While we are discussing the story of Mahabharata, let’s take a pause and talk about an important character: Karna. Just like Kunti gave birth to Yudhishthira, Bheem and Arjuna by summoning three gods, she had also done the same previously, before she got married to Pandu. Thus, Karna, the son of Sun, the god, was born.
Karna was abandoned by Kunti and was raised by a low-caste family. Because of his circumstances, he could not get the best of education. Nevertheless, he was an extraordinary warrior. When he grew up, he became Duryodhana’s close friend and thus had access to the royal life. Of course, the fact that he was Kunti’s son — it still remained a secret.
Now, let’s come back to the main story of Mahabharata as we had discussed in the previous post.
Pandavas were ruling Indraprastha, a small part of the kingdom. Duryodhana had still not made peace with the fact that they were now back and could claim their right to the entire kingdom. At this point, an important episode in the tale of Mahabharata occurs. Duryodhana, along with his uncle Shakuni, invites Yudhishthira and his brothers to play the game of dice. The two Kauravas knew that Shakuni was too clever at this game, and so they could trick the Pandavas and win all their wealth and resources, reducing them to nothingness.
Everything goes according to the plan. After Yudhishthira had lost every bit of his kingdom, his jewels, everything he had possessed, he even gambled his family members and himself, and… once again he lost. Now comes the most powerful imagery of the epic. Since the Pandavas had lost everything and have been reduced to mere slaves of the Kauravas, Duryodhana asks his men to bring Draupadi in the hall, as she was also their slave now. They oblige and when she resists, they literally drag her to the hall. It was time to dishonour the woman.
However, at this point, something magical happens. As Draupadi’s is being undressed, she prays to Lord Krishna (who is also a key character in Mahabharata), and somehow the clothes never come off.
Finally, it was decided that the Pandavas, along with Draupadi would be exiled for thirteen years. The thirteenth year was going to be the strictest. In that year, they were not supposed to be seen by anyone. If that happened, the exile period would have begun again.
What happens during their years of exile? We will find out in the next part.
Kalampedia 