The Vow of the Broken Thigh

"No, my friend, O Krishna, O remover of shame, Madhusudan!" Draupadi cried. "O Krishna of all the sorrowful, remove my shame, my friend. Remove my shame. Other than you, I have no protector. O supreme friend, O Krishna, O Govinda, protect me, protect me. O Govinda, protect me, protect me, protect me. Govinda, protect me, protect me."

Then a sharp voice broke through the terrible noise in the royal court.

"Dushasan, what are you doing?" someone said. "Have you become tired just trying to pull away a single piece of cloth?"

Dushasan answered, breathing hard, "Crown Prince, Crown Prince, I am only obeying your order. Panchali has only this one cloth on her body. But how did a cloth of only twelve hands become so long? And where is this endless cloth coming from? I have never seen such a sight before, Crown Prince, never."

That day, a shame spread through the great royal court such as had never before polluted that sacred land.

I am Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa, the eternal man of Aryavarta. I was shaken to see such open insult of a woman. In a court where all the knowledge of dharma in the world was present, such terrible unrighteousness was taking place. These proud Kauravas did not know how great this shame and curse were. But Bhishma surely knew it, and Vidura knew it too. Vidura had already marked the court of Dhritarashtra as the gate of Kali. All the honor and merit of the Kaurava line were given up at that very gate on that day.

There in the middle of the court stood Draupadi, almost unconscious, forgetting all outward awareness and remembering only Janardana Shri Hari. He was now her only shelter, her only support.

And a wonder beyond all wonders appeared.

I saw hundreds of cloths joining the single cloth on her body. Some were dyed in many colors, and some were pure white. A huge heap of cloth gathered around Draupadi. Dushasan pulled and pulled with both hands, but slowly his strength began to fail. He was fighting against endless cloths, and his power was running out. Dharma itself had surrounded that wise lady in the form of cloth.

Seeing that never-before-seen sight in the great royal court, the kings and courtiers opened their eyes wide in amazement. The Kuru princes too were stunned. The invited kings came back to their senses and began to praise Draupadi and condemn Dushasan before all.

"Shame on you, Dushasan, shame!" they cried. "What conduct of the Kauravas is this? Such wrongdoing against the righteous Pandavas! They will fall from dharma. Yes, you will surely suffer for insulting the noble bride Draupadi in the open court, so be ready for it."

Another said, "Dushasan, how could King Dhritarashtra allow such wicked conduct by the Kauravas in this court? This act is against dharma."

Then Bhima Sen rose like a storm.

"All the Kshatriyas present in this court, hear my words," he thundered. "I am Bhima Sen. Today I make a vow, a vow that no one has ever made before on this earth, and no one will make in the future. In battle I will tear open the chest of this sinful Dushasan, the shame of the Bharata line, and drink his blood. If I fail to fulfill this vow, may I be denied the world of my fathers."

What a terrible vow!

Let the third Pandava now bring disaster if he must. This Kuru line needed proper punishment. Strange indeed—there sat Dushasan, tired beside that pile of cloth. And still King Dhritarashtra had not spoken a single word.

Then another voice rang out, strong and clear:

"I speak to all the elders present in this court. Royal bride Draupadi is weeping like one who has no protector. She, she is asking one question after another, yet none of you are answering her. Is this called dharma? If someone comes to a court and asks for justice, then not giving that person proper justice as far as possible is the failure of that court. Put aside desire, anger, and fearsome power, and give judgment according to justice. Prince Vikarna, though younger in age, has given his judgment according to his own understanding. Then why are all of you so silent? Not answering one who asks for justice is equal to falsehood."

But cruelty had not yet ended.

"Take this maidservant Draupadi to our chambers, Dushasan."

Except for the swayamvara hall, Draupadi had never in her life come before others like this. And now that goddess-like woman was being insulted before everyone in the Kuru royal court. The Draupadi whom even the touch of the wind would make the Pandavas angry for—that very noble wife of theirs was now touched by cruel Dushasan.

Alas, alas, alas, alas!

Draupadi turned toward her husbands and cried out in grief.

