as Krsna the daughter of the King

of Pancala.

 

The Birth of Draupadi to the King of Pancala

 

Drupada had argued with a childhood friend and wished to get a son to

avenge his assumed insult. Drupada then went to the forest to find a

sage who would perform the correct Yajna (sacrifice) for a son. The

sage, Yaja, offered to help the king and his wife with their request.

The sage gave the queen havya (clarified butter). Because the havya

was prepared by Yaja and was offered by Upayaja, his younger brother,

the sages said that the queen would get two children.

 

While Yaja was offering oblations to the sacrificial fire a boy with

a crown on his head, bearing a sword a bow in his hands rose from the

fire. Then from the dais of the Yajna-fire emerged a beautiful lady

of dazzling brilliance. Immediately a voice from heaven was heard to

say, "This Sumadhyama (a girl in her blossoming youth) will work on

the side of God and cause terror to the Kauravas."

 

Yaja blessed the wife of Drupada saying that the two children would

thenceforth call her mother. Yaja himself named the boy Dhrstadyumna

and the girl, according to the ethereal voice, Krsna.

 

The Marriage of Draupadi

 

For the Svayamvara of his daughter Drupada had placed a mighty steel

bow in the marriage hall. When all the distinguished guests were

seated in the marriage hall, the King announced that his daughter

would be given in marriage to him who bent the steel bow and with it

shot a steel arrow through the central aperture of a revolving disc,

at a target placed above. Many valiant princes from all parts of

Bharata including the Kauravas and Pandavas had gathered there. When

it was time for the ceremonies to begin Pancali, clad in beautiful

robes with a bewitching charm which excited the royal assemblage,

entered the hall with a garland in her hands. Then Dhrstadyumna,

brother of Pancali said "Hear ye, oh princes, seated in state in this

assembly, here is the bow and arrow. He who sends five arrows in

succession through the hole in the wheel and unerringly hits the

target shall win my sister."

 

Many noted princes rose one after another and tried in vain to string

the bow. It was too heavy and stiff for them. Then Arjuna, the great

archer of the Pandavas rose, and meditating on Narayana, the Supreme

God, strung the bow with ease and hit at the target. Pancali then put

the garland on Arjuna's neck and accepted him as her husband.

Drupada's joy knew no bounds when he knew that his son-in-law was

none other than the celebrated Arjuna.

 

The Pandavas then took Pancali to their home in Ekacakra. As soon as

Kuntidevi, their mother, heard the footsteps of her sons outside she

called from inside asking them to share that day's alms among

themselves. Little did Kuntidevi know that it was a bride that had

been brought by them. Thus Pancali became the common consort of the

five Pandavas. Then the marriage of Pancali was ceremoniously

conducted after inviting friends and relatives. Pancali had five sons

one each from each of the five husbands. She got Prativindhya of

Yudhisthira, Srutasoma of Bhimasena, Srutakirti of Arjuna, Satanika

of Nakula, and Srutakarma of Sahadeva.

 

The Shaming of Draupadi

 

Once Duryodhana challenged Dharmaputra (Yudhisthira) to a game of

dice. Dharmaputra lost all his wealth, his loyal brothers and at the

end, in despair, pledged Draupadi and lost her. Immediately

Duryodhana asked Vidura to bring Draupadi to his palace and make her

serve as a servant-maid. Vidura did not consent to that. Then

Duryodhana asked Pratikami, the guard, to bring her. While entering

the palace of Draupadi, Pratikami was as timid as a dog about to

enter the cage of a lion. He informed Draupadi of his mission.

Draupadi sent him back. Duryodhana sent another messenger. Draupadi

went with him to the court of the Kauravas. As soon as Dushsasana saw

Draupadi he jumped at her and caught hold of her hair and dragged her

to the center of the assembly.

 

When Duhsasana dragged her thus she said in piteous tones "Do not

shame me. I have not performed my ritual bath and have not properly

greeted my elders." Dushsasana was not moved by these pleadings and

he dragged her Still. Bhima could not hold himself calm against this

atrocity any longer and in a roar of wrath he abused Dharmaputra for

pledging Pancali thus and losing, her. Arjuna however remonstrated

gently with Bhima. Then to the consternation of all, Duhsasana

started his shameful work of pulling at Pancali's robes to strip her

of all the clothes. All earthly aid having failed Draupadi in utter

helplessness implored divine mercy and succor. A miracle occurred. In

vain Duhsasana toiled to pull the garments completely and make her

naked. As he pulled off each, fresh garments were seen to come from

somewhere and cover her nudity. Dushsasana retired from his work

exhausted and disappointed.

 

Then Karna ordered that Draupadl should be sent to the palace of

Duryodhana as a servant-maid. Dhirtarastra came to his senses and to

pacify outraged and wrathful Pancali asked her to name any boon she

wanted from him. Pancali said: "In order that my son, Prativindhya,

should not be called a 'dasaputra' (son of a servant) his father

Dharmaputra should be released from his servitude." The boon was

granted. Then she requested that all the other Pandavas should be set

free. That was also allowed. Dhrtarastra then asked her to name a

third boon. Pancali then said that all Ksatriya women were entitled

only to two boons and so there was no need for a third one. Then

Draupadi took a vow that her hair which was let lose by the wicked

Dushasana would be tied properly only by a hand tainted by the blood

of Dushsasana. After that in strict obedience to the conditions of

the wager of the dice game the Pandavas started for the forests with

Draupadi to spend twelve years in the forests and one year incognito.

 

Source: http://www.goloka.com/docs/gallery/bhagavat-purana/02bhagavat-

purana/draupad.html