Chapter 38: Chapter 34 : शरणागति (surrender)

The whole court heard Panchali's desperate cries and screams .Dushassana had at last succeeded in bringing her to the gambling hall .The people present there became horrified and dumbstruck .The daughter-in-law of the famed Kuru Dynasty ,the Princess of the powerful Panchala Kingdom ,a divine lady born from the sacred fire (yagya) ,was now being dragged ruthlessly and finally ,she was thrown near Duryodhana's feet .

The Pandavas could do nothing .They hung their heads in shame and regretted for their worst mistake they had ever made . An infuriated Bhimsena stood up and shouted at Dushassana .He couldn't see the miserable state of Panchali .Again ,he was silenced .

I stood behind one of those pillars and I saw Draupadi slowly standing up and she looked around eat everyone .Never she had expected Yudhishthira to make such a big mistake .She expected an answer from him ,but he felt so guilty ,helpless and ashamed ,that he did not even have the courage to look up towards her eyes .I could see him trembling with fear and guilt .

Duryodhana gave an evil ,malicious smile .He was eagerly waiting for this moment ,the moment where Draupadi would get insulted .

"Welcome Draupadi !!" He exclaimed ,his voice dripping with an evil intent .Draupadi glared back at him with rage and fire in her eyes .

Draupadi turned to Yudhishthira again "What's the meaning of all this ,Dharmaraj ?"

"I'll tell you everything .Your foolish husbands are no more warriors of Aryavarta .They have lost everything .....their property ,wealth ,servants ,animals ,kingdom ,even their rights as warriors ,their honour ,themselves ,and now you .....You belong to me fully now ....." Duryodhana shouted .

Draupadi boiled with anger and rage .There was fire in her eyes .She couldn't tolerate the humiliation and insult .And now ,her voice was as sharp as a sword .

"You are a big fool Duryodhana .You are not fit to be called as a Prince or a Kshatriya ,because you a demon in disguise .Neither you can control me ,nor you can seize me ." Saying this she walked towards Dhritarashtra .

"Oh king ,is this dharma to treat the daughter in law of the household like this ?Why is it so ? WHY !!?? Why can't you stop your son from doing this ? Do you also support him in his actions ?"

She then turned to Bhishma and  Dronacharya "Grandsire ,you know whatever is happening here is adharma .How can you stay silent like this ? Do I deserve such treatment ? Guru Dronacharya ,you are their teacher and mentor .Is this what you taught them ? Such a powerful dynasty ,such a wealthy kingdom ,now it is treating an innocent woman like a slave mercilessly in front of a court filled with hundreds and thousands of men ,and yet all the powerful warriors of Bharatvarsha present here sit dumbstruck ,all the elders of the family remain silent .Why isn't anyone stopping this ? Does dharma prescribe this ? WHY IS EVERYONE SILENT ?"

I saw the elders were so frightened and tensed ,it was as if they were fighting with their own emotions .None of them could reply to what Draupadi had asked . She became hopeless and disappointed ,so she approached the Pandavas .She saw Yudhishthira with her eyes filled with tears .

"Do I really deserve this insult ,Dharmaraja ? I have served all of you and I have been loyal to each one of you .In return ,you have gambled me away like some property .Oh King Yudhishthira ,all these years you have spent your life strictly adhering to the principles of Dharma .But what you have done today , does it also come under those principles ? I am your wife ,but it doesn't mean you have rights over me .I need an explanation from you ,I need to know the reason behind your act .Why do you stay silent ?" She turned towards the rest of the brothers  "You all also agree with Yudhishthira ? Is it so ? Where is the courage ,where is the valour ,where is the strength in you all ?"

The Pandavas felt so weak and ashamed .They became powerless now ,that they couldn't answer anything , and just sit speechless.

Duryodhana lost his patience now .He shouted and roared at her " Nobody here is answerable to a slave like you ! You are rightfully mine now .Anyways ,what do you expect from those five cowards .They are fit for nothing and they cannot even give you proper protection .Since that's the case ,come to me and sit on my thigh .Become my slave and I shall give you full protection !!!" Saying this ,he slapped hard on his thigh ,laughing menacingly .

Draupadi was disgusted and was aghast after seeing his inappropriate behaviour . The Pandavas were in blazing in anger and fiery .I got frightened and angry as well .I held Krishna's hand tightly ,who was standing beside me  .He was silently observing everything .(Because wherever I went ,Krishna came with me ,no matter where ever he was ,whatever he was doing ....)

