Draupadi – The Ultimate SubmissionSecret DesireOnce Draupadi, plucked a Jambul fruit without realizing that it was aspecial fruit that a Rishi had sworn to break his fast of twelve years, with.―You have contaminated the fruit,‖ said Krishna, ―If the sage finds out, hewill curse … Draupadi’s father Drupada, king of Panchala, creates her with the sole purpose of destroying the Kuru household that patronized Drona, who used his students, the Pandavas and the Kauravas, to conquer and then divide Panchala. According to Narad Purana and Vayu Purana, Draupadi is the composite avatar of Goddess Shyamala (wife of Dharma), Bharati (wife of Vayu), Shachi (wife of Indra), Usha (wife of Ashwins) and Parvati (wife of Shiva). Here goes the story according to a Punjabi folklore: Pandavas had agreed that only one brother must enter Draupadi’s chamber at a time and during that time no other Pandava must enter her chamber. I was dear to him, and he was dear to me. She, as Sairandhri, again demanded justice directly from king Virata when she was insulted by his brother-in-law Kichaka. But as no man could possess all the qualities, he told her she will be the wife of five men who collectively possess all the qualities. ( Log Out /  However, there are some inaccuracies that I need to point out. The tragic hero of Mahabharata had his share of curses. Parshurama trained only Brahmin boys and none other. Ghatotkacha, seeing this, brought his mace down on Doshan, killing him. Draupadi felt humiliated and she got very angry. Confused by the strange happening Pandu got closer and was astonished to see that the deer was actually a man, transformed into a deer and was in the middle of lovemaking with his consort. This hideous act by Kaurava warlord, Ashwathama was unanimously criticized. ( Log Out /  One day when Yudhishthira was in Draupadi’s chamber, a dog stole his shoes from outside the door. When Ghatotkacha visited his father Bheem’s kingdom for the first time, he did not pay respect to Draupadi as his mother Hidimba had ordered him to do so. Draupadi needs no introduction. Draupadi screams vengeance but doubts if her five husbands will avenge her insult. And obtain the highest level of knowledge and skill which will make him greatest warrior the world has ever seen. Destiny raised its ugly head again and it hit Karna very hard. Before she moved to the next husband, Draupadi walks through fire to regain her virginity and purity. She rushed to her, and called her a wretched, sinful woman. While approaching his kill he heard an agonizing cry of a man. Arjuna, on the other hand, favored Subhadra. Their tales pre-exist. From Yayati’s to Shakuntala to Kuru clan to Lord Shrikrishna, has not escaped retribution from curses. Apart from being beautiful and generous, she was a courageous woman too. Draupadi creator is her father Drupada, king of Panchala who aim of destroying the Kuru household who humiliated Drona who used his students Pandavas and Kauravas to destroy Panchala. The polyandrous queen of the Pandavas was known for her short-temperedness! The sage granted her a boon, which caused an unending stream of cloth to cover her when Dushasan was trying to strip her. Ephemeral events do not get immortalized when translated into tales. He will plead for death but he won’t die. Draupadi always favored Arjuna but alas, Arjuna was not happy with the fact that he had to share the prize he has won with 4 brothers. Change ). The curse came true. The story goes that the sage’s loincloth was once carried away by the Ganges. When their turn would come, Krishna, Karna, Aswasthama, etc. But the lord blew his panchajanya aloud making kunjara: to be inaudible. The fifth avatar was Draupadi herself. Wife of the five Pandavas and daughter of Drupad, she appeared to put an end to the evil Kauravas. It was decided to share her amongst all the five brothers, on the directives of their mother. He also gave him many celestial weapons including Brahmastra! After Draupadi was won in a Swayamvara (Self-selection of husband) by Arjuna. Hidimba couldn’t control herself when she heard Draupadi’s curse. The brother who entered her chamber was to keep his shoes outside the door. Seeing this angered Dushsasana who attacked but had to flee, not able to stand the might of Ghatotkacha. Rare in the culture of ancient times, Draupadi was a fearless woman. But another hurdle was awaiting him. Thus as punishment for this unforgivable crime, he was asked to surrender his protective forehead gem and Krishna cursed him that, he will roam in jungles with his non-withering wounds, oozing blood, puss, and pain. May it be the Kuru clan or poor harmless dog. Draupadi, angered by this, cursed Ghatokacha that he would be killed by a divine weapon. This infuriated everyone including Lord Shrikrishna. The heroine of Mahabharatha, hence was called Mahabharathi, by whom the epic meets its climax.. Who was She?. Arjuna, however, succeeded in bringing one wife in. If Ghatotkacha is now addressed as son of Draupadi then why he was