In the previous episode, we had witnessed the key learnings that we can imbibe from the Yudishtra-Draupati-Sage Dhurvasa event and also the importance of the “Atma-Kshemam” and the “Shareera-Kshemam”. Moving on from here, Bhagawan Krishna takes leave from Yudishtra’s place and heads back to Dwaraka. After a few months, one fine day when Draupati is cleaning and washing the front portion of the house, Jayathrada who is the king of the Sindhu Desha comes along. He sees Draupati at a distance and falls for her beauty. King Jayathrada is on the way to the “Shaalva Desha” for attending a “Svayamvara” event and on the way he spots Draupati as he passes through the close vicinity of Yudishtra’s place in the forest. As King Jayathrada spots Draupati, he wants to know who this beautiful lady really is. So he sends Kotikadhya, an assistant who had accompanied King Jayathrada on his travel to find out the whereabouts of Draupati.
As Kotikadhya approaches Draupati he enquires thus, “Oh lady! Who are you? What are you doing in this forest area? My king, King Jayathrada is from the Sindh Desha and he has fallen in love with you. He wants to marry you and take you along with him!” As Kotikadhya says this straightaway, Draupati replies back immediately thus, “Oh Kotikadhya! Please do not even encourage such thoughts of marrying me in your king’s mind. I’m the wife of the Paandava brothers and Jayathrada is having a wrong intention. I’m someone else’s wife and I cannot be the wife of another person beyond my marriage. Hence, please tell your king to change his mindset and leave this place immediately!”
As Draupati is explaining her stance to Kotikadhya, King Jayathrada himself comes to the vicinity. He directly asks thus, “Oh beautiful woman! Why are you roaming in this dense forest and experiencing suffering? You can come with me, marry me and enjoy all the luxuries of life! Please come with me. I shall ensure that you’re my queen with all facilities. What are you going to gain by being a wife of someone who is roaming and wandering around in the forest without anything? You are not supposed to undergo such suffering in life. You’re someone who has to enjoy a luxurious life. Please come with me!” As King Jayathrada directly makes a proposal thus, Draupati tries to explain her stance to him with all the good and decent words possible, but Jayathrada is not going to listen to all of that! He has already made up his mind to somehow attain Draupati and hold her hands. Even as Draupati signals a warning that if her husbands come from wherever they are, it would signal danger for him, Jayathrada is in no mood to listen to her warning signal as well! Jayathrada is determined to take Draupati with him, and even if she resists, he is determined to take her by force!
Thus, as Draupati refuses persistently, Jayathrada loses patience and finally makes the move. He rushes towards Draupati, forcefully holds her hands, drags her quickly, lifts her in his strong shoulders and places her on his chariot! With this, he rides fast, before anybody could even trace him. As Draupati is being abducted like this, Sage Dhoumya spots Jayathrada. He runs behind Jayathrada’s chariot and warns him that if he doesn’t give Draupati back, he would be inflicted with a heavy curse! But King Jayathrada is not in a mood to listen even to Sage Dhoumya’s warning. As all this is happening, Yudishtra and Co. quickly understand the graveness of the situation that Draupati is being abducted by King Jayathrada. They too join the chase along with Sage Dhoumya to stop Jayathrada from abducting Draupati!
Now what does Jayathrada do? Does he budge and return Draupati back? Let us wait till the next episode to find out! Stay tuned for an interesting accord! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 