Sita & Draupadi : Their paths are different - Page 3

^^^ A new separate thread about Draupadi's softer qualities would be good.  Would it be based on MB or SB?  Or HV?  Or anything else?

^^^HV doesn't have anything significant on Draupadi. 

Originally posted by: varaali

^^^HV doesn't have anything significant on Draupadi. 

SB- only her conversation with Krishna's wives.

In the MB- Bhavadipa's and the Southern recension, her character really stands out.

I have to agree with Varaali on this one, but wish to clarify that I get Sema's sentiment as people were calling Sita weak, submissive and less of a worthy role model in a similar thread elsewhere and that can be frustrating. Sita Mata certainly possessed all the good qualities we attribute to her and more, but then Shri Ram also upheld his duties towards her that whole time (though I believe this was true literally the whole time, we'll discuss upto Ravan vadh for the sake of simplicity). The mere thought of her in danger gave him sleepless nights after her abduction, while the Pandavs bore the sight of being tormented without standing up for her. So she was able to demonstrate the qualities that make her Sita because Ram was Ram. She didn't argue or complain about him because he gave her no reason. However, that's not to discredit the greatness of the Pandavs - they made a mistake but they learned and grew afterwards. Sita and Ram had no room for growth because they were already perfect, and the Dwaapar characters were works in progress trying to get there. That is why Draupadi had to speak up when she did, because without knowing what you're doing wrong how do you fix it? We who revere Prahlad and Mandodari and Vibhishan for trying their hardest to bring their family members on the right path understand that dharma in relationships is about looking out for your loved ones' best interests, not blindly agreeing with them in every situation (this applies to friendship too... bet you can guess where I'm going with that one 😉).

I'd like to point out scenarios proving that Sita wasn't weak and Draupadi wasn't callous, but I'm at work right now so it'll have to be later. Or I could just be lazy and let Sema do the former, Varaali the latter, and I'll put my feet up and enjoy their hard work as usual 😆Edited by lola610 - 10 years ago

Great post...👏

Edited by amritat - 9 years ago

This certainly is an interesting discussion... I have thought about it myself on countless occasions... well, personally I believe Hindu women should follow Mata Parvati bcoz i think she embodies ideal femininity.. Devi Sita is ofcourse very motherly, loving,caring,forgiving ( all of them r ideal feminine virtues that makes a woman , an ideal woman ) , however, anything in excess is a poison, when such virtues are taken for granted they turn into submissive weakness ( agreeing to give agnipareeksha everytime & finally seeking shelter in Bhumi Devi for all eternity which according to me was a kind of synonym to suicide ) & that definitely does not set an ideal example..i would like to think that, due to Devi Sita's presence in Ramayan, it became a necessity to introduce a character like Draupadi in Mahabharat..it sort of balances out things..Devi Sita did not raise voice against injustice & Draupadi did.. and i believe that it is good thing that even Draupadi is considered  an ideal woman..but the same rule applies here as well, anything in excess is a poison..it is a good thing to seek justice but forever living in anger & revengeful attitude is a bad thing, such an attitude is enough to make anyone bitter..and I have seen bitter women ; they do not make for a pleasant company..i think what is required is a proper balance that will enable a woman to follow ideal virtues without turning those virtues into submissive weakness.. and I think unlike Devi Sita or even Draupadi, Mata Parvati embodies this balance perfectly..  Edited by Quixotic5 - 9 years ago