A Game of Dice that Began her Misfortune

“YOU servant women, GET UP now. Meet your knew master!” Prince Dushasana barged into my royal chamber. “How dare you, show some respect. I’m Queen of Indraprastha! Don’t dare call me servant women!” I yelled back angrily.

“HAHAHAHA! Queen?”

“Your, lovely husband Yudhishthira just gambled all his wealth, titles, brothers away. When he had nothing else left, he gambled you too and LOST!. Come meet your new master.” An evil grin crossed Dushasana’s face. I knew my life was in danger if I left with him. “Either come with me now or I’ll drag you all the way to court!!” Dushasana was losing his patience. I knew I didn’t have much time left. I quickly made a run for queen Gandhari’s chamber for protection. I ran with all my might. AAAHHHHH! My head tilted backwards, and I lost my balance. He had captured me. Dushasana was angry that I tried to escape so he dragged me from my hair all the way to court. He flung my body like an animal to the middle of the court. I was a mess, my hair, my robe, my whole body and soul was all ruined.

“It’s an honor, for my daughter to be wed into the Kuru dynasty. Whose ancestors are famous for their wisdom, justice and prowess. Draupadi, you will be in the best hands. You’ll be given the most respect, love and care a woman deserves. These five fearless men will treat you like a queen and guard you fiercely so no harm can touch you”

Laying in the ground I remember my fathers last words to me. I get up to meet my five fearless husbands, but I see none. Instead I am met with five helpless men none having the guts to face me. I look towards great-uncle Bheeshma. “I’ve been dragged like an animal! No women deserve to be treated this way! I demand to be escorted back to my chamber!” My pleas were met with dead silence.. I am Draupadi born from fire and I demand to be respected!” However, no matter how loud her cries were no one in the court made a move to defend her instead everyone laid their heads down. Draupadi could not understand how no one in the court tried to stop Yudhishthira when things were going to far. “Is abiding the rules of the game much more important than my honor and supposed love my husband has for me!” Silence and more silence is all that I was met with. I has said what I needed too after the last word I felt my fighting spirit dying slowly. Suddenly Karna’s harsh voice was heard “Enough whining you and the Pandavas are now our slaves therefore should discard your royal robes now!” I couldn’t believe my ears!

Though with anger my husbands obeyed. Karna tried forcing me too. I knew he was getting revenge for what I did to him in my swayamvara I stared at his wicked smile. But DISROBING?! That is too much. It is one of the greatest insults done to a woman. Again, I pleaded for help. Though my husbands sobbed from anger and shame….again no one helped. Dushasana began to pull my robe. “UGGG” You could hear my heavy worn out breathing. My hands now purple by how hard I was pulling. I used every inch of strength in me to fight, but he was too strong. Feeling no more strength in me I used my last inch of hope--I prayed for Krishna’s help. Like always Krishna became my savior. No matter how much Dushasana pulled my robe the silk never ended. He kept pulling until he grew tired. As soon as he stopped, I collapsed in the ground, with feeling of my self-respect shattered, my spirit broken after having to live such disastrous event.

“Since the gods seem to wish slavery in your future, you are free to marry and man among. Come with us and forget about those worthless husbands of yours” Duryodhana spoke as he patted his thigh.

“You’ll pay one day for each of your insults! I swear that one I will break that thigh of yours and Dushasana I swear to tear you apart and drink your blood” roared Bheema

“I Arjuna vow that Karna will die in my hands!!”

“I, Sahadeva, will make sure Shakuni meets death!!”

I, Nakula vow to kill all men who support Duryodhana!”

Little did I know that as soon as those oaths were taken my mission on Earth was finally starting to be fulling.

“Hastinpur is no court of justice or wisdom as its said. For they don’t punish those you do wrong and don’t uphold what’s virtuous. I was trampled, disrespected, muted, ignored, and no one stepped up to my aid and for that I, Draupadi the fire born lay a cur”

“STOOPPP! I beg of you” queen Gandhari ran inside the court. Fearing the consequences of a sacred fire born curse will do. She convinced Dhritarshtra to make amends with us.

“Draupadi, we have been cowards to the horrible events you’ve just experienced to appease our wrongs ask for what you wish”

“I wish for my husband’s freedom to no longer be slaves and for everything that Yudhishthira lost to be returned to him.” My wished began granted and we could leave.

“Don’t think this is over. I swear to never braid my hair until I’ve washed it with Dushasana’s blood! This is not the end.”

Fearing the revenge of the Pandavas Duryodhana planed to get rid of the us for good therefore he invited Yudhishthira for another game of dice. The loser will go to exile. I advised Yudhishthira not to go.

However, Yudhishthira fell back into their trap. Once again in the game of dice he lost everything I had just gained back. Just like that we were sent to 13 years of exile with hopes of once coming back regaining our kingdom and everything we lost.

Author’s note: After Draupadi had come out of the fire during her birth ritual a voice was heard saying “This woman will be the cause of the destruction of all evil Kshatriyas. That is the divine purpose of her birth.” This is a direct quote from the book Draupadi the Fire-born Princess by Saeaswati Nagpal. Which is why here in the story after hearing the Pandavas oaths it is stated that her mission is starting to movement. Which plays into the theory of many that she is the one responsible of the Mahabharata War to start. I don’t think I did her justice in trying to describe what she went through in the court, but the horrible event really destroyed her pride and made her feel very disrespected. I think what hurt her the most was that no one helped her or even tried. As we read her father words to her, she thought of the Kuru dynasty as wise and righteous man and she felt protected by her mighty husbands but all of turned to a lie after that day. She finally saw that none of these men were what she thought and she and only she would protect herself. Even with all the physical strength the Pandavas were hopeless, it was she who got all their possession and saved her husband’s just for her own husband to go lose it once again. When she is leaving the court she also tells the Kaurvas to not be too happy because their days are counted.