Draupadi XI - Exile© Harsh Nevatia
Jan 5, 2003
During the exile the Pandavas lived in the Kamyaka Forest. The exile was hard on the Pandavas but even harder on Draupadi. She was a princess who had not seen the outdoors except for the brief excursion to Ekchakra. The daily physical exertions took their toll on her. But the mental agony of an injured pride was unbearable. She did not try to hide from her husbands the fact that she held them responsible for this situation. Her only consolation was her guide and friend, Krishna, who visited them from time to time and encouraged their flagging spirits. On the other hand Duryodhana and his cronies lost no opportunity to insult them.
It was with this intention that Duryodhana sent Sage Durvasa and his thousand disciples to Yudhishthir. Durvasa was a hot-tempered person who delivered curses at the slightest provocation. Duryodhana knew that the exiled Pandavas would not be able to feed Durvasa's contingent and would become victims of his curse. Even in exile Draupadi could have easily fed a thousand people. Yudhishthir had been gifted the Akshaya Patra (Rice Bowl) from the Sun God. It would continue producing food during meal times, till it was washed clean. Thereafter it could not be invoked till the next meal. Durvasa arrived after the Pandavas had eaten and told Yudhishthir that he was going for a bath in the river. On his return he expected to be fed. The Akshaya Patra had been cleaned and put away and Draupadi knew that she was in deep trouble. As always, under such circumstances, she called to Krishna for help. But Krishna only added to her woes. He was hungry and wanted something to eat. In tears Draupadi produced the washed Akshaya Patra. Krishna saw a solitary grain of rice sticking to the bottom. "You are not used to washing pots and pans", he said and put the grain in his mouth. At the river Durvasa's stomach became full. He let out a loud belch and took his men away without returning to the Pandavas. Toward the end of the exile Draupadi had a nasty encounter with Jayadratha. Jayadratha was married to Duryodhana's only sister Dushala. He was the ruler of the Kingdom of Sandhu. He was passing through Kamyaka and saw Draupadi alone. Draupadi invited him to the cottage and gave him the honour and respect due to a sister's husband. Jayadratha, however, began to make passes at Draupadi. He poined out that her husbands had let her down and were effectively impotent. She needed a man and a king like him at her side. When Draupadi spurned his advances he forcibly dragged her to his chariot and sped away, swearing he would accomplish what Dushasan could not.
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