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Showing posts from October, 2014

Lord Krishna Protects Draupadi's Honor : Episode 86 (26-10-14)

Draupadi continues to lash out at Bhishma and says it was foolish of her to expect justice from him. Bhishma replies lamely that dharma was a complex issue which could be interpreted differently by different people. When he had brought to Hastinapura the Kashi princess Amba, he thought he was acting in accordance with dharma, but his guru Parasurama did not think so. They had a fight but it had to be stopped because both the warriors were equally strong and invincible. When an injustice is meted out to a woman, anybody can stand up and fight for justice so long as she is helpless and single. But Draupadi had five husbands and he had no role to play in protecting her in their presence. Drona simply states that he is bound by the debt to his employer. Kripacharya has no reply when Draupadi reminds him of his duty as the adopted son of King Shantanu. Only Vikarna, the righteous son of Dritarashtra and Gandhari, asks the courtiers to answer Draupadi's question. He raises a cautionary

Draupadi Asks The Kuru Elders Scathing Questions : Episode 85 (19-10-14)

When Yudhishtra loses the dice game after staking himself, Vidura begs King Dhritarshtra to stop the game and set the Pandavas free. Duryodhana intervenes and says either he should keep quiet like Bhishma, Drona, Kripacharya or get out of the game. Karna suggests that Yudhishtra stake Draupadi in the dice game, and Vidura is enraged and once again pleads with the king. Duryodhana guffaws and says that they were playing the game in accordance with the rules set by Bhishma, and the game could be stopped only by Duryodhana or Yudhishtra. Since Yudhishtra was a mere slave now, only Duryodhana could stop the game and Yudhishtra was bound to play as long as Duryodhana wanted. As the elders watch the proceedings in utter dismay, Yudhishtra stakes Draupadi and loses her too. Duryodhana orders Vidura to bring Draupadi since she would have to live with him in his palace. Vidura yells out predictions of doom for the Kauravas, and Drona intervenes with an exposition of dharma, but Duryodhana que

Yudhishtra Loses His wealth and His Brothers in Gambling : Episode 84

Yudhishtra wants to quit the game, since he has no property to lose. But Duryodhana taunts and incites him to continue playing. He asks him to wager his own brothers in the game. Bhishma and Vidura object to this, saying he could lay at stake only what he owned. Once again, Duryodhana makes fun of the unity the brothers professed and asks if it was true the brothers would do anything Yudhishtra commanded. Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva grant permission to Yudhishtra to stake them in the game. Yudhishtra loses them one by one and the brothers remove their crown and kneel down in the assembly. Duryodhana jeers at the Pandavas and calls them his slaves. Finally, Yudhishtra loses himself too and declares that he has nothing else to offer. Karna seizes the opportunity to mock Yudhishtra that he could still pledge his haughty wife Draupadi. Bhima protests, but Karna orders him to kneel down. Duryodhana lampoons Yudhishtra by suggesting derisively that by pledging Draupadi, h

Yudhishtra Plays Dice Despite Vidura's Warning : Episode 83 (05-10-2014)

(continued from previous episode)Virtuous Vikarna, Dritarashtra's son from a Vaisya woman, has been listening to the conversation between his father and Duryodhana. Dritarashtra throws away in helpless anguish the glass of milk that Duryodhana has brought for him. Vikarna tells Dritarashtra that he has heard Duryodhana's conversations with him and begs him not to permit the playing of the game of dice, as he fears that his brother Duryodhana could use it in vile ways. He requests Dritarashtra to send away the Pandavas soon, else the entire Kuru dynasty may have to suffer the ill consequences. Dritarshtra convenes the game of dice. Yudhishtra seeks the blessings from all the assembled elders. Shakuni asks an unwilling Duryodhana to seek Yudhishtra's blessings, explaining that Yudhishtra's words would never fail, as he is the embodiment of truth. Yudhishtra wishes Duryodhana victory. Shakuni asks Yudhishtra's consent to begin the game. Yudhishtra expresses surprise