I would like put before u all some questions from our Mahabharata (points which are difficult for me to understand by myself), it would be nice if we are able to find some good answers (i know - there are never going just one simple answer😉)
I would try to answer your questions, however, most of my answers will probably match the ones given by other members.
Q1.
Who should be blamed for draupadi's vastra haran - Yudhistr for selling her or duryodhan/dushassan for harassing her - who was at greater fault (note: whether one repented for their action is not the question here) - which is the bigger crime - selling a wife or to strip a woman?
To be politically correct, both the Pandavas, and the Kauravas, along with Karna, Shakuni, and the other silent spectators should be blamed.
However, if u want to know, who was more responsible, Yudisthir or Duryodhan, then I would say, that it depends on your perspective.
Before posing a question, we have to understand that we are dealing with people, who belonged to 5000 years ago. The norms, and ideals of people were different then.
In those days, kings married multiple times for political reason. Does that happen now?
Will, women of today's world tolerate co-wives? No.
But in those days, a king sleeping with 5 wives, and 50 concubines was normal, and legal.
I guess, it's somewat true for Yudisthir's gambling as well.
Staking family members, is outrageous and wrong, NOW, but then, I guess things were different.
Tell me something, had Draupadi not been dragged and disrobed, and had she not been insulted at all, would u still have asked this question?
I guess not. None of us would have debated about Yudisthir's right to stake his family, had Draupadi not been treated like that.
So, for me, Duryodhan and the others were more responsible. Coz, Draupadi, despite becoming a slave, was still Duryodhan's elder sister-in-law. So, disrobing an elder sister-in-law, is absolutely disgusting.
Now, one might say, did Yudisthir not know how evil there cousins were?
I guess, that was the unique nature of Yudisthir. He was extremely forgiving and peace-loving, and expected the same from everyone. He may have imagined a lot of things, murder plots, usurping of throne, etc,\, but maybe he never imagined, not even in his wildest dreams, that his cousins would end up disrobing his wife. Disrobing the Kulvadhu in front of fathers-in-law, brothers-in-law, as well as outsiders, was probably the most perverted, and disgusting thought that could come to someone's mind.
I am not defending Yudisthir, coz I am not really a fan of his. And yes, what he did was TERRIBLE, especially, when he remained silent, seeing Draupadi's plight. However, if I have to choose one, then I would say that Duryodhan and others were more responsible.
Q2.
Was Bhism really to be blamed for amba's fate, wat about her alleged lover- whose mistake was it?
You are right. Bhishma probably got more punishment than he deserved. However, we have to remember, that women of 3000 B.C., had a very difficult life, if rejected for marriage.
Such women were considered cursed, and society stigmatized them.
Today, unmarried women, can become doctors and engineers, and earn their own living. But that was a different age.
So, I guess, given the fate, to which Amba was hurled, she probably did not have the patience to think in a different way.
Q3.
Why did pandu with his wives and sons did not return to hastinapur before his death? did pandu ever want pandavas to become kings of hastinapur?
Q4.
Why does kunti not reveal to pandu about karna (or try to search or just confirm his death - she knew with his kavach he would not be dead) while she is ready to reveal to pandu about durvasas mantra - like wise satyavati is ready to reveal about vyasa to bhisma (both satyavati and kunti were faced with dilemma of their respective generation being childless)
Kunti's abandonment of Karna was wrong, but she cannot be blamed completely. Given the fact that society treats unmarried mothers like hell, EVEN TODAY, I guess, it would be wrong to blame her.
Maybe she feared losing Pandu. Such questions are easy to ask, but difficult to answer.
It's easy to call Kunti a coward, but how many women have the guts to tell their husband of her illegitimate child, born from another man?
However, I feel, she should have told the Pandavas, after Pandu's death, especially when she witnessed a budding enmity between Karna and Arjun. That was a huge blunder, that Kunti made. There, she should have shown more courage.
In that way, she would have made life easier for Karna.
As for Satyavati, I think her situation was different. Parashara, Ved Vyas' father, took away Ved Vyas with him. So, Satyavati probably did not have the responsibility to bring up a son, out of wedlock. However, Karna was left to Kunti's care. So, her situation was more difficult.
Q5
What is the significance of the name 'kauravas' while i understand pandavas meant sons of pandus?
Kauravas come from Kuru. The Pandavas were also Kauravas. However, due to the rivalry, I guess, they were not called so. This is my assumption.
Q6
Why only Arjun (during the commencement of battle) is suffering from conflict between fighting his relatives - what about other pandavas -esp yudi was he not supposed to be the epitome of dharma?
This one is difficult to answer.
Thanks in advance - i hope for an interesting post!
Your welcome. However, if I have offended u, then I apologize. 😊
Anupamaa
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
