02.060
Core-Pancharatra: After Yudhisthira’s silence, Draupadi comes to the Sabha and stands in front of Dritarashtra.
Vaiśampāyana said.
With arrogance and intoxication, the son of Dhritarashtra looked at Pratikami in the assembly and said to him in the midst of the foremost elders, "Let there be condemnation for the charioteer thus speaking." (2-60-1)
You, bring Draupadī here through Prātikāmin; you need not fear the Pāṇḍavas. Vidura, the charioteer, is only arguing out of fear and is never truly concerned for our welfare. (2-60-2)
Thus addressed, Prātikāmī the charioteer quickly departed after hearing the king's message. The next day, he entered the lion's hall and approached the queen of the Pāṇḍavas. (2-60-3)
Prātikāmya said.
Deluded by the intoxication of gambling in Yudhiṣṭhira, Duryodhana has won you, O Draupadi. Now, having approached, I am leading you, O Yajnaseni, to the house of Dhritarashtra for the assigned task. (2-60-4)
Draupadī said.
How can you say this in response? What prince would ever gamble away his wife? The king, deluded and intoxicated by the madness of gambling—alas, there is no other deceit in him at all. (2-60-5)
Prātikāmya said.
When there was no other deceit in him, then Ajātaśatru, the Pāṇḍava, ruled. The brothers had previously been entrusted by that king; and he himself, and you, O princess.
Draupadī said.
Go to the gambler, enter the assembly and ask him, O charioteer’s son: 'O Bhārata, did you lose yourself first, or me?' After learning this, return and then lead me, O charioteer’s son. (2-60-7)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Having entered the assembly, he spoke Draupadī's words. Draupadī asked you: 'Of whom are you the lord, of us whom did you defeat? Did you first defeat yourself or me?' (2-60-8)
But Yudhishthira stood motionless, as if bereft of life; he did not answer the charioteer with any word, whether good or bad. (2-60-9)
Duryodhana said.
Let Kṛṣṇā Pāñcālī come here and speak this question. Let everyone here listen to what she and he have to say. (2-60-10)
Vaiśampāyana said.
He went to the royal palace, following Duryodhana's command; the charioteer Prātikāmī, appearing distressed, spoke to Draupadī. (2-60-11)
The noble ones are calling you, princess; I believe the destruction of the Kauravas has arrived. The lesser does not protect prosperity; therefore, you must go to the assembly, princess. (2-60-12)
Draupadī said.
Thus, indeed, the arranger has made it so; both the wise boy and the other, experiencing the two touches. But in the world, he declared one supreme duty; he, though hidden, will grant us peace. (2-60-13)
Vaiśampāyana said.
But Yudhishthira, having heard of Duryodhana's intentions, sent a messenger approved by Draupadi, O best of the Bharatas. (2-60-14)
Panchali, wearing a single garment and menstruating, weeping, came to the assembly and stood before her father-in-law. (2-60-15)
Then, seeing their faces, King Duryodhana, delighted, said to the charioteer: "Bring her here at once, Pratikami; let the Kurus speak in her presence." (2-60-16)
Then the charioteer, obedient to his command and fearful of the wrath of Drupada's daughter, setting aside his pride, once again addressed Kṛṣṇā in the assembly: "What am I to say?" (2-60-17)
Duryodhana said.