"Dharmaputra Yudhishthira, Gandiva-bearing Arjuna, mighty Bhima Sen! Will you remain silent even after seeing this with your own eyes? Will you not say a single word? I am Krishnaa, wife of the Pandavas, I am Krishna’s friend Krishnaa, I am Draupadi, daughter of Drupada. To some I am a daughter-in-law, to some I am like a daughter. I do not deserve so much pain and so much insult. Yet this wicked Dushasan is dishonoring me, and the kings are watching in silence, only watching. Nothing could be more painful than this. Where has the dharma of kings gone? Am I truly a slave of the Kauravas? Am I truly won? I cannot bear this pain any longer. Have mercy on me, have mercy. Great souls of the Kuru line, do not stay silent any longer. I beg you, I beg you, answer my question, answer my question. Answer me, answer me."

Then Bhishma, heavy with sorrow, spoke.

"Do not lament, blessed lady. Be calm. The path of dharma is very subtle, Draupadi. I told you this before as well. Here, at this moment, I cannot give the true answer to your question. The Kauravas are drowned in greed and delusion, and soon they will be destroyed. You alone, Krishnaa, are holding on to that dharma which is the ornament of the Kuru line, even in this greatest danger. Such conduct suits you alone. Victory be yours. But Draupadi, whether you are won or not, only Yudhishthira can answer that question. I have no right in that answer."

Then Karna spoke harshly.

"Daughter of Panchala, Draupadi, none of these kings will say anything. I will speak, listen. There is only one way for you to be freed. Let your mighty husbands, Arjuna and Bhima Sen, say that Yudhishthira is not your husband, that Yudhishthira is actually unrighteous and a liar. Or let the Dharmaputra himself say that he is not your husband. Then you will be free from slavery, Panchali."

Bhima trembled with fury.

"Duryodhana, if King Yudhishthira were not my elder and lord, you would be destroyed this very moment. Look at these two hands of mine, Duryodhana. If anyone falls into them, even Lord Indra himself will not escape. Arjuna has held me back, and King Yudhishthira has declared that he is defeated. If he frees me now, then at this very moment I can crush and destroy the sons of Dhritarashtra."

Then someone calmed him.

"Be calm, Bhima, be calm. We know this act is within your power, son. But now it is necessary for you to remain calm."

Karna then gave his cruel judgment.

"Panchali, I will give you judgment, listen. A slave, a child, and a wife, these three have no right over their own wealth. A slave has no claim over his own wife. The five Pandavas no longer have any claim over you. Draupadi, according to dharma, you are now a slave of the royal house of Hastinapura. The sons of King Dhritarashtra are now your masters. Serve them now, Panchali. The Pandavas are defeated, they are no longer your husbands. Choose another husband now. Along with serving like a slave, you must also fulfill that husband’s desire. This is the judgment approved by the scriptures."

Then Vikarna answered him.

"King Yudhishthira, what Karna says is true. This is exactly what the scriptures say about dharma. So I was not hurt by Karna’s words. But King, if you had not staked Draupadi in the game of dice, then this moment would not have come."

Duryodhana pressed on mercilessly.

"King Yudhishthira, speak, speak, speak. Now let us hear your judgment too. Draupadi, Bhima, everyone is asking for judgment. They are waiting for your words, King. Well then, give them your judgment. Where is your judgment of dharma now, Dharmaraj? Why are you silent?"

With many arrows of questions, Duryodhana kept troubling Yudhishthira. But not one word came out of Yudhishthira’s mouth. Like an unconscious body, he sat still with his head lowered.

Then Duryodhana looked at Karna with a cruel smile. It seemed that the strange event in the court, when Draupadi’s cloth had become endless, had filled him with even greater anger. He moved aside his garment and showed Draupadi his left thigh, hard as a thunderbolt and round like the trunk of a banana tree.

At that sight, Bhima’s eyes filled with poison. It was as if flames burst from every pore of his body. Clenching both fists, Bhima Sen blazed out in a fierce voice.

"Sinful Duryodhana, if in the great war I do not break that thigh with the blow of my mace, then may I not attain the world of my fathers."

Then a solemn voice declared:

"There will be destruction now, destruction. Sons of Dhritarashtra, all of you hear this well. Great danger will come upon you from this Bhima Sen. Maybe now you cannot understand how great that danger is, but in time you will. All of you have broken the rules of the dice game, and brought a woman into the court and made her part of the quarrel. You have stained dharma, and this court has become polluted. Hear my judgment. Yudhishthira first staked himself. After losing that stake, he staked Draupadi. Therefore this stake is meaningless. After his own defeat, he had no right to stake Draupadi. It is as foolish and short-lived as gaining wealth in a dream. Kauravas, I warn you. Do not fall away from dharma by listening to Shakuni, do not fall away from dharma."

