Draupadi was sadly reflective, as she lay down with her body exhausted, totally enervated and half of her soul being
lost. She was the virgin who was born in the sacrificial fire and she grew up not knowing who her father and mother were. Many a time she had wondered whether the Fire-god was her father. It was because of this thought that she had felt piety and submissiveness towards fire. Could it be true that she had been born in the sacrificial fire? One day her maid Sumangala commented on it in jest.
“Oh Kumari…Princess! You had not risen from the sacrificial fire-pit. Somebody had placed you on the altar of the Yaga, ” she laughed.
As she was too young to perceive these things, she thought it was the truth and asked innocently.
“Then what about my elder brother?” Sumangala laughed aloud.
“He was also laid there as a new-born babe.”
Draupadi’s facial muscles contorted. When she was about to cry, Sumangala embraced her and said.
“ I said that just to fool you, Kumari ! It was a mere joke.” There were times when she would feel that, what Sumangala said was true.
Where did I go wrong? Was it because of the halo attached to me as having been risen from the sacrificial fire-pit itself.
If she had been born as part of a divine being, Time would have decided to see her endure the hellish suffering. What need was there for the child risen in the Yaga-altar to have this circle of divine light around her? Would the dark colour of the skin change if it were decked in bright-coloured attire?”
It was true that King Drupada and the Queen had no children, and when they got Drishtadyumna and Draupadi through their prayers and penance, they raised them up as their own children. In the twinkling of an eye they transformed from childhood into adolescence and youth. Draupadi was clever and she desired to have knowledge in all subjects. Very fast she by-hearted the Vedas, Upanishads and the science of Logic. Father was astonished. He was a doting father and he was happily amazed to see his daughter becoming a scholar and highly accomplished! What else was needed for a father to be proud!
Wasn’t prayer a Yaga? He wished that the Princess of Drupada whom he got through prayer, piety, and penance should lack nothing. So her elder brother often felt jealous of Draupadi.
“Draupadi! You are being pampered this much because you are a girl.”
“Why is it so, Brother?”
“Because you are to go to another Palace by marriage. We do not know whether the King there would be good or not.” Draupadi went to her father with her eyes reddened by tears.
Paternal love flowed into her when he caressed her lovingly, and listened to her pliant. He said to Drishtadyumna:
“You wait and see, my son! My daughter Draupadi will be married to no ordinary prince. Whether be it from this country or an alien land, I will see that you, my daughter will be married to a world-renowned archer.”
It was by taking advantage of that chance that she got permission for visiting the Gowri Temple in the suburbs—for a divine darshan(view for worship) of the goddess at the temple beside the forest.
“Today is Chitrapowrnami, an auspicious occasion, as you know, Father. Shall I go to worship the deity at the temple, Father?”
As he was entertaining great love for his daughter he could not withhold her request.
“Yes, you can go. But take care, Putri, my darling daughter.
It’s a forest; not only wild beasts, but nightwalkers and robbers are there.” With Father’s permission, bowing to him, she went to the temple with accompanying attendants.
The temple on the borders of the forest had always been a magical fascination for her,…Draupadi pondered. The animals and birds moved freely and happily. They were not scared of anyone. They express their love, meet and mate shamelessly. The birds and animals who are in love do not think of anybody or anything else. Whenever she sees them making love, mutually touching lips and faces, she envies them. She was overcome by a faint tickling emotion then.
Asking the attendants and maids to stand some distance away, she went straight to the temple. As it belonged to the Royal Palace, the servants used to come daily and make it clean. She took only a maid, Mandhakini with her. She was her beloved maid. A door to the world of sensations was being opened for her. She murmured to the maid.
“ Mandhakini! I don’t know why, I can sense some changes already happening in me. I feel some vibrations within me. The high tide of love is blowing heavily against the shore of my mind. I’m overwhelmed! These thoughts and feelings are tickling me and touching some chords deep within me. I have a strange feeling which I have never ever felt. “
Mandhakini responded jocularly.
“It is quite natural to have such thoughts during this adolescent age, Kumari. But, see…Don’t forget that we have come for a divine darshan at the temple.”
It seemed, the priest had arrived. The lamp was burning bright inside the temple.
The temple which was constructed in a single stone looked quite antique. This goddess was the deity of the family and the country Panchala. Father often used to say that it was through incessant prayers and dedication and Devi’s revelation that he got children finally from the final sacrificial Yaga.
When she reached the front of the temple Draupadi was amazed, and she touched Mandakini’s hand softly. A handsome young man was meditating before the Sreekovil –sanctum sanctorum of the temple. A divine glory was emanating from the body of the young man who seemed to be in a trance. The unearthly light from the ear-ornaments hanging from his ears was getting reflected on his eyes.
