Draupadi's humiliation from "summary" of The Mahabharata by Ramesh Menon
Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas, was publicly shamed when her husband Duryodhana tried to strip her in a courtroom. She was saved due to the divine intervention of Krishna, but the humiliation was still a harsh blow to her.- Duryodhana, the King of the Kauravas organized a function in the royal court with an ill intention to humiliate Draupadi. He asked servants to bring out fine cloth to cover him and then said that it should be given to her instead.
- Years later, after Pandavas had won the kingdom back, you could still hear Brahmans talking about how their queen had been denied justice at the royal court when she asked for protection and was instead disrobed publicly.
- After enduring much mental trauma and physical abuse, Draupadi's faith in Lord Krishna saved her from her undignified predicament and restored her honour.
- Even though the humiliation of Draupadi gave rise eventually to a war which shook the might of the Kauravas, it also brought pain and suffering to countless lives in its wake.
- After having made such provocations, the King of the Kauravas thought he got away with his misdeed but he was wrong because nothing ever escapes the eyes of Dharma.
- The news of what happened spread around immediately causing outrage among many sections of the community leading to questions about the dignity of the rulers of the day.
- It must have broken her heart to feel so exposed to all kinds of hurtful insults flung at her by those on the throne.
- In those dark moments nobody raised a voice against this injustice done to the helpless woman who belonged to all of them yet none came to her rescue.
- Those present could not overrule Duryodhana's decision out of fear even though certain laws were being violated and some even felt ashamed of themselves for being partakers in the act.
- A young innocent girl found herself being challenged by powerful men in the court for no fault of hers and all she could do was plead in vain.
