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Draupadi X - Rematch

© Harsh Nevatia

After delivering her tirade against the men present in the court, Draupadi, like a wounded tigress turned and faced the blind king and said, “I now invoke the power that the Gods have vested in me because of my virtuousness and pronounce a curse on …….”

But before she could complete her words, Gandhari half ran half stumbled from the harem and pleaded with her to wait. Gandhari was the Queen of Hastinapur. On the instant she was engaged to the blind Dhritarashtra, she had tied a scarf over her eyes so that she could experience the blindness of her fiancé. And had not taken off the scarf since then. After stopping Draupadi she spoke to her king and husband.

“What has transpired in your court today will forever be a stigma on our family. Time will hold you responsible for the atrocity that has been carried out here. Though you cannot change the past, you can to some extent control the future. A woman’s curse cannot be underestimated. If Draupadi goes ahead with her curse then Hastinapur’s lands will become unfertile and its rivers dry, its women barren and its men diseased. Pacify Draupadi and avert a crisis.

Dhritarashtra stood up and went to Draupadi. “Daughter,” he said, “I grant you two boons. Ask for whatever you wish, but spare the lives of my sons.”

Draupadi replied, “O King! I do want my children to be known as sons of slaves. Please give back my husbands their freedom. And restore to them whatever they have lost today. As for your sons, my husbands will surely take care of them at an appropriate time.”

Dhritarashtra was relieved. Yudhishthir looked upon Duryodhana as his younger brother and would protect him from the wrath of the other Pandavas thought Dhritarashtra.

When the Pandavas and Draupadi had returned to their rooms, she let out the full venom of her humiliation. She swore not to braid her hair till it was washed with Dushasan’s blood. Bhim who the most hot-headed of the brothers immediately swore that he would tear open Dushasan’s chest with his bare hands and bring his blood to Draupadi. As an added measure he swore to crush Duryodhana's thigh. Arjun swore to kill Karna who had called his wife a whore and had started the clamour to strip her. But the drama of the game of dice was far from over.

Duryodhana was like a mad elephant on a rampage. He had the Pandavas on the mat but was forced to let them go. He went to hi father and threatened suicide if his conditions were not met. There would be one more game of dice. The loser would go into exile for twelve years, after which he would have to spend one year without being recognised. If he were recognised in the thirteenth year then the cycle of thirteen years would repeat indefinitely. As usual Shakuni would roll the dice for him.