Reading Notes: Mahabharata Part D

Reading Notes from The Mahabharata by R.K. Narayan

A consistent theme in this last part of The Mahabharata is that of the battle between restoring one's honor and respecting one's family. Multiple times, the Pandava brothers hesitated to battle against their cousins, even in the face of all their cousins did to them. It was only through Draupadi reminding them of how she was insulted that the brothers accepted the necessity of a battle. 

I wonder how Draupadi felt through all that. Thirteen years ago, she was harassed and ridiculed by Duryodhana and his followers while her warrior husbands watched silently, not lifting a finger to defend her honor. For the past thirteen years, Draupadi followed the Pandava brothers into exile, constantly supporting them in the midst of such a difficult time. And now, when victory is so close, all five warriors forget their oaths and promises of vengeance and wish instead for peace. 

Draupadi sees that peace is not an option and convinces her husbands of that along with the help of Krishna. I wonder how that conversation looked from her end, what her thoughts and fears were. Was she angry at her husbands and their failure to protect her? Did she secretly wish for peace too?

Throughout a lot of The Mahabharata, it feels like Draupadi has things happen to her, but we almost never get a glimpse into her thoughts and feelings, and when we do, her emotions are monotonous and underdeveloped. I want to give her a chance to really show the Pandava brothers what she thinks of their flip flopping between revenge and peace.

(Draupadi and the Pandava brothers, Wikimedia Commons)