[tscii]Mr. Balaji,Quote:
Originally Posted by S.Balaji
The incident of Draupadi laughing at Duryodhana is narrated by Rajaji. The much respected (and so-called) translation of Mrs. Kamala Subramanian speaks of it for a complete chapter. But neither of them have written that she uttered words like, ‘The son of a blind man is also blind.’ This was a dialogue spoken in the TV serial, hearing which, I was also shocked and quickly leafed through my copy of Mahabharata and was convinced that this was a matter of dramatic element that the playwright has added.
This happens with every re-creation of the epic. The dialogues, the incidents, the moods, the tone, everything varies from version to version. Every creative writer would do that. Otherwise, we would not have so many differing versions. But, you will agree with me when I say, such depictions should not go into the character as cast in the original work, if one is really serious about the pursuit of the epics.
Now, here is the particular portion in the epic, translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, who has exercised utmost care (he has stated so in the introduction) to keep the translation closest to the Sanskrit text. This has been done with authenticity in view, and not ease/pleasure of reading as the primary motive.
Please go through this section. Please tell me where it has been stated that Draupadi laughed, or used such words that are alleged? Even Duryodhana, while recapitulating, does not accuse her of either laughing, or using such words.
However, there must have been some missing Sloka that mentions that Draupadi laughed. So many others laughed and she was one among them. I believe this because Bharati has mentioned this twice in his Panchali Sabatam, which is almost a translation of Vyasa. Even there, we do not find that she used such words as are alleged. It is true that she laughed. But the allegation that she said, ‘This fellow’s father is blind and therefore this fellow is also blind,’ is baseless.
Quote: Mahabharata Sabha Parva, Section 66
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Vaisampayana said,--"That bull among men, Duryodhana, continued to dwell in that, assembly house (of the Pandavas). And with Sakuni, the Kuru prince slowly examined the whole of that mansion, and the Kuru prince beheld in it many celestial designs, which he had never seen before in the city called after the elephant (Hastinapore). And one day king Duryodhana in going round that mansion came upon a crystal surface. And the king, from ignorance, mistaking it for a pool of water, drew up his clothes. And afterwards finding out his mistake the king wandered about the mansion in great sorrow. And sometime after, the king, mistaking a lake of crystal water adorned with lotuses of crystal petals for land, fell into it with all his clothes on. Beholding Duryodhana fallen into the lake, the mighty Bhima laughed aloud as also the menials of the palace. And the servants, at the command of the king, soon brought him dry and handsome clothes. Beholding the plight of Duryodhana, the mighty Bhima and Arjuna and both the twins--all laughed aloud. Being unused to putting up with insults, Duryodhana could not bear that laugh of theirs. Concealing his emotions he even did not cast his looks on them. And beholding the monarch once more draw up his clothes to cross a piece of dry land which he had mistaken for water, they all laughed again. And the king sometime after mistook a closed door made of crystal as open. And as he was about to pass through it his head struck against it, and he stood with his brain reeling. And mistaking as closed another door made of crystal that was really open, the king in attempting to open it with stretched hands, tumbled down. And coming upon another door that was really open, the king thinking it as closed, went away from it. And, O monarch, king Duryodhana beholding that vast wealth in the Rajasuya sacrifice and having become the victim of those numerous errors within the assembly house at last returned, with the leave of the Pandavas, to Hastinapore.
And the heart of king Duryodhana, afflicted at sight of the prosperity of the Pandavas, became inclined to sin, as he proceeded towards his city reflecting on all he had seen and suffered. And beholding the Pandavas happy and all the kings of the earth paying homage to them, as also everybody, young and old, engaged in doing good unto them, and reflecting also on the splendour and prosperity of the illustrious sons of Pandu, Duryodhana, the son of Dhritarashtra, became pale. In proceeding (to his city) with an efflicted heart, the prince thought of nothing else but that assembly house and that unrivalled prosperity of the wise Yudhishthira. And Duryodhana, the son of Dhritarashtra, was so taken up with his thoughts then that he spoke not a word to Suvala's son even though the latter addressed him repeatedly. And Sakuni, beholding him absent-minded, said,--'O Duryodhana, why art thou proceeding thus'?
