@Brahmaputra
I would disagree with your line of argument. Not bcoz of any feminism or favouritism, but bcoz of what is stated in the epic. And note, I do believe that the disrobing and sari extension was most likely interpolation.
1.) IIRC, Draupadi does not blame Dushasana many times either. Does that imply that that she had forgiven him or understood his "POV" of why he must have molested her as a slave? Or that she was in "deep love" with Dushy?
It is interesting to note, that Draupadi never blames anyone as much as she blames Duryodhan, though he had done her less harm at the dice game. Whenever she speaks about her perpetrators, she does so collectively and describes what was done to her in a collective manner: "I was dragged to the Sabha in a single garment" (done by Dushasana), "They wanted to forcefully make me a slave, and enjoy me as a slave" (Suggested by Karna and Dushasana). But Duryodhan gets blamed singularly.
The reason is simple. Duryodhan was the crown prince/King. The rest were mere sidekicks to him in the eyes of Pandavas and Draupadi.
It is generally perceived that Draupadi wanted war only for her own insult, but that is only partially true. The dice-game is the tipping point. But she also recollects how the Pandavas were continuously deceived by their cousins from childhood. She seemed to have wanted justice not just for herself, but for all the crimes she believed had been inflicted upon her family. The dice-game was the last nail in the coffin. In light of this, Draupadi was pragmatic enough to see that irrespective of what Karna said or Dushy did, it was Duryodhan who was behind everything, being the Crown Prince and the leader of the gang.
So, Draupadi not blaming Karna singularly again and again does not necessarily imply that she forgave him or that his words were less disrespectful or complete interpolation. That she mentioned his laughter once singularly right after the incident is telling of his role in the fiasco. Coz, even Shakuni was laughing at her IIRC, but he never gets blamed for that.
2.) Now, coming to judging characters with sensibilities based on era.
What Yudisthir did was wrong. What DDSK was also wrong. By 21st Century standards, both parties would be jailed. But was it the same in Mahabharata era?
Forget about Arthashastra, Manu Smriti and other theoritical rule books, and let's focus on what actually happened as per the text.
Not only Draupadi, none of the Pandavas or Kunti or Krishna ever accused Yudisthir of human staking (only Bhima fleetingly gets angry at Yudi during dice game, but he too reverts back to his patriarchal self soon after). But IIRC, everybody acknowledged that the treatment meted out to Draupadi by DDSK was wrong even in that era. Not bcoz they were feminists or anything. Not just bcoz she was a "Queen" either. But bcoz she was a relative and the "brother's wife" (as pointed out by Krishna).
Going by this, either human staking was complete interpolation and that is why nobody blamed him. Or it was considered wrong but not a big crime in those days. Or, everybody agreed that Yudi was cheated into it, and thus deemed him innocent.
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At the last point, a question comes to my mind.
You say that Duryodhan would have never done something like this to a woman in public for the sake of his image. That makes me wonder, how come Yudi was not concerned about the same!
Going by this logic, the whole human staking itself must have been entirely interpolation too. Otherwise, which man would sell his citizens, brothers, wife and even himself so publicly to gain kingdom!
Edited by amritat - 6 years ago
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