Hours have passed by after coming to a new house. The Lord of the day has gone roosting. Darkness came with a black garment to cover the nakedness of the evening. In the potter’s hut, in the dim light of the earthen lamp a flood of debates was
going on. Finally Mother raised her voice.
“I’m your mother. If you don’t accept my opinion properly you are not my sons; you don’t deserve to be my sons either.”
Parthan raised his voice.
“Mother, I’m not a eunuch to give away my partner for another! Drupada King gave her to my hand—this my very hand.” Parthan lifted and showed his right hand.”
Parthan went on.
“What is proper should be done. My elder brothers alone found our Mother’s opinion desirable and pleasing. For me and my younger brothers it’s not acceptable as it is unjust and unjustifiable. This is not even hearsay according to the sciences and the way of the world. Angry waves will rise high in the seven oceans! I cannot accept this.”
So saying, Parthan went out. His younger brothers followed him. The elder brother’s wife was to be considered as a mother. Mother would be the first woman in the world to command her to be the wife of the younger brothers. Would any mother make such a demand? She might be the only mother in the whole world to make such an order! How hard-hearted she was! She was deliberately pretending not to have understood their wish. She was using words in a calculating way. Draupadi thought, the eldest who had ardent desire for her was the most enthusiastic about obeying Mother’s words. Only lowly born people will do like this. They are not Brahmins. Those who have learned the Vedas and the Upanishads cannot do such an evil act. Base words won’t come from the mouths of those who have learned ‘mantras’ or mystic spells and rituals. Only the lowest will behave in such an ignoble manner. Draupadi rose from the floor and looked out of the window.
The earth was about to fall into slumber by pulling the black blanket over it. The faint light of the firefly becomes a decoration to the darkness around. No stars in the sky. The sky also seemed to be swelling up. The brothers could be seen sitting in the courtyard in the faint stellar light. All the four except Dharma brother were sitting in the courtyard. Dharma brother was sitting inside, rubbing Mother’s legs. Draupadi was in another room. Nobody was asking her whether she wanted food. For the first time the flames of hunger burned strongly in Draupadi. Breakfast and the water from the wild stream were the only food of the day. In the darkness of the courtyard, Parthan was sitting in the centre. Draupadi stared into the darkness and a ray consuming the heat of her grieving heart as a whole , sped past piercing the darkness. Vrukodhara gently patted on Arjuna’s back as if to console him. Arjuna felt the stream of love breaking out of those rough hands.
“Bhima brother, I know Dharma brother is equal to Father. I have no strength to protest against him. According to our custom the younger brother’s wife must be treated as a daughter. I can’t understand Dharma brother’s intention in preparing for the group marriage according to Mother’s words.”
“I too.”
Arjuna got a straw of hope and enthusiastically, he said. “In that case, Bhima brother, can’t you oppose him?” “Hm” Bhima grunted heavily.
“ Partha, There’s no use in opposing our elder brother who pretends to have great knowledge in unknown subjects. We cannot get over Dharma brother’s stubbornness. We can only obey him. Now let’s obey Mother and elder brother.”
Their facial expression was not clear in the darkness. Only a sigh of surrendering to Fate heaved from them. Princess of Drupada was looking out of the window into the darkness and listening to the voice of the brothers. She felt that she was wedded to darkness. Faint footsteps could be heard behind. She heard a woman’s footsteps.
“Daughter,” Mother’s voice.
“We’ve only some fruits for food. Eat them and be satisfied.”
Draupadi stood silently without giving any reply. When her mind told her to lift her face she did it and looked at Mother. There was no embarrassment on her face. No trace of regret. Only the determination to see her instruction followed.
“Eat, daughter!”
Draupadi thought it was poison in the form of fruits Mother had placed before her. There might be poison in her and the food she had brought.
“Mother, this food will not get down my throat.”
Yangjaseni, Draupadi was speaking for the first time. Mother’s expression showed disappointment more than surprise. She must feel it with each of Draupadi’s words. What right did she have to write the judgment, without bothering to know her opinion, that Draupadi was the ‘property’ to be divided among her five sons?