Then came another call:

"Draupadi, I now want to hear the words of the other four Pandavas except Yudhishthira. If they say that Yudhishthira has no right over you, then you will be freed from slavery."

Arjuna answered at once.

"Kauravas, all of you should know this. King Yudhishthira was once the lord of all of us, but after losing himself as a stake, he can no longer have lordship over anything."

As soon as Arjuna finished speaking, an unheard-of thing happened in the court of King Dhritarashtra. Suddenly a jackal cried out loudly. At that cry, donkeys and terrible birds also began to call. No one in the court heard those sounds except Vidura, Bhishma, Dronacharya, and Kripacharya.

The moment they heard those cries, the wise men said, "Peace, peace."

At that very time, Queen Gandhari came running from the inner chambers.

"King!"

Dhritarashtra was startled. "Queen, why did you cry out so sharply, Queen? What, what has happened? What has happened, dear? Why have you come to this court?"

Gandhari answered anxiously, "What a terrible evil sound I heard, King. Jackals and vultures are crying all around. How could such dreadful creatures come near the royal palace? Then what does this mean, King? Never before have I heard the cries of jackals and vultures."

"What are you saying, Queen?"

"Yes, King. Ask all your wise elders whether they too have heard those cries."

Then one of the elders spoke:

"The Queen has spoken truly, King. This evil sound has indeed been heard. It is not at all auspicious for this noble royal line, King, not at all auspicious. How can it be auspicious? In a line where the noble bride of the family is dragged into the open court and insulted so shamelessly, what good can remain in that line? In a court where such great souls as the world teacher Dronacharya, family teacher Kripacharya, and Vidura, the very image of dharma, are present, that court is equal to the court of Indra. How can such hateful shame find a place there? Dharmaputra Yudhishthira is as pure as the sacred fire, and Draupadi herself is a great radiant woman born from the sacrificial fire. The gods can never accept such an insult to them. King, when you yourself are present, when you yourself are the protector of the Kuru line, such wrongdoing happened before your very eyes, King! Such insult to a royal daughter-in-law in the open royal court! Just thinking of it makes me numb, King."

Then Gandhari called tenderly to Draupadi.

"Come, Panchali, come, daughter, come to me. Hold back your tears, Panchali. Every tear of yours can bring misfortune upon the Bharata line. Daughter, forgive this line as the all-enduring earth forgives. Krishnaa, you too are a mother, and the good of the child is the good of the mother. Control yourself, Draupadi."

She folded her hands before the king.

"King, with folded hands I beg you. Do not let more misfortune come upon the Bharata line. Let this wrongdoing stop now. I beg you. Nature has become angry, the gods have become angry."

Then another rebuke struck Duryodhana like a blow.

"O evil-minded Duryodhana! Are you speaking like this to a noble wife in the Kaurava court? Are you behaving so rudely? You are ruined, Duryodhana, you are ruined. O shameless one, because of you this Bharata line has been dishonored, and still no shame has risen in you!"

At last Dhritarashtra spoke.

"Panchali, among my daughters-in-law you are the chief. I give you that honor. You are a righteous and chaste woman. Ask a boon from me, Panchali. Whatever boon you ask, I will give you. Tell me, what do you want?"

Draupadi bowed and answered with dignity.

"O best of the Bharatas, if you are truly pleased with me, then I pray that the righteous King Yudhishthira may be freed from his bondage of slavery. May my son Prativindhya not be counted as the son of a slave."

Dhritarashtra said, "Blessed lady, what you ask shall be so. But my heart wishes to give you one more boon, because you truly deserve it. Tell me, blessed lady, what else do you ask?"

Draupadi replied, "King, free the other four Pandavas also from slavery, along with their chariots and weapons. Let them be free again as before."

"Child, let what you ask be so," said Dhritarashtra. "I grant you this boon. But, but these two boons cannot be enough honor for you. Take a third boon from me, blessed one."

Draupadi folded her hands again.

"Forgive me, King. I cannot ask for anything more. The scriptures say that a Vaishya may ask one boon, a Kshatriya two boons, and a Brahmin a hundred boons. I am a Kshatriya woman, so I cannot ask for more than these two boons. Greed destroys dharma, King. My husbands are virtuous. Once freed from slavery, they will gain what is best through the power of that virtue."

Then Bhima spoke, still burning inside.

