Draupadi XII - Sairhandri

After much deliberation the Pandavas decided to seek employment in the palace of King Virat of the kingdom of Matsya. They disguised themselves as servants of the exiled Yudhishthir and approached the King. Yudhishthir got a job as Kank, an expert dice player. Bhim became Volala and got a job in the royal kitchen. Arjun had been cursed by Urvashi, a celestial dancer, and had to spend one year as a eunuch. He chose this year to accept the curse and became Brihannala. He got the job of instructing Virat's daughter, Uttara, in dance and music. Nakul named himself Damagran while Sahadev became Tantripala and took jobs in the stable and cowshed respectively. Empress Draupadi became Sairhandri and approached Queen Sudeshna for a job as her chambermaid. The Queen was reluctant to have a woman of such dazzling beauty within the palace, fearing that her own beauty would be diminished by comparison. Sairhandri argued that she was Draupadi's personal maid and would reveal to the Queen the secrets of the Empress's beauty. Besides she would leave at the end of the year. She got the job.

The Pandavas had been sure that they would endear themselves to the royal household of Matsya. But Draupadi exceeded all expectations. "I've mixed this perfume for you which the Empress uses for especially romantic occasions" or "The Empress Draupadi braids her hair in this manner" or "See! The application of this lotion has already made your skin fresher, and it has been only two weeks since you began using it". Soon she became the close companion and confidante of Queen Sudeshna.

"You must always accompany me wherever I go," the Queen would say. Sairhandri would saucily reply, "Even when you go to the King's chamber at night," and Sudeshna would blush.

But the Queen was not the only one who wanted Draupadi to come close. There was Keechak, the Queen's brother. When Draupadi had started her duties, she had spread the rumour that she was married to five Gandharva* men, who were extremely possessive about her. They were under a curse and had to spend a year away from her and this is the reason she had to take up this job. But they were watching from the skies and would kill any man who made a pass at her. This deterred the other men in the palace, but not Keechak.

Keechak was the commander of the armies and the power behind the throne. It was because of his presence in Matsya that the neighbouring kings kept their distance. The King knew this and hence was forced to give complete freedom to Keechak. Under the guise of the adage "to keep a wife happy one must keep her brother happy" he allowed Keechak access to all the wealth, wine and women in the kingdom.

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