“Don’t expect the luxury and comfort of the palace from these Brahmins, Daughter!”
“ Mother, Aren’t you also a woman? Can you show any woman living or destined to live with five husbands in this Aryavartha? A woman can have physical relation with five or more than five men. Such a woman will be a prostitute. Such a qualification is not fit for a nobly born woman.”
Her mother-in-law’s face became pale as if she were hit on the face.
How can Mother know, a woman of great scholarship had entered as her daughter-in-law. On seeing her shattered, she continued.
“Mother, I have garlanded your third son called Parthan. He is my Aryaputra, my Lord. A noble woman can love only one person as her husband. She can sleep with only one person. Or suppose, because of the contradiction in her Fate and the evil of the earlier birth, if she has more than one husband, she has to live painfully forever, regretful of her accursed birth. She will have lost her comfort and peace of mind. When she has to sleep with many she will become a wretched woman. She will be tormented by remorse of her sin.”
When she saw her Mother-in-law standing there without uttering a single word, Draupadi wanted to say more.
“ For a woman her husband is her deity. Brahmin is the deity of all the four Varnas. The deity for Brahmin is the fire of the second aeon, the fire like Threthangni, Ahavaniyagni, Garhapathi and Dakhinagni. King is the deity of his subjects. The King who does not do Vaisyadevam and Athidheyam(Hopitality), even though he is learned in the Vedas, violates Dharma or righteousness.
Mother, marriage is of eight types. Brahmam, Daivam, Arsham, Prajapathyam, Asuram, Gandharvam, Rakshasam, and Paisacham. Decking the virgin with beautiful clothes and ornaments and offering her in marriage to the one educated, born in a noble family, and of good character, is Brahmam. If a virgin is offered in marriage to a Rishi in Yaga, it is Daiva Vivaham. Offering the virgin to a bridegroom, accepting an offering from him is Arsham. Prajapathyam is a married life according to Dharma or righteousness. Giving wealth to the virgin’s relatives and accepting it is Asuram . If the bride and groom accept each other through mutual understanding, it is Gandharvam. Fighting a battle with the virgin’s relatives and taking her forcefully away is Rakhasam. Forcefully accepting one who has gone out of her senses is Paisaacham. Paisaacham is the lowest and the most wretched of all. Brahmam, Daivam, Arsham, and Prajapathyam are for Brahmin; Kshathriya are destined for Rakshasam and Vaisya-Sudhra for Asuram . As this Swayamvara has reached the level of Rakshasa , I understand that that you are Kshathriya, not Brahmins. So I don’t want to be the wife of the five. My husband is Parthan.”
The eldest brother and Mother were surprised at Draupadi’s discovery . Hearing Draupadi’s words, the other four came into that room.
“ You are right, Princess. King Drupada’s daughter has great wisdom. The one who has scholarship and wisdom is the proper wife for my sons.”
When Mother-in-law repeated the words, Draupadi felt angry. A fool will never understand even with repeated sayings. Mother continued.
“But we are not poor Brahmins as you Princess think. We are not born in Brahmin kin either. They are Kshathriyas and that was why, according to the rites they used bow and got you as the gift for the contest.”
Panchala’s daughter stood stunned on Mother’s sudden reply. Her suspicion was confirmed. When she saw Parthan’s physique she had suspected him to be a warrior. If that was the case, why did they disguise themselves? Were they robbers? Was that why they encouraged others to do a mean act?
“Daughter, your suspicion is right. Why should they disguise themselves , if they are warriors? They are the five Pandavas. I’m their mother Kunti. This eldest brother is Dharmaputra. The second one Vrukodara or Bhima. Then Parthan or Arjuna. The other two are Nakula and Sahdeva.”
Draupadi stood motionless as a pillar! A figure was hiding in the dark and after knowing they were the Pandavas, returned to the darkness. Nobody knew of it. That figure stopped at Panchala King’s palace later.
(Cont’d)