"Duryodhana replied,--O uncle, beholding this whole earth owning the sway of Yudhishthira in consequence of the might of the illustrious Arjuna's weapons and beholding also that sacrifice of the son of Pritha like unto the sacrifice of Sakra himself of great glory among the celestials, I, being filled with jealousy and burning day and night, am being dried up like a shallow tank in the summer season. Behold, when Sisupala was slain by the chief of the Satwatas, there was no man to take the side of Sisupala. Consumed by the fire of the Pandava, they all forgave that offence; otherwise who is there that could forgive it? That highly improper act of grave consequence done by Vasudeva succeeded in consequence of the power of the illustrious son of Pandu. And so many monarchs also brought with them various kinds of wealth for king Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, like tribute-paying Vaisyas! Beholding Yudhishthira's prosperity of such splendour, my heart burneth, efflicted with jealously, although it behoveth me not to be jealous.'
"Having reflected in this way, Duryodhana, as if burnt by fire, addressed the king of Gandhara again and said,--'I shall throw myself upon a flaming fire or swallow poison or drown myself in water. I cannot live. What man is there in the world possessed of vigour who can bear to see his foes in the enjoyment of prosperity and himself in destitution? Therefore I who bear to see that accession of prosperity and fortune (in my foes) am neither a woman nor one that is not a woman, neither also a man nor one that is not a man. Beholding their sovereignty over the world and vast affluence, as also that sacrifice, who is there like me that would not smart under all that? Alone I am incapable of acquiring such royal prosperity; nor do I behold allies that could help me in the matter. It is for this that I am thinking of self-destruction. Beholding that great and serene prosperity of the son of Kunti, I regard Fate as supreme and exertions fruitless. O son of Suvala, formerly I strove to compass his destruction. But baffling all my efforts he hath grown in prosperity even like the lotus from within a pool of water. It is for this that I regard Fate as supreme and exertions fruitless. Behold, the sons of Dhritarashtra are decaying and the sons of Pritha are growing day by day. Beholding that prosperity of the Pandavas, and that assembly house of theirs, and those menials laughing at me, my heart burneth as if it were on fire. Therefore, O uncle, know me now as deeply grieved and filled with jealousy, and speak of it to Dhritarashtra.
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End of quote.
Apart from not saying anything about Draupadi’s laughter, this section gives out the real reason behind Duryodhana’s anger. Jealousy.
Now, this branches off to another issue. Duryodhana was NOT their guest. He was a part of the host. Please read Panchali Sabatham. i have written a verse for verse commentary, together with concordance from Vyasa. You may in particular see this page:Quote:
I expected some respectable behaviour and treatment to someone WHO WAS THEIR GUEST...
http://www.harimozhi.com/Article.asp?id=293
The Panchali Sabatham, with commentaries written so far can be accessed from here:
http://www.harimozhi.com/ListArticle...ngArticleId=22
I have substantiated more than enough. I think the question of apology does not arise in the circumstances.Quote:
I think we should not equate Draupadhi with others as Duriyodhana was known for his wickedness. and bad character...
but Draupadhi need not follow the same path...
I FEEL IF SHE HAD APOLOGISED TO DURYODHANA... THE VARIOUS EVENTS WHICH FOLLOWED WOULD HAVE BEEN AVERTED..I MEAN.. THE ACT OF DISROBING... AND ALSO THE WAR....
Pls comment...
Yes. Very much. More than that, when she was brought to the Sabha, Duryodhana moved his vastra aside and showed her his left thigh. Bare, naked thigh. And asked her to come and be seated on his thigh. "ayvar kUttu manaivikku naaNamE?" writes Bharati, as the words of Duryodhana. 'What is the need for the joint-wife of five to be ashamed?' He intended to have her as his concubine and ordered Vidura to fetch her to the Saba, first. Dussasana, when he reached her private chamber and when she pleaded that she was in menstural cycle and therefore was in a single piece of garment alone, he laughed and said, 'You be clad in a saree or be nude. I don't care. You are my brother's slave. Come with me now.' Need any further evidence?Quote:
Do you mean that Duryodhana also wanted to marry Draupadhi ?
I notice another comment by Viggop here. That she wanted to drink the blood of Dussasana. It was Bheema's vow. Bharati, towards the end of his work, has taken a portion from the Bengali 'Uru pangam' (breaking of the thigh) and added it to the vow of Bheema. Nonetheless, Bheema did drink his blood. That is another matter for another discussion, if needed.