‘Who must be this handsome young man? Who is he? A
Gandharva? A celestial musician or a Yaksha, a deity?’
She could not look at his face because of the dazzling light of the ear ornaments reflecting on the face that overflowed with manliness.
“A stranger and that too, a man. We do not know who he is.
Let us go, Kumari!.” Mandakini urged her.
She let loose of the maid’s hand and said.
“Light the stone lamp. As we have come with a purpose, I’ll leave only after fulfilling it.”
As soon as she got the order from Draupadi, Mandakini started lighting the stone lamp by stretching the wick and pouring oil into the lamp.
As the light burned in the stone lamp, the face of the young man sitting in the front also shone in all splendour. He might have opened his eyes when the sweet smell of the burning incense and the fragrant oil reached his nostrils.
He had the handsomeness and the halo of the rising sun. As if a thousand lamps stood together in unison! No, as if a thousand suns shone together! The young man was initially bewildered. Slowly he got up and with a smile, opened up.
“When I heard the talk I thought you were goddesses.” “Kumari, Who are you? Why did you come to this forest?
Or, as I thought, are you a divine being, or a fairy?”
He looked radiant and ruddy like the Prince Charming.
Adorable! Incredibly handsome!!
Out came a volley of queries. Unable to answer his queries, she stood there looking dazed at the magnificent light on his face. Bashful, tickled, love-lorn, Draupadi thought she would faint and fall down. Lost in the brilliance of the handsome young man, and his beautiful smile, she even forgot to worship the goddess. The man was wearing the ear danglings brightly shining with the light of the sun. He was broad- chested and muscular in built. In utter forgetfulness of everything else she looked at his moustache, raised with a beautifully cut slant, as a symbol of manliness. There was resoluteness writ on his face.
“Who are you, respectable Woman?”
He looked at the extremely beautiful and enticing Draupadi and asked her respectfully.
“Can you say who I am?” Breaking free from her trance,
Draupadi asked him in a mischievous jest. The young man laughed. His ear-ornaments burned like ember. Draupadi waddled in the high stream of love on seeing and hearing that beautiful laugh. She thought he was a prince with the glory of the sun. The divine glow in his eyes was mesmerizing. She stood subservient to that royal glory. Her heart leaped to marry that fair- complexioned handsome man then and there. He stood there with his broad chest extended before her. Her eyes dazzled in the light of the ear-ornaments. His smile was highly luring. Musical notes danced in rhythmic vibration in his voice.
“If I imagine correctly, you may be Princess Draupadi.” The young man said.
Straightening her head dress, Draupadi looked at the young man in rapt attention. She stood overwhelmed and completely absorbed for a few moments!
“I’m Karna—the King of Anga.”
The handsome young man introduced himself. He said a few more things. But Draupadi did not hear anything. Her eyes were caressing him. She roamed in the world of illusions. She thought she was getting immersed in Karna. Love at first sight! A conquest at the first glance!! Draupadi’s beautiful eyes intertwined with Karna’s. She recollected Krishna’s story. How once he went heroically in the chariot and stole Rukmini away, like a handsome young thief! She longed for a similar adventurous exploit. Fondly she desired,
If only Karna who had conquered me at the very first sight, stole me away.
Karna said as if he read her mind.
“I have a great desire to take you away now itself. But as you know, the brave men possess anything only by making a heroic display.”
Draupadi shuddered. A thousand strings played on her heart striking a divine melody.
Has this brave man read my mind?
“It seems you are destined to rule over the Country Anga, Kumari. Otherwise Fate would not have designed my visit to this temple now. I will send an envoy with my proposal. We will meet again, Kumari.” The handsome and strong-bodied Karna walked away with his broad chest stretched and head lifted up.
Draupadi’s heart lamented.
I can hardly wait for that long, Karna! I will come with you this moment itself. I’m sick of love. Please, take me away with you Karna. Let us hurry, my beloved…
The image of the handsome young man who disappeared among the dense trees remained etched deep in her heart. She stood for long watching the trail he left behind.
She could not sincerely pray at the temple- steps, looking at the idol of the goddess. It was Karna whom she saw in that idol. Why did you come to this temple steps, Karna? Why, only to entice me, and take my heart away…?
It’s heard, when the thoughts get strengthened, they may lead to craziness. Similarly, Draupadi thought her mind was going crazy and getting flooded in the high tide of the musings of love.
Karna! I cannot help adoring you…How can I live without you…? the moaning echoed deep down within the dark bay of her mind.
(Cont’d)