"Be in your limits Duryodhana !!!! Don't cross the boundaries of Dharma .The Gods are watching you and your hilarious act ,so keep that in mind !" She replied ,for which Karna stood up against her .

"It is you who has crossed the boundaries of Dharma .You have five husbands ,and that clearly makes you a public property .So there's nothing wrong in serving Duryodhana as your new master ."

"Of course ! I can do anything with you .You are no more a queen ,you are nothing ,you have nothing now .But be mine now ,I shall give you everything ,whatever you desire in this world .Atleast , you will gain some recognition !!!" Duryodhana laughed .

Draupadi wailed "What type of a court is this which sits silently and watches a woman getting humiliated like this publicly ? I once again question you all ,is it dharma to treat  me in front of all men like this ? I can see everybody are dissolved in their own thoughts and emotions .Shame on you all !! Shame on you all !!!" She kept on shouting  .

"My child ,I think this lady hasn't given up her ego and arrogance ......"

Duryodhana's wicked uncle Shakuni was whispering something in his ear ,but I could hear it .He was the root cause for all these dreadful events .

"Those garments in which she is draped ,belongs to us .Disrobe her ,Dushassana . She laughed at me ,calling me blind .Now I'll laugh at her to my heart's content .Go and disrobe her ,in front of me !!"

Everyone became shocked after hearing Duryodhana's statement .The Pandavas had lost the.or patience . This was going out of limits .Draupadi was left alone .She looked at everyone's face helplessly ,still having the hope that someone will do something for her .Her trust was broken .

"So much is happening here .A lady is being being tortured ,humiliated and insulted so badly in front of so many men here ,but still this court of Hastinapur remains silent .Why so ? Nobody will come and protect me from this disaster ,is it ?"

Nobody dared to come forward .All the elders folded their hands and looked down .Brave and courageous warriors like Bhishma and Drona lost their courage today and became silent ,feeling ashamed .It was as if they had no power ,no emotion in them .The Pandavas hung their heads in shame ,and they never saw Draupadi's face .I became very angry upon everyone . No warrior deserved respect and fame ,when they cannot save lady in front of them .

"Duryodhana ! You will never be forgiven for this mistake !" Draupadi shouted in anger .

"I'm not answerable to you !!! Go Dushassana !"

Draupadi now realised that no one was there to protect her from her miserable state  .

She looked above and said ,with a shaky voice "When my own husbands cannot protect me ,when all the elders remain silent ,when all the powerful warriors of Bharatvarsha sit dumbstruck .... now only God can save me !"

I started to cry .Tears were flowing from my eyes ,unlimitedly .I can't describe the pain ,the uneasiness which I faced during that time ,in words .

Dushassana grabbed the sari pallu .Draupadi no more resisted ,or fight or shout .All she did was raise her arms up in the air ,and look above with her eyes closed .Sweat was streaming down from her exhausted and injured face ,her weak hands and her body were trembling with fear .Her mouth was also trembling .But now she was immersed in total surrender and I could hear prayers ,because of my Krishna's mercy . She looked above , as if calling for someone desperately .Everyone's faces hung low ,except for the Kauravas .

Then suddenly there was a faint fragrance of Sandalwood ,Tulsi and Roses filling in the court room and I knew what it was - Krishna's signature fragrance . He showed the world that he was present everywhere ,even though he wasn't present physically at the court .And now he was here ,to protect his beloved sister ,his friend who had surrendered to him .

"Oh lotus eyed Govinda ! Oh ruler of Dwarka ! Hear my pleas and save this lady who cries in distress .Oh Bhaktvatsala ! I call you again and again .I surrender my mind ,my body and my soul to you .I surrender myself unto your lotus feet . Oh Pundarikaksha ! the Kauravas have decided to insult me like this and no one comes to my aid .Of Slayer of evil ! Oh beloved of Gopis ! Oh lord of the three worlds ! I beseech you ,again and again .Oh master of this universe ! Oh bearer of the Sudarshana Chakra ,lotus ,Shankha and Mace ! Oh Krishna ! Save Me ! Save me ! Save me !"

