Draupadi's Life: An Eternal Agnipariksha
(This write up is based on my interpretation of her character and I don't intend to hurt anyone sentiments here. Would love constructive criticism and opinions)
Draupadi, one of the most beautiful, graceful and courageous female characters in this epic is and has been a great inspiration for women of all ages and eras. Born out of fire, her life was an eternal agnipariksha (trial by fire).
Birth: Drupad never asked for a daughter. He just wanted a son but he ended up getting a beautiful daughter, Draupadi-- born out of fire along with Drishtdyumna. She was unwanted at birth but eventually proved to be her father's and Panchal's (hence Panchali) pride. As she was born a young maiden, Panchali never experienced the love and affection a child receives from a parent. For anyone, their childhood years are the best years of their lives- free of tensions and responsibilities but our yagnaseni had no such luck.
Marriage: Drupad was well aware of Draupadi's beauty, intelligence and grace. Still seething from his defeat by Drona (via Arjun), he wanted someone capable to marry his daughter so he could avenge the conquest of half his kingdom by Drona. Who else but an archer of Arjun's fame could do that? Hence, Draupadi was placed as bait in swaymvar so he could have an ally as capable as Arjun. Draupadi, of course fell in love with the Brahmin who won the archery competition and without any fuss agreed to accompany him and his brothers to the forest. If Drupad had won himself a strong ally, Kunti made sure her sons would stay united forever by inadvertently dividing Draupadi amongst her sons. It's said that after she had made that comment, she realized all her sons had fallen for Draupadi's beauty and the only way she could keep them united was by getting them all married to Draupadi. Here again, Draupadi was put through an agnipariksha where she had to suppress her own feelings and do what was best for others. Her arrangement with the brothers where they shared her on a yearly basis was also based on preserving harmony and unity amongst the brothers. She proved to be a good wife to each brother, bore sons for each of them and stood by all of them through thick and thin. Even though she loved Arjun the most, she never let her own feelings overpower her duties or actions. For me, this was the biggest agni pariksha she ever gave. How many of us women have the guts to do what she did and that too with full surrender and love? I'm appalled when some people have the audacity to call her names like wh*re etc.
Dice game: The less said the better about this heinous incident. This was the agnipariksha that only her soul survived unscathed. That day, there was an all- consuming fire of adharm in the sabha at HP. Everyone else- the elders, the Pandavs, Karna, Kauravs had their souls charred in the fire that day. If it were not for her, her husbands would have remained slaves for the rest of their lives. In an irony of sorts, the men couldn't save her honor but she helped them get back their freedom just by her spirit, courage and presence of mind. She pulled them out of the fire that they had trapped themselves in.
Exile: The 13 years of exile was a long trial by fire for all six of them. Even there, she had to face demons like Jaidrath and Keechak. She forgave Jaidrath as he was Dusshala's husband but made sure Keechak met his end. He was a burden for the society and once again, she put herself through fire to get rid of an oppressive demon.
Kurukshetra: Imagine how she felt when Yudishtra and company still spoke of peace and forgiveness after they returned from exile. They all gave peace a fair chance but in the end when talks and rational thinking fell through, the great war of Kurukshetra took place. Yes, Draupadi avenged her wrong doers but at what price? She lost all her sons, father, brother and sister in the war. Once again, she went through agnipariskha and in the end forgave Ashwathama (the one who killed her sons and family) and took care of a grieving Gandhari even though her sons had humiliated and ruined her life.
Out of respect, she stayed back as queen of HP for 36 years to fulfill her duties towards the society, her in laws and husbands. Imagine the kind of grief and isolation she must have endured in those 36 years.
In the end, she was the first one to fall (out of the six) and no one came to her rescue.
Her life was all about giving- she gave her father his revenge, her husbands their glory, her sons to the war, forgiveness to the helpless and justice to the evil but what did she get? She never failed anyone but time and again, others failed her.
All she wanted was respect and unconditional love from her loved ones but did she ever receive them?
The man she loved unconditionally could never reciprocate her feelings wholeheartedly (Arjun) and the man who loved her unconditionally, could never have her completely (Bheem).
If it were not for her dear sakha, Draupadi's agnipariskhas would have been harder and more unbearable. Her sakha himself died a tragic death, all alone, after losing his whole clan. No wonder some people say sakha and sakhi were in reality Vishnu and Lakshmi who helped cleanse the earth of sin and adharma at the end of that yuga.
In the end, I just want to quote the lyrics from her BG song:
Rahega atal mera mann
Yagnaseni ka yeh vachan...
Here is the link to a version where Draupadi is considered a form of Lakshmi
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
