but the one distortion i was very happy to be shown was the speaking out of draupadi against the outcome of the discussions on kunti's order and her subsequent bartering in the name of marriage. even the brc mahabharat showed the draupadi silent in those events.
I have always found it unpalatable that draupadi is silent when the most momentous decision about her life is being taken, the decision which is so shocking, unconventional and probably a sin in the eyes of the world! The assertive, eloquent, Draupadi, who in her swayamvara spoke with such finality that she shall not wed a suta , doesnt say anything here.
I have always wondered why?
Yudhishthir and the twins had got up from the swayamvara hall soon after Arjun won her , and left for their house which they had reached long before arjun and bhim came with draupadi. It is highly unlikely that Yudhishthira hadn't given the news of Arjuna winning Draupadi to his mother. It was such important news, they had come to Kampilya specifically for this purpose,on learning of it from brahmanas , the whole Kamplilya was celebrating her swayamvara on that day, even strangers could have talked about nothing else on that day.
Was Kunti was really worried about her words turning out to be a lie' here? It is not an oath she has taken, it is not a vow, and sometimes even a lie is superior to the truth - (satyat jyeyo'nrtam vachah) - here its a question of a women's virtue!!
At this stage, says the Mahabharata, all the Pandava brothers looked at Draupadi and they all lusted so strongly for her that their senses ceased to function. Yudhishthira makes up his mind now - for, apart from seeing the lust in the eyes of his brothers and knowing his own desire for her, he also remembered what Vyasa had told them: that the princess of Panchala was destined to be their common bride.He announces his decision now - all the five brothers together shall marry her. She shall be their common wife.
Yudhishthira's solution must have been a complete shock to her. This was unheard of. A man marrying many women was common. But this - this was outrageous!She must have been utterly taken aback by what had just been spoken. This should have made her speak. Made her protest. Made her scream. But she does not scream. She does not protest. She does not speak a word.
But now all will say it was destined.She herself asked for such a boon from Lord Shiva. Even if we are willing to believe the story of Draupadi's past birth in which she was given the boon or curse of five husbands, against which she protests immediately (to Shiva himself- is it a curse or a boon?), Draupadi had no knowledge of it in this life. She has as yet no knowledge of the other stories Vyasa would later tell Drupada (in private) justifying her marriage to the five Pandavas.
In those times' patriarchial society, a decision of five men to marry her simultaneously is not accepted without protests - violent protests. But Draupadi - the fearless ksatrani, born of fire, - remains silent. Utterly silent. And remains so in all other versions of Mahabharat too.
Perhaps the CVs of Mahabharat , while looking through a 21st century lens into that epic times , are finally asking the relevant and pertinant questions to the bhiksha/dan episode which always makes us cringe.
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Anupamaa