"Our fortune is truly bad. Sage Devala has said that a man has three glories: children, action, and knowledge. Today the insult to Panchali has stained even our children. King, give me permission. Today itself I will destroy all enemies, and then you, you will rule this earth."

Arjuna quickly restrained him.

"No, elder brother, calm yourself. Why should noble people feel pain over what low people say? Without the order of King Yudhishthira, you can do nothing."

Again came words of peace.

"Elder brother, Bhima, be calm, control yourself."

Then the Pandavas turned humbly toward Dhritarashtra.

"O elder father, we are obedient to you, we are under you alone. What shall we do now? Give us your command."

Dhritarashtra answered kindly:

"King Ajatashatru Yudhishthira, may good come to you, child. All your wealth, kingdom, male and female servants, horses, elephants, chariots, weapons, all this I return to you. Now take Panchali and return safely to your kingdom. Son, rule your kingdom. You are truly righteous, and you know the subtle path of dharma. You are humble. In this court you behaved like a saint. Great men never see the faults of others, Yudhishthira, and you have done just that. You alone truly think of the good of people, child. I have one request for you."

Yudhishthira answered at once, "What are you saying, King? Do not call it a request. Give it as a command."

Dhritarashtra said softly, "Do not keep in your mind the cruelty of today’s court, Yudhishthira. I am your old blind father, and Gandhari is your mother. May all your duties and goodwill toward us always remain, son."

Yudhishthira bowed low.

"I accept your command with bowed head, King. You and my elder mother were always worthy of highest respect to us, and so you will remain. Now give me leave, King, so that we may set out on the road to Indraprastha."

By Dhritarashtra’s order, the five Pandavas set out on the road to Indraprastha with Draupadi. The people began to shout victory cries in their name.

But Dushasan could not bear that victorious departure.

That proud and cruel prince, unable to speak in his father’s court, ran to Crown Prince Duryodhana. Duryodhana was seated on a golden throne, surrounded by ministers and attendants.

"Son Dushasan, why are you so worried?" he asked.

Dushasan answered bitterly, "The King has grown old, so he may make mistakes. But why are you forgetting that even if something is given once, it can be taken back again?"

Shakuni at once supported him. "Yes, Dushasan, uncle Shakuni is right. Do not worry. Before the Pandavas reach their own kingdom, we will seize Indraprastha. But this time too, it is you who must go to the King, Crown Prince Duryodhana."

After discussing their plan among themselves, Duryodhana went before King Dhritarashtra. He sent away the servants attending on the King and asked for a private moment. When that was granted, he spoke.

"You brought a great deadly serpent like the Pandavas under control once, and then you set it free. The five Pandavas are already angry, and on top of that their allied kings will surely be angry too. If they all together attack Hastinapura now, will we be able to save ourselves, King?"

Dhritarashtra said, "No, son, no. Do not fear that. Yudhishthira gave me his word."

Duryodhana leaned forward.

"King, King, how can I make you understand? Are you trusting the words of enemies? Very well, let us say Yudhishthira is righteous, but have you forgotten Bhima and Arjuna, King? They will never accept Draupadi’s insult. You do not know how much Yudhishthira depends on Bhima and Arjuna, father. If they influence Yudhishthira, then whose words will Yudhishthira listen to, King? Yours, or his brothers’? Do you know how Arjuna left from here, King? Holding the Gandiva in his hand, showing his two fine quivers openly, climbing on the chariot while breathing again and again like thunder. We have also heard that the five Pandavas will now set out to gather their army."

Dhritarashtra grew thoughtful.

"I have heard your words, Duryodhana. Though I know that the other four Pandavas follow Yudhishthira, still we must remain careful."

Duryodhana at once pressed his advantage.

"You are right, father. People say one must not leave an enemy unfinished. I have a proposal, King. If we take all the wealth of the Pandavas and distribute it among the kings loyal to us, then when needed they will all join the war against the Pandavas."

"But how will that wealth come into your hands?" asked Dhritarashtra.

Duryodhana answered, "I have thought of a way, father. Call the Pandavas once more to a game of dice. This time we must stop them on the road back to their kingdom. We will play with exile as the stake, father. If we win, the Pandavas will wear deer-skins and go to the forest for 12 years and then live one year in hiding. If we lose, then we too will accept this curse. But I have firm faith in uncle Shakuni. While he is here, we cannot lose. So the exile of the Pandavas is certain. Then we will no longer fear our enemies. In that time we can begin gathering allies. Even if the Pandavas return, they will not be able to regain the throne of Indraprastha. Agree to my proposal, father."

