What is the significance of Draupadi's speech
in the assembly Hall ? Discuss.
with reference to the Mahabharata.
Answers
Explanation:
Draupadi (Sanskrit: द्रौपदी, romanized: draupadī, lit. 'Daughter of Drupada'), also referred as Panchali and Yajnaseni, is the tragic heroine, one of the central characters and the common wife of the Pandavas in the Hindu epic, Mahabharata. She is described to be the most beautiful woman of her time and was prophesied to bring a major change in the future.
Other names
Krishnā, Yajnaseni, Panchali, Drupadkanya
Devanagari
द्रौपदी
Affiliation
Kuru queen, Panchakanya, Devi
Texts
Mahabharata
Personal information
Born
Panchala
Parents
Drupada (father)
Siblings
Dhristadyumna (brother)
Shikhandi (sister later brother)
Satyajit (brother)
Spouse
Pandavas (Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva)
Children
Prativindhya (from Yudhishthira)
Shatanika (from Nakula)
Sutasoma (from Bhima)
Shrutasena (from Sahadeva)
Shrutakarma (from Arjuna)
Draupadi and her brother, Dhrishtadyumna, were born from a yajna organized by King Drupada of Panchala. Arjuna, one of the five Pandava, won her hand in marriage, but she married the five brothers because of her mother-in-law's misunderstanding. After facing problems created by her polyandry, she became the empress of Indraprastha. She had five sons, one from each Pandava, who were collectively addressed as the Upapandavas. After Yudhishthira, the emperor of Indraprastha, performed the Rajasuya, he was invited to play a gambling game in Hastinapura. After he lost Draupadi in the game, she was humiliated by the Kauravas, Shakuni and Karna. When Dushasana tried to disrobe her, Krishna saved her.
Later she and her husbands were sent on exile for 13 years with the last year being an incognito. While spending the exile, Jayadratha tried to kidnap and molest her. For incognito, Draupadi disguised herself as a maid and served Sudeshna, queen of Matsya. Kichaka, the general of the kingdom, tried to molest her, but was killed by Bhima. After the Kurukshetra War, the revenge for her humiliation was taken, but she lost her father, brothers and her five children. At the end of the epic, Pandavas and Draupadi retired to Himalayas and walked to heaven. Because of her partiality towards Arjuna, Draupadi was the first one to fall on the way.
Draupadi's story has been an inspiration for various arts and performances. In Literature, there are many books based on her life. In Hinduism, she is extolled as one of the panchakanya ("five virgins"), archetypes of female chastity whose names are believed to dispel sin when recited. In some parts of the sub-continent, Draupadi is not only regarded as a powerful lady, but a goddess too.