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Draupadi VII - Duryodhana

© Harsh Nevatia

Indraprastha was built at the site of the Khandava forest. This was a forest uninhabited by humans, but infested with snakes and other undesirable creatures. With the blessings of Krishna, Yudhishthir requested the Fire God, Agni, to burn down the forest so that he could build his capital there. One of the inhabitants of the forest was a demon named Mayadanav. He begged for sanctuary and was given permission to stay on. Mayadanav had been a student of Vishvakarma, the architect to the demi-Gods. He constructed the city of Indraprastha for the Pandavas. This city was had no rival in beauty either on earth or in the heavens. The pride of buildings was the Palace of Illusions and this was where Draupadi took Duryodhana and his entourage.

The moment Duryodhana entered the palace he encountered an atmosphere of mystery. A retinue of maidservants appeared through a wall and lined up before the guests. "This way, Brother-in-Law," said Draupadi indicating that he walk into the wall. Draupadi knew Duryodhana desired her and hence found immense pleasure in calling him by the relationship that bound them, taunting him that she was not accessible to him. Duryodhana was uneasy at walking into a wall. He said that he would use the door instead and hurried towards an opening in the wall. He banged into a solid wall and was so dazed that he had to be steadied by his bodyguard.

"You should have listened to me, Brother-in-law" said Draupadi, "In this palace what appears to be a wall is actually a door and what appears to be a door is in reality a wall." She indicated that they cross the courtyard. The Courtyard was divided in two parts. The surface of one part appeared to ripple like the surface of a lake. The surface of the other part appeared solid as granite flooring. On Draupadi's instructions the retinue of maidservants walked across the rippling part of the courtyard. The visitors were amazed. Draupadi then requested Duryodhana to follow them. "I'll take the ground, if you don't mind," said Duryodhana, and before Draupadi could warn him he stepped on the apparently solid part of the courtyard.

There was a splash and Duryodhana found himself waist deep in water, drenched from head to foot. Draupadi could not control herself. She broke into a mocking laughter. When she was able to get control of herself she said, "Like father, like son. Both are blind." This was with reference to Duryodhana's father, Dhritarashtra, who was blind from birth. [Draupadi does not utter these words in the epic Mahabharata, which is the prime source of these events. She only laughs. The malicious remarks are however a part of most later renderings of the narrative.]

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