This Duḥśāsana, my son of the charioteer, is afraid of Bhīma, being of little intelligence. You yourself go and bring Draupadī here. What can your powerless rivals do to you? (2-60-18)
Then, the prince rose and, perceiving his brother's angry and averted gaze, entered the house of the great chariot-warriors and thus addressed Draupadī, the princess. (2-60-19)
"Come, come, O Pāñcālī, you have been conquered, O Kṛṣṇā; look at Duryodhana, who is without shame. Join the Kurus, O wide-lotus-eyed one; by righteousness you have been won, now go to the assembly of others." (2-60-20)
Then she, deeply distressed, rose up, wiped her pale face with her hand, and, afflicted, ran away from the place where the women of the aged king, the chief of the Kurus, were. (2-60-21)
Then Duḥśāsana, roaring with anger, swiftly approached her and seized the queen by her long, dark, wavy hair. (2-60-22)
Those who were sprinkled with mantra-purified water at the Rājasūya-avabhṛtha in the great sacrifice, having disregarded the strength of the Pāṇḍavas, were forcibly overpowered by the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra. (2-60-23)
He touched her and brought the dark-complexioned lady with very dark hair near the assembly; Duḥśāsana dragged her, though she had protectors, as if she were helpless, like the wind drags a distressed banana plant. (2-60-24)
She, being dragged with her body bent, slowly said: "Today I am menstruating. I have only one garment, O dull-witted one; you should not lead me, O unworthy one, to the assembly." (2-60-25)
Then, having seized her forcibly by the hair, he said: "Cry out to Kṛṣṇa, to Arjuna, to Hari, to Nara, for your protection; I will indeed take you away." (2-60-26)
O Yājñaseni, you may be menstruating, or wearing a single garment, or even without clothes; you have been won in gambling and made a servant woman; among the servant women, desire may be exercised as is pleasing. (2-60-27)
With her hair disheveled and her garment half-fallen, dragged by Duḥśāsana, burning with shame and anger, Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī) slowly spoke these words. (2-60-28)
These men, instructed in the śāstras in this assembly, all active and equal to Indra, all occupying the place of teachers and gurus; in front of them, I am unable to stand like this. (2-60-29)
You, who act cruelly and with ignoble conduct, do not make me disrobed, do not drag me. Not even your princes would tolerate this, even if the gods with Indra are your helpers. (2-60-30)
Established in dharma, and being the son of Dharma, the king; dharma is subtle and can be discerned only by the skilled. Even in speech, I do not wish to find even an atom of fault in my master, abandoning my own virtues. (2-60-31)
But this act is unworthy of an ārya in the midst of the Kuru heroes; you drag me, a menstruating woman. No one here offers any honor; certainly, all have followed your opinion. (2-60-32)
Let there be condemnation, for indeed the dharma of the Bhāratas is destroyed, as is the conduct of the knowers of kṣatra. Where the boundary of Kuru-dharma has been transgressed, all the Kurus behold it in the assembly. (2-60-33)
Neither Droṇa nor Bhīṣma have fortitude; certainly, even this great-souled king does not. Likewise, the chief elders of the Kurus do not perceive this severe unrighteousness (2-60-34).
Thus, as she spoke with compassion, the slender-waisted lady glanced at her angry husbands. Overcome by anger herself, she incited the Pāṇḍavas with her sidelong glances. (2-60-35)
The loss of the kingdom and wealth, or even the chief jewels, did not cause such sorrow as did the true, anger-stirred black sidelong glance. (2-60-36)
Duḥśāsana, seeing Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī) looking at her wretched husbands, shook her violently as if she were unconscious, and, laughing fiercely, said "slave-woman". (2-60-37)
But Karna was extremely pleased by those words and honored them with a smiling exclamation. The king of Gandhara, the son of Subala, likewise greeted Duhshasana. (2-60-38)
But the other assembly members present there, except for those two and Dhritarashtra's son, felt great sorrow when they saw Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī) being dragged in the assembly. (2-60-39)
Bhīṣma said.
O fortunate one, due to the subtlety of dharma, I am not able to properly explain this question to you. Just as a horse is incapable of appraising another's wealth, so too are women, considering their subjection to their husbands. (2-60-40)
One may abandon all the riches of the earth, but Yudhiṣṭhira must never abandon truth. Since the Pāṇḍava has declared, 'I am conquered,' therefore I cannot separate from this. (2-60-41)
Śakuni is unrivaled among men in gambling; by him, the son of Kuntī has become detached from desires. The great-souled one does not regard that deceit; therefore, I do not ask you this question. (2-60-42)
Draupadī said.
Having been summoned into the assembly by the skillful, the king—surrounded by the evil-minded, the deceitful, the ignoble, and those fond of gambling, though not one who has made excessive effort—why indeed is this person, whose desires are abandoned? (2-60-43)
He, though pure in mind and unaware, the foremost among the Kurus and Pāṇḍavas, having united with all, was conquered; yet it was from him that, later, that deceit was undertaken. (2-60-44)
These Kurus, the lords of sons and daughters-in-law, stand here in the assembly. Having considered all my words as well, please answer this question of mine properly. (2-60-45)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Thus, as she spoke piteously and wept, repeatedly looking at me and her husbands, Duḥśāsana uttered harsh, unpleasant, and bitter words. (2-60-46)
Seeing her being dragged while menstruating, with her upper garment fallen and in a state undeserving of such treatment, Vṛkodara (Bhīma), looking at Yudhiṣṭhira and her, became extremely angry and distressed. (2-60-47)