carefully forgotten during Rajsuya Yagya. S… Draupadi uttered a horrible curse that Ghatotkacha’s life would be short, and that he would be killed without a fight – a terrible eventuality for a kshatriya. He said no Brahmin can endure such a pain. He gave accounts of her associations with his forefathers and addressed her as ‘mother’. Annoyed with cheating and hiding his true self Parshurama cursed him that, all the knowledge he acquired, using false identity will be forgotten when he needs it the most. Their silence led to the death of your sons and my Ghatotkacha. Here are some important and famous curses which changed the course of the great epic. In fact, he had lion’s share in getting cursed by unusual people with no mistake of his own. She cursed almost everyone or everything which annoyed her. Nalayani, distressed moves to the forest for intense penance. Curses are mainly an outburst of anger caused by agony, cheating or wrongdoings. After Dronacharya rejected him to be his disciple giving a puny reason of his lower-class, Karna willfully decided to learn from Parshurama, Drona’s teacher. He asked for the reason and the girl replied that her step-mom would be furious as she had dropped the ghee from the earthen pot. Geet, your manifestations of the Curses much tally with what I have been told by my parents. Parshurama woke up with a start and sensed the situation. Draupadi is raised in hatred, designed for destroying a family. Thank you. But she couldn’t control herself when she heard Draupadi’s curse. Draupadi cursed Ghatotkacha. So all was fair with it. Besides, why blame anyone. The man was actually Sage Kindama. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. And completely destroyed Gandhari’s family. First Krishna tells him to utter this. Hence Parashurama took him under his tutelage. Draupadi had asked Lord Shiva to bless her with a husband who had five of the best qualities a man can have: dharma, strength, archery skills, good looks, patience etc. In other words, disregarding popular practice of the times, the Pandavas could not bring their other wives to Indra-prastha. Laughing it off, Kichaka only doubted their whereabouts and asked those present where the Gandharvas were. This annoyed demoness Hidimba, who was Bhima’s wife and clan’s eldest daughter-in-law. Hidimba couldn’t control herself when she heard Draupadi’s curse. There is a reason why Duryodhana did not participate in Draupadi’s swayamvara.It’s because he was already married to the princess of Kalinga, Bhanumati. This gesture angered Draupadi and cursed him that, he will have a short life! She wandered amongst the cadavers in search of her illicit first-born. She was the mysterious, fiery yet compassionate queen of the five Pandava brothers, and is also considered as the sole reason behind the great Mahabharat war. ( Log Out /  She held him accountable for the death of her lineage and complete annihilation of her clam. Hidimba and draupadi They fought; they spat venom on each other, each trying to wound the other in a manner that would cause the most intense pain. Hidimba couldn’t control herself when she heard Draupadi’s curse. Draupadi's position in The Mahabharata is unique in more than one sense. Likewise, Mahabharata is filled with many such curses. But do you know that Draupadi symbolizes binding of the five chakras in human body? Using the magic of the rakshasas, Ghatotkacha … Sakhi and Sakha is pure friendship, no love there. In that night, Prince Duryodhana appointed Ashwathama as the warlord. The bee literally bored a hole in it making a pond of blood around. She then took birth as Sita, the cause of Raavana’s death. She could not tolerate injustice and ill-treatment at all. They hesitate to kill Kichaka for fear of making their secret identities public when he abuses her in the final year of their exile. And this, in full view of the assembly of the family elders, great sages, courtiers, and hundreds and hundreds of kings who had assembled at Indraprastha for Yudhisthira’s raajaswiya jajna . She even condemned great warriors such as Bhishma, Drona, Kripacharya and her husbands for not saving her from the humiliation during Cheer-Haran episode. But the brave student was unmoved and tolerated the pain in order not to disturb his teacher’s nap. Thus she cursed him that, he will become a eunuch! Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. He paid respect to every elder except Draupadi as asked by his mother. Here is an account of three important curses which were the cause of his death. In fact a warrior who uses brahmastra on non-compitant warriors are equal to brahmana performing five great sins that has no remorse. My affection for Ghatotkacha is twice what I feel for Sahadeva. Hidimba said You cursed my son for no reason. A Mahabharata enthusiast. May it be the Kuru clan or poor harmless dog. Embarrassed, Draupadi became furious with the dog that had stolen Yudhishthira’s shoe, thereby cursing all dogs – “All the world will see you copulate in public, stripped of all shame.”