Draupadi Dragged to the Assembly
Part 1 / Chapter 20 / 83 chapters
Draupadi Dragged to the Assembly
refuses to accept the dice result without an answer: could stake her after losing himself? sends , who drags her into the assembly, where she challenges the silent elders and is mocked by , , , and . argues that she was not won, but orders her disrobed. appeals to , who protects her with endless cloth. vows revenge against and , and , frightened by omens and 's warnings, grants two boons: first 's freedom, then the four brothers with their weapons and chariots. He separately restores their property and kingdom and sends them back toward .
This guide follows Krishna Dharma's retelling as the source of truth. This panel notes broad edition-level framing or compression that helps a reader orient themselves.
- 1
summons .
The servant tells that has lost her to and that she must come to 's assembly as a servant.
- 2
sends back her question.
asks whether lost himself before staking her, and whether he was still her lord when he made that wager.
- 3
The assembly refuses to answer.
repeats 's question, but says nothing and the elders remain silent while demands that she ask in person.
- 4
tells to appear.
After asks the elders to command what is moral, tells to bring her even though she is secluded and clothed in a single garment.
- 5
drags by the hair.
sends , who seizes as she runs toward 's chambers and drags her into the assembly despite her protests.
- 6
challenges the Kurus.
Before the assembly, asks how learned elders can watch her mistreatment in silence and still claim moral authority.
- 7
cannot resolve the question.
says morality is subtle: a man without wealth cannot stake another's property, yet a wife is also bound to her husband. He admits confusion and looks to , who remains silent.
- 8
threatens 's hands.
Outraged that was staked, calls for fire to burn 's hands, but restrains him and reminds him to obey their elder brother.
- 9
defends .
When the elders still do not answer, says was under the influence of gambling, had already lost himself, and could not fairly have won or lost .
- 10
rejects 's argument.
says the elders' silence proves was won, insults her marriage to the five Pandavas, and tells to remove her robes and the Pandavas' royal dress.
- 11
protects with endless cloth.
As pulls at her sari, appeals to . From , mystically protects her so that cloth keeps appearing and she cannot be disrobed.
- 12
vows to kill .
After the failed disrobing, vows before the kings that he will tear open 's chest in battle and drink his blood.
- 13
demands an answer.
again says 's question must be answered and warns that an assembly shares the sin of failing to rebuke wrongdoing.
- 14
exposes his thigh.
says should decide whether was won, then insults her by inviting her to sit on his thigh.
- 15
vows to break 's thigh.
Unable to bear 's insult, vows that he will break that thigh in battle.
- 16
Omens force to intervene.
After leaves the legal question to the Kurus, fearful omens sound near 's chamber and urges the king to act before disaster overtakes them.
- 17
uses two boons to free the Pandavas.
offers boons; she asks first for 's freedom and then for , , , and to be freed with their weapons and chariots.
- 18
The Pandavas return toward .
restores the Pandavas' property and kingdom, then tells to return in peace. The brothers bow, leave with , and start back toward while fears 's vows will not be forgotten.