The disrobing of Draupadi.

Mahabharat is one of the most difficult scripture to talk about, as each of its events are filled with unimaginable wisdom. One such event was the disrobing of Draupadi.

That event is unexplainably shameful for the members of that courtroom. Yet, as said before we have a lot to learn from it, from the spiritual perspective.

• The ultimate test of a devotee.

Draupadi, as we know, was an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna, whom she believed to be omnipotent and ultimate judicious. Yet she went through immense misery, without any fault of her own. There is no explanation to as why was she put through it.

Just to put into perspective, Sati Draupadi was the most respected women in her time, surpassing even Gandhari who wore blindfold since her husband Dhritarashtra was blind. Imagine what it must for such a reverential woman, to be disrobed in front of her family, and in the presence of her husbands who were not ordinary either. Even in the presence of elders. It is shameful to disrobe a woman, but worse in the presence of her own family and worst when done by her own relatives. She wasn’t like women of today who shed their clothes and publicize it just for the sake of money,, fame or some popularity. She held her integrity higher than anything else.

It was injustice and she was helpless. This was the ultimate test of her faith in God. How can one have faith in God in such a situation?

• Was Lord Krishna late to save Draupadi?

Draupadi being such an ardent devotee and such a pious lady, then one would wonder, why didn’t Lord Krishna wait for her to be dragged in the court. Why was he so late that he came just as she was about to be disrobed?

Well, let us see what actually happened…

Draupadi began with questioning the legality of her being staked by her husband who had already lost himself. She was right in her arguments, but the mistake was, that she was expecting justice from the wrong people. We all know they would not have listened.

Secondly, she looked at the elders for justice, Bhishma, Dronacharya, Krupacharya, Dhritarashtra etc elders, but they all sat their helplessly. She then expected her extraordinary husbands to help her, but even they stood their helplessly.

In the final moments, when Dushasan stood and held her saree, she held the saree as tightly as she could, trying to save herself.

In all these cases, she had confidence in someone else, other than Krishna, other than God. Therefore, all the other causes failed her. And when Dushasan pulled the saree with all his might and the slipped from her grasp, she realized only God could save her, and she cried out “Krishna”.

And Krishna came instantly without any delay. Krishna was never late, it was Draupadi who took time to remember and call Krishna. Her mistake was she expected and trusted other people more than Krishna. She once felt that she could save herself, by holding the saree, but the moment the saree slipped, she realized only God could help her and that is why she called for God. This what we do, instead of believing God as the doer, we fight for things which are not under our control, and when we are ultimately helpless, we run to God, who had been stretching out His hand for help all the way along!

• The Lord’s Supremacy

Lord Krishna had practically no time to save Draupadi, as He has a habit of not interfering unless called for…

Yet, just see how omnipotent He is, that in no time he rushed into the scene and provided Draupadi with unending sarees! There are so many aspects here, the time factor, making a new saree appear everytime Dushashan pulls one. It is said Dushashan had the power of 10 elephants in his arms, yet he was tired but the sarees did not end.

That’s how powerful and limitless God is. We expect protection and justice from limited people here. Her husbands right there, yet they could do nothing, she herself could not save her in spite of being a great Pativrata and all her austerities went futile. It is God who can save in the most severe difficulties, all we need to do is turn to Him in our heart with utmost sincerity and honesty. He is right next to us, with us and above all, He loves us more than anyone else. So, dear women, call out to God when in trouble.

The pride and the strength in us should be of God and not of others besides us. The mistake of Draupadi was just that she for a moment forgot God and thought her husbands or the elders or herself would save her. 

Hence Shankaracharya says:

maa kuru dhana jana yauvana garvam
harati nimeshhaatkaalah sarvam
maayaamayamidamakhilaM hitvaa
brahmapadaM tvaM pravisha viditvaa

 Do not boast of wealth, friends, and youth. Each one of these is destroyed within a minute. Free yourself from the illusion of the world of Maya and attain the timeless Truth.

Related

The story of Vikarna(Mahabharat) and its link to Dariya Khan’s Tomb(Ahmedabad).