. I have, before this battle, ... he used to carry Draupadi upon his back and relieve her from fatigue. View all posts by Geet Akolkar. 3) Kichak was killed when he tried to make advances on Draupadi, and the reasons for Pandavs to be keeping their secret is well known. She rushed … This will make him immobile and hence susceptible. He happened to spot a pair of deer and shot at one of the animals. Thus Karna was found guilty of deceit. Krishna, Arjuna and Bhima went and captured Asvatthama and brought him to Draupadi for her to take the final decision. Lord Shiva granted her a boon. Didn't the script already exist, and all Ghatotkacha, Draupadi and Hidimbaki were doing was playing out their parts? ( Log Out /  Why would she curse him. Then suddenly he heard a woman’s mourning, it was none other than mother-earth. Draupadi will try to stop him, but he will justify his actions, “They must never forget their children’s villainy. She rushed to her, and called her a wretched, sinful woman. Along with Pandava sons from different wives. And also Krishna cannot be termed as a foul player because, Drona was a Brahmana, he shouldn’t have yielded weapons as it isn’t dharma of Brahmana to do so. She was angry and gave yet another curse to poor Karna that, in the most vital war, mother earth will hold his chariot wheel tightly as he did to her. We can say that a person curses only when he is troubled to an extreme level by the recipients. They are the most powerful destructive energies in the form of ‘words’, even deadlier than the nukes! He even called her sister in some places. ( Log Out /  Thanks for the compilations. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. She was on the verge of an emotional breakdown. Although being most hated utterance, is an integral part of our Mythologies. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. He thus curses Pandu that, like him, even Pandu will die a painful death when he approaches a woman with carnal desires in his mind. He will be shown no love or sympathy or even mercy. There are also stories of Draupadi asking for a husband with 14 qualities in her previous birth. Draupadi agreed to the arrangement only on one condition that, none of her husbands must bring their personal wives and children to her household and that she must be given the status of the queen. He along with Kripacharya and Kritaverma attacked the Pandava camp and killed everybody present. Mahabharata shows us the value of a good homemaker and that women should not be objectified for “LUST” alone. Thus clarified that he won’t make out with her considering it to be taboo. After Karna’s death, Kunti his biological mother and legal mother of Pandava was grief-stricken. She, then explain the story behind Karna’s birth and her constraints as unwedded mother and her helplessness to abandoning him. As per Narada and Vayu Puranas, Draupadi was composite Avatar of Goddesses Shyamala (wife of Dharma), Bharati (Wife of Vayu), Sachi (wife of Indra), Usha (wife of Ashwinis) and hence married their earthly counterparts in form of Five Pandavas. He knew that he can never reproduce and hence can’t give an heir to the Kuru Empire. Whatever is here, is found elsewhere. Hidimbika was waiting at the door, since it was improper for a woman to be in an assembly of males, almost all of whom were strangers to her. Karna was not in a position to be rejected again and posed as a Brahmin. It was Krishna who fueled the enmity between two claimants of the Throne. The truth hurt Yudishtra very badly. While Parshurama was asleep a Bumblebee stung Karna’s thigh causing him immense pain. Draupadi felt humiliated. Nalayani was cursed to never be married as she had angered a sage during his penance. He hatted himself for mistreating Karna all his life. Draupadi’s vessel was like Lakshmi’s “akshaya patra” , always full of food. Why forgive them? Since he hasn’t his entire life. Such a kitchen is the mark of a good homemaker (she is sometimes referred to as “Annapurna”). One day when Parshurama was tired and orated the desire. Thus, then childless Pandu was torn-apart. Queen Draupadi was the queen of Five Pandavas in Mahabharata. After Draupadi had cursed Ghatotkacha, his mother, Hidimbaki, cursed Draupadi – her sons would die very young. Draupadi, the Woman : Epitome of Feminity and Feminism - Draupadi is the most complex and controversial female character in Mahabharata. And his enemy will have an upper hand. I wanted to convey something to you from my humble understanding. 6. Ashwathama killed many prominent warriors including Shikhandi, Dhrishtadyumna and five sons Draupadi, namely Prativindhya, Sutasoma, Srutakriti, Satanika, and Srutakarman. Thus filled the girl’s pot making her happy. Learn how your comment data is processed. This vexed Urvashi. After pleading the unsatisfied nymph for mercy. While roaming in his Kingdom, Karna saw a small girl crying inconsolably. He had promised her that he would never marry another, and he kept his word.