Reading Notes: "Draupadi, The Fire-Born Princess" Part B

Draupadi: The Fire-Born Princess [Graphic Novel on Reserve]
                 Part B, Pages 32-59
Draupadi Graphic Novel Cover Page. Source: Indian Epics Blog
POV: Third person
Summary:
  • So Draupadi warns the court who seek to dishonour her and have diminished her dignity that she, born a full woman straight of the fire to royal blood, was no mere woman. 
  • However, they still mock her and ask what kind of woman would be married to five men? Karna is at the front of the mockery, telling her she must disrobe as her hubbies have done in shame; Draupadi then tells the story of how she came to have five husbands:
    • It was her swayamvara and whosoever could hit the suspended fish ornaments with five arrows using their reflection int the pool below would be her hubby
    • Krishna warns her that she will have to make a difficult choice; indeed, Karna seem sup to the task but Draupadi quickly denies him before he can even begin, her heart already set on Arjuna
    • Then Arjuna steps up and the rest is history; at their mother, Kunti's request, the Pandavas share Draupadi as a wife (here Draupadi is terribly displeased with this and Vyasa must explain in another life Shiva said she would have five hubbies because that other self had asked for a husband with five divine qualities; Draupadi is still filled with dread at the thought that she may be looked down upon for such a marriage and reluctantly goes along with it); here it is said that if the Pandavas did not share her it would divide them
    • Krishna again reassures Draupadi and her father even blesses the marriage
  • Back in the court where not even her hubbies come to her rescue (though Bhima, who is said to be fondest of her, tries to come to her aid but is stopped by the other brothers), Dushasana tries to pull off her robes but for every tug more and more cloth comes off; Draupadi has prayed to Krishna and he is protecting her from such humiliation 
  • She falls down to the floor after such indignity and the Pandavas all swear to take their revenge on all who have wronged her; Bhima makes his famous oath to bash Duryodhana's thigh after he pats it to tell Draupadi to sit
  • Draupadi is about to curse the court from her very fiery soul but Gandhari tells her to stop and pleads with her husband to see reason; he grants Draupadi a boon and the story follows the original Mahabharata and the Pandavas are exiled in the forest for thirteen years
  • Draupadi is angered by this and only Krishna can console her
  • Both Bhima and Draupadi do not feel peaceful with their low existence in the forest (Draupadi is constantly complaining yee)
  • She once lets loose on Yud who seems content, and he tells her to be peaceful and patient; but the fire that she was birthed from burns in her soul and she still fights internal turmoil
  • One day they are visited by Vyasa who tells them disturbing news; the Kauravas are growing stronger and have even more power than before.
Dushasana tried to dishonour Draupadi. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Reference: Draupadi: The Fire-Born Princess, Saraswati Nagpal. [Printed Graphic Novel]

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