Kunti Bids Her Sons to 'Share' Draupadi : Episode 59 (20-Apr-14)

Scene 1

The potter's grand children are hungry and Kunti plans to make dinner for them. The potter leaves to bring back his wife.

Kunti and Krishna at the potter's hut

Krishna calls out for his aunt Kunti and she is delighted to see him. She enquires about her brother Vasudeva, sister-in-law Devaki and Subhadra, her niece. Krishna tells her he and Balarama came to attend Draupadi's swayamwaram. Balarama rushes back, expecting trouble from Jarasandha and Shishupala.

Scene 2

Drupada is looking downcast when Drishtadyumna comes in excitedly with the news that Draupadi has indeed chosen Arjuna. Drupada is beside himself with joy. He sends his brother Satyajit to bring the Pandavas with full honor so that they could celebrate their marriage in a grand manner.

Scene 3

Kunti is busy cooking meals for Krishna and the potter's family. Krishna says he is hungry and asks if he could eat the fruit kept there. Then he said there were three grand children of the potter and there weren't fruits for all. Kunti said just divide for all the four of them. After some time, he picked up some chakli and said he would like to eat that as well, and Kunti promptly told him to share with all.

Just then, the Pandavas and draupadi arrive and Yudhishtra announces that he has brought 'kanni'(means a maiden) and Kunti, thinking they brought some kani (fruit), tells them to share it. The Pandavas are stunned and ask her to come out. Finding Draupadi and Arjuna in garlands and others standing along with them, she realizes her folly. She explains why she said that. She was aware that Pandavas had sworn to obey their mother's commands at all times. She then asks Yudhishtra, who was well versed in matters of scripture, what should be done.

Yudhishtra opines that it was Arjuna who participated in the swayamwaram contest and won the contest with his skill, so draupadi should belong only to Arjuna. But Arjuna protests how he could marry when Yudhishta and Bheema who were elder to him were still unmarried. That was against the shastras. Probably that is why Kunti uttered those words unknowingly.

Bheema reminds them that he had married Hidimbi under similar circumstances. Kunti counters that Bheema had married Hidimbi through Gandharva rites, and again, Hidimbi had chosen Bheema herself and threatened to commit suicide if her wish was unfulfilled. But this was a traditional kshatriya marriage. Sahadeva, who is also considered very knowledgeable in Shastric matters, supports Kunti's views. Finally, Yudhishtra says a mother's words were always to be adhered to.

Draupadi, who has been silently watching this, protests why everybody is quiet especially when Kunti said it unknowingly and unintentionally. Yudhishtra explains that they had taken the vow when they lost their father and stood on the doors of Hastinapur palace feeling like orphans and felt that only their unity would save them. That was when Kunti had asked her sons to take the vow. Arjuna says that disobeying their mother's command was akin to death.

Satyajit who had been watching the proceedings is shocked.

Scene 4

Dristarashtra dreams that a messenger brings the defeat of Duryodhana and other Kauravas. Frustrated, he stabs the messenger. He gets up from the sleep thinking he had really killed the messenger. He tells Gandhari about the dream. Gandhari goes out in the middle of the night seeking Vidura. Dritarashtra follows her. He tells Vidura that his mind is in a turmoil between affection for his own sons and the righteous conduct.

Dritashtra is worried about the outcome of the swayamwaram at Panchala and cannot understand why his sons haven't returned. He then asks Vidura if Draupadi would become the daughter-in-law of Hastinapur dynasty. Vidura assures him Draupadi would be daughter-in-law of the Kurus. Dritarashtra is relieved.

Scene 5

Kunti is worried about Draupadi marrying all her sons. Krishna tells her it was the result of past karma. Kunti asks Krishna if He played a game so that Kunti uttered the word 'share'. She is worried that sharing a common woman create rifts between the brothers. Krishna laughs and says the rift would be created only if one of them, ie., Arjuana, marries Draupadi. He asks Kunti who amongst the Pandavas wants to marry Draupadi. Kunti remembers how distracted and listless all her sons were, ever since Vyasa described Draupadi to them.

Krishna tells her it is Kunti's duty to play the political chess game cleverly. Kunti asks what reply she could give if Draupadi asks her how she could do this despite being a woman herself. Krishna tells Kunti to take her own experiences in life as an example and explain to Daupadi the compulsions they were in.

Krishna

: I am the cause for whatever is happening. Praise or derision will come to me only. If you believe that I am always with you, you will understand the truth in your words.

Scene 6

Drupada welcomes Vyasa. He and Prishata wash the sage's feet. Vyasa closes his eyes in meditation.