Dushassana started to pull the sari forcefully . Draupadi ,who was in a worry and fear all this time .....now her face suddenly became calm .She was smiling in a blissful manner ,as if all the troubles in her life were once for all gone .She was in ecstasy now .She kept on singing the glories of my Krishna.

"Oh slayer of the evil king Kansa ! oh Govardhana Giridhari ! Oh Gopinath ! Oh Rukmini Vallabha !"

Then I witnessed a wonderful ,extraordinary miracle .Her sari's length became unlimited . Dushassana kept on pulling and pulling and pulling and pulling and pulling and pulling  ..........

But it was never ending .Everyone became surprised and awestruck on seeing such a scene .

Draupadi was in pure ecstasy and calmness ,while the wicked Dushassana was becoming highly exhausted ! I realised that Draupadi could see Krishna helping her .

"शंख चक्र गदापाणे द्वारका निलयाच्युता ।

गोविंद पुण्डरीकाक्षा रक्ष्माम् शरणागताम्

हा कृष्ण द्वारकावासीन् क्वासी यादव नंदन

इमाम अवस्थाम् संप्राप्ताम् नाथाम् किमुपेक्षसे

कृष्ण कृष्ण महायोगीन् विश्वात्मन विश्व भावन

प्रपन्ना पाहि गोविंद कुरु मध्ये वसिदतीम्

(Oh wielder of the Sudarshana Chakra ,bearer of the Panchajanya Conch Shell ,Kaumodaki Mace and Lotus flower ! Oh Govinda ,oh Pundarikaksha ,I surrender to you my lord ,protect me !

Oh Krishna ,ruler of Dwarka ,oh crest jewel among the Yadavas .Don't you know that I am suffering here ,that I am being humiliated by the Kurus ? Oh Krishna ,Oh Yogeshwara ,Oh Lord of the Universe . I surrender to you ,I surrender to you !" )

"OH KRISHNA !" I cried .Please allow me to witness your divine Leela .Please allow me to look at you ,oh merciful lord !

When I looked above  ,everything was celestial .There was a bright light .For sometime I had  to close my eyes ,but when I opened them with much difficulty ......I saw Krishna in his Chathurbuja form .His eyes were full and full of mercy towards Panchali .The sari cloth was coming magically and unlimitedly from his hand .His other hands were bearing the Sudarshana Chakra (discus) ,Panchajanya Shanka (conch shell) ,Kaumodaki (Mace) and a lotus flower (Kamala) .

"Oh Draupadi ! I thank you for tying a cloth around my hand that day .I am just owing you a piece of cloth .I am always indebted to you !" Krishna smiled at Panchali as he protected her from the world .

Draupadi was completely lost in Krishna .She forgot what all was happening around her .

"Oh Krishna ! Oh Madhava ! Oh Govinda ! Oh Keshava ! Oh Mohana ! Oh Murari ! Oh Janardhana ! Oh Purushottama ! Oh Pundarikaksha ! Oh Dwarkadisha ! Oh Jagannatha ! Oh Shyamsundara ! Oh Trivikrama ! Oh Sridhara ! Oh Hrishikesha ! Oh Padmanabha ! Oh Damodara ! Oh Gopi Jana Vallabha ! Oh Bhaktavatsala ! Oh Lakshmi Kantha ! Oh Narayana !Oh Yaduvanshi ! Oh Vasudeva ! Oh Sakha ! You are my only hope .I am completely dependent upon you .My own husbands can't save me now .My own family men try to insult me ! You are the king of this whole Srishti (creation) .Nothing can exist without you ! Please save my honour . Please protect my dignity . I call you again and again ! Save this soul ,who has surrendered to you completely .."

Tears flowed from my eyes . I jumped and danced in joy . "Shree Krishna Govinda Hare Murari ,Hey Nath Narayan Vasudeva !!!" I chanted his name with happiness .

Duryodhana was speechless after seeing his brother struggling to pull a sari "Pull faster Dushassana! What are you doing !? Can't you disrobe her ?" He yelled .Dushassana struggled and struggled ,but it was futile .The Pandavas were filled with hope and were thankful .Everyone now realised that a divine power was helping Draupadi .

Dushassana was breathing heavily and became so exhausted ,that very soon he fainted and fell on the floor ,unconscious and weak .

I hope you loved the chapter ....again ,one of my favourite parts from the Mahabharata .

If there is any spelling mistake in the Sanskrit Shlokas ,kindly forgive.....

Radhe Radhe...