Originally posted by: Viswasruti
Well... well, well said, agreed with your every point.
The Mahabharata is considered to be an authority in matters of State, government, polity, and philosophy. Even though it was written centuries ago, the political conflicts described therein resonate strongly with the events of today! There are numerous interpretations of the epic and the events that led to the Great War of Mahabharatha, but there is one particular incident that it is agreed proved to be the final blow in the rivalry between the Kauravas and the Pandavas -- the attempted disrobing of Draupadi.
When Draupadi protested against her disrobing by asking the Kauravas if it was Dharma to treat a woman in such a manner, Karna, a Kaurava ally, retorted that if a man loses himself in gambling, his master becomes the master of all his possessions, including his wife. He further told her that the ancient laws allowed a woman to go to only with four men with her husband's permission. Since Draupadi had been with five men, he said, she was a whore and public property, according to law. Hence, her disrobing was justified as it fell well within the bounds of law-- said by Karna!!
There is no shortage of dilemmas in the Mahābhārata, however, one exceptional dilemma remains unresolved, a question unanswered even today. Did Yudhiṣṭhira have the right to stake Draupadī in the “friendly" game of dice after he had lost himself? And was she, therefore, slave to the Kauravas? No one resolved this dilemma presented in the earliest instance of the dice game!
Criticism of Yudhiṣṭhira’s addiction, the silence or equivocation of the Kuru elders in the sabha and the inaction of Draupadī’s husbands at her ill-treatment causes indignation, but the censure is barely commensurate with the burden of guilt they might bear.
What factors facilitated the staking of Draupadī, her proposed slave status, and subsequent mistreatment? Namely, Yudhiṣṭhira’s failure as a husband, the inaction of the Kuru elders, the impotence of her husbands and the absence of Kṛṣṇa and Vyāsa from the scene.
Draupadī posed the ultimate dharmasaṅkaṭa issuing from the treatment of a lawfully wedded wife. Yudhiṣṭhira—authority on dhārma, son of Dharma—responds to his wife’s question in the gambling hall with catatonic silence. He says nothing, good or bad!!!
Once she is lost in the game of dice , Duryodhana immediately asks for her to be brought and wishes her to be with the serving girls and sweep the chamber.
Her first reaction is disbelief that her husband, a king no less, can stake his wife and she says Yudhiṣṭhira must have been stupefied in his intoxication for the game
Ancient Indian literature, epics especially, abound with karmic consequences to explain the inexplicable. Sometimes, events are a result of actions from a previous birth, and sometimes in this very birth, but unknown to the protagonist or observer. Often, it is the curse of an irate sage.
The entire Mahabharaths is a political commentary on Kings and their ambitions, Kingdoms and boundaries, women as a showpiece, or a thing worth only to gamble, or a slave to use for fulfilling the lust, or property to be won through a war!!
Panchali waged a war on such atrocious outlook and tried her best to stand tall amidst this male unconquerable ego!
What a beautiful post Madhuri .. loved reading it .
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