Smt. Subha Narayan's "Question on Draupadi"

[Guest guest]

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 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

 

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[Guest guest]

I would like to make an attempt to answer the query raised

regarding draupadi ,since I am not well versed with any of shastras

,texts nor languages. If I am at fault please correct me.

 

1.Draupadi is the main reason for great war which, in return gave

humanity srimadbhagavadgeetha ,bhishma sthuthi ,and Vishnu

sahranamam.

 

2. Since Draupadi surrendered totally to lord Krishna she acted

according to gods will. Once surrendered ,one never ever takes

decisions on their own everything left to god will. Probably God

wanted it that way.

 

3.If I am not wrong, when lord Krishna had been sent as messenger

of peace it is Dharamaraja who prefers war while the others

for peace. (Where dhramaraja narrates/explains importance of

wealth.)

 

4.Regarding vow- Her vow was spontaneous reaction at that moment, but

what movies generally show is not real or true history

 

5 The important reason is she is born for a cause so, that has to be

fulfilled. So only ,she is so special to lord Krishna his favorite

sister .No brother can see her sister humiliated so miserably that

too LORD KRISHNA sister who comes out of fire?

It is gods leela to give such wonderful texts and also show how

he takes care of his devotees be it draupadi or

bheeshma.(bheeshma sthuthi)

 

Regards

 

Pranamams

krishnapriya

sudarshan madabushi <mksudarshan2002 (AT) (DOT) co.in> wrote:

Dear members,Smt. Subha Narayan posed the following question to

meseveral weeks ago on the Tiruvenkatam List. No oneappears since to

have responded to her very pertinentquestion. Since everyone else is

unwilling to evenattempt an answer, I take it upon myself to offer

anexplanation which although I cannot claim is based onany

traditional commentary, is however based on anunderstanding of the

Mahabharatha text and story-line.But please first take time to read

Smt.Subha'squestion. My own comments follow thereafter: --- Subha

Narayan <nssuba03 (AT) (DOT) co.in> wrote: > > Dear Sir> > In the

Mahabharata, it is the episode of> Draupadi’s humiliation in the

Hastinapur Court. Thestory 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

ofthe> > royal assembly. None of her husbands, the kingor> > 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 KaiyyumVitteno> > 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

recipientof his> > infinite power and compassion, Why

then>immediately> > after all this, did she have to vow tohave the> >

Kauravas’ blood ? Why then thishysterical> outburst> > and vengeance

that she vowedthat she would not> tie> > her hair until she hadwashed

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 intoa> > hysterical women,

demanding vengeance against the> > injustice done to her? I’m sure

there must be a> very> > logical way of understanding these thingsand

you> > would be kind & patient enough to give me areply,> > at your

convenience.> > Regards,> > > Subha.

***************My comments:It is true that Draupadi performed a

singular andheart-rending act of self-surrender ("saraNagathi") inthe

court of Hastinapur. An act of genuine"saraNagathi" never fails the

devotee and Draupaditoo, as the Mahabharatha recounts, was saved by

theAlmighty 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 anddirectly, as it were, the benign Grace of

God,remained still capable of that ordinary but vicioushuman urge

called vengeance? One might expect Draupadito have been so profoundly

affected by the experienceof "saraNAgathi" that it left her in an

enduring ifnot permanent state of divine grace. It makes

usexpect Draupadi to have turned into some sort ofsaint, one who, as

the French would say, "understandsall, forgives all" ('tout

comprendre, toutpardonner'). But Draupadi, as the story of

theMahabharatha goes, remained rather strangely untouchedor

un-transformed in spirit by the experience of herpersonal travails

and redemption through"saraNagathi". She remained bitter and vengeful

tillthe end, taking a terrible vow not to groom her hairuntil it was

first washed in Kaurava blood. Is this sort of behaviour becoming of

one who hasperformed "saraNAgathi"? Does vengeance behove she whohad

seen the Miracle of God with her own eyes? Shouldnot have Draupadi

been turned into a kinder,gentler,more compassionate, more forgiving

and forbearing soulafter the incident at Hastinapur? Isn't there

someserious flaw in the very idea of "saraNAgathi" if, asin the case

of Draupadi in the Mahabharatha, it isseen to clearly

fail in fully cleansing the humanheart of its vicious infirmities

("klEsha") such asvengeance?Smt.Subha's question is an extremely

important andthought-provoking one indeed.I think I can offer a

theory to explain the seemingbut grievous flaw in Draupadi's

character and, byimplication, in the doctrine "saraNAgathi" as

well.But I choose to disclose it after other members havehad a chance

to discuss it as well. I would likemembers to put forward any

traditional "vyAkhyAna"that they may have come across.I will put

forward my theory only after we have heardthe traditional

ones.Members, please do participate in this veryinteresting thread

that Smt. Subha Narayan has begun.Thanks and regards,dAsan,Sudarshan

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