16 fascinating facts about Draupadi I bet you didn’t know-3

Draupadi’s clause

When Draupadi agreed to be the common wife, her condition was that she would share her household with no other woman. In other words, disregarding popular practice of the times, the Pandavas could not bring their other wives to Indra- prastha. Arjuna, however, succeeded in bringing one wife in. She was Krishna’s sister, Subhadra. And with a little advise from Krishna, she was able to trick her way into the household.

Duryodhana did not participate in Drauapdi’s Swayamvara

There is a reason why Duryodhana did not participate in Draupadi's swayamvara.It's because he was already married to the princess of Kalinga, Bhanumati. He had promised her that he would never marry another, and he kept his word.

Draupadi cursed the Dogs

Here goes the story according to a Punjabi folklore: Pandavas had agreed that only one brother must enter Draupadi’s chamber at a time and during that time no other Pandava must enter her chamber. The brother who entered her chamber was to keep his shoes outside the door. The violation of this condition had a strict penalty - the offender was to leave immediately for year long exile.

Arjuna, the offender

One day when Yudhishthira was in Draupadi’s chamber, a dog stole his shoes from outside the door. Arjuna, unaware of this, entered the chamber and saw his elder brother with Draupadi. According to the agreement, Arjuna had to leave for the exile. Embarrassed, Draupadi became furious with the dog that had stolen Yudhishthira’s shoe, thereby cursing all dogs – “All the world will see you copulate in public, stripped of all shame.”

The other side of Drauapdi

Asvatthama, the son of Drona, had mercilessly killed the five sleeping sons of Draupadi in the middle of the night. Krishna, Arjuna and Bhima went and captured Asvatthama and brought him to Draupadi for her to take the final decision. Draupadi, however, displayed an amazing sense of compassion when Asvatthama sat with his head down. Although Krishna told her that there was no sin involved in killing such a murderer, Draupadi could feel the pain Drona’s wife could feel at the loss of her son.

Blessed to be a virgin

Before she moved to the next husband, Draupadi walks through fire to regain her virginity and purity. Such rules were never placed before polygamous husbands. All the Pandavas had other wives but these wives stayed with their parents and the Pandavas had to travel out of the city to visit their other wives in the four years that Draupadi is intimate with the other brothers.

Krishna was Draupadi’s only friend

Draupadi always considered Lord Krishna as her Sakha or beloved friend and Krishna addressed her as Sakhi, this is emblematic of the spiritual love existing between the livid Draupadi and Krishna. The only true friend, who validated her persona and came to her rescue each time she found herself in dire circumstances, was Krishna, whose divine presence she experienced constantly in her life.

Om Namah Shivay