Reading Notes: Tiny Tales from the Mahabharata, Part B

“Duryodhana Summons Draupadi”

• Summary:
• Shakuni won every game he and Yudhishthira played, taking everything from him. One of those “prizes” included Draupadi. Duryodhana demanded Draupadi be brought to him, claiming her as his slave. Draupadi refused to come though, as she believed that she was not a prize to be claimed from this game. Dushasana told Duryodhana what Draupadi had said and was furious. He demanded she be brought to him again, this time with no room for argument.

“Dushasana Brings Draupadi into he Assembly

• Summary:
• Dushasana went to get Draupadi again and bring her out to Duryodhana. She tried to resist again, but he did not let her this time. He dragged her out by her hair to the hall where everyone was. Draupadi begged her husbands and anyone else in the assembly hall to help her, but to no avail. Shakuni and Duryodhana shamed her while the Pandava brothers stood there doing nothing.

“Bhima Makes a Vow”

• Summary:
• Duryodhana continued his jabs at Draupadi, degrading and humiliating her. Bhima, one of her husbands, and Draupadi both vowed to torture and kill Duryodhana for all he had done to them. Their uncle Vidura finally added that the Draupadi has Vishnu’s protection, so everything that Duryodhana has done needs to stop.

Draupadi was officially introduced in this section of the epic, and I immediately loved her! She is so confident in herself and won’t tolerate someone else disrespecting or using her. Reading the tales between the Pandavas and Duryodhana was an emotional rollercoaster, sometimes entertaining and sometimes making me want to yell at my computer screen because of these men’s stubbornness and Duryodhana’s narcissism, but as soon as Draupadi stood her ground, I knew she would be a force to reckon with.

The Ordeal of Queen Draupadi 

by Warwick Goble

Wikimedia Commons

Bibliography: Tiny Tales from the Mahabharata by Laura Gibbs, Part B

                        Page 9, Tales 81, 82 and 84