Dhritarashtra gave way.

"Son Duryodhana, even if the Pandavas have gone very far away, make arrangements to bring them back at once. Let them come here and play dice with you again."

Duryodhana bowed. "As you command, father. I will make the arrangements at once."

The news that Dhritarashtra had again ordered the Pandavas to return for a game of dice reached the queen’s chambers. Hearing the King’s order, Gandhari trembled with fear for the future. The sin that had once happened in the royal court might have consequences spreading very far, and that thought had already kept Gandhari deeply troubled. If that sin happened again, then there would be no hope left for the Kuru line to survive.

In worry, fear, and pain for the future of her sons, Gandhari became restless. Somehow, this sin had to be stopped. She quickly came to King Dhritarashtra’s chamber.

"I have come to you for a special need, King," she said.

"Queen, come, come," Dhritarashtra replied. "You never come to this chamber without need, Gandhari."

Gandhari spoke with deep pain.

"Forgive me, King. Now I am living in great distress. It is useless to speak to you of dharma and justice. I have spoken such words many times before, King, but your deep love for your son has kept you only an obedient father, and has not allowed you to be a king."

Dhritarashtra asked, "Is Duryodhana not your son too, Gandhari? Are you not his mother?"

"I am surely his mother," Gandhari replied, "but I give much greater importance to dharma and morality than to affection, King. That is why the words of Chief Minister Vidura are far more acceptable to me than those of my own brother. Do not give Duryodhana more than what is his due, King. I beg you with folded hands. Even now much shame has gathered on our line because of him. If that shame grows heavier still, then there will be no rescue from it, King."

Dhritarashtra answered with hurt pride.

"Gandhari, all this time I have seen that you give Vidura much more importance than Duryodhana. If Duryodhana has faults, still he is your own heir, Gandhari. Do not forget that. He is your future, your child."

Gandhari’s voice became heavy.

"That is my greatest pain, King. Even if I wish, I cannot forget that pain. I remember how many evil signs appeared all around after Duryodhana was born, King. After the birth of this son, wise Vidura warned you and said, destroy this shame of the line, otherwise terrible disaster will come upon your kingdom. You did not listen to Vidura that day, King. If you had, this great danger would not have come today. I am your queen, Gandhari, mother of Duryodhana. I tell you this: one day this very son will destroy the Kuru line, King."

Dhritarashtra was shaken. "Gandhari, what are you saying, Queen?"

"You still have much in your hands, King. All is not lost yet. Control this unruly son of yours. Do not agree to their words, King. Do not let the blame for destroying this great Bharata line fall upon you. Why are you lighting again a fire that has already gone out? The Pandavas have become calm only with great difficulty, King. Why are you calling them again to play dice? No scripture can discipline a wicked-minded child, but you are a wise king. Why are you behaving like a child?"

Dhritarashtra sighed.

"I am under fate, Gandhari. What fate wishes, that will happen. How can I stop it, tell me?"

Gandhari answered firmly, "Forgive me, King. Not fate, you are under Duryodhana. You are mistaking your deep affection for Duryodhana as fate. At this very moment cast away that wicked son, King. Then you will see peace and happiness return again to your line. Royal fortune cannot be placed upon a cruel man, King. Lakshmi becomes angry at that. A righteous and gentle person is the true bearer of royal fortune, and you know this too, King. Will you grant one prayer of mine, King?"

"What do you want? Speak, Gandhari."

"Bring back again the honor, comfort, and peace that our line once had in the past, King. Do not let your own line be destroyed. This is my prayer to you."

But Dhritarashtra answered helplessly, "No, Gandhari, I will not be able to save this line from destruction. Do not ask that of me, Queen. Let the sons do what they want. I cannot forbid them. They want to play dice again with the Pandavas, and I have given permission, Gandhari, and I cannot take it back."

This time Dhritarashtra did not send Vidura. He sent a messenger to Yudhishthira and did not even speak to Vidura. The messenger delivered the royal order for Yudhishthira to return to Hastinapura for the game of dice.

Deep darkness fell upon the faces of Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva.

What would Yudhishthira give more importance to—his brothers’ anger, Draupadi’s insult, or Dhritarashtra’s command?

The emperor of Indraprastha now truly seemed a little shaken. He really did not know what suffering was waiting for him this time.

I am Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa. I know that this is truly a very difficult time for Yudhishthira.