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 questions his loyalty to the crown and turns down his suggestion of setting the Pandavas free. He mocks him saying that these words of wisdom should have been uttered before the start of the game and not after the Pandavas have lost the game. Bhishma too faces a similar disgrace when Dritarashtra doesn't speak against his son who, to Bhishma, was a symbol for destruction just like the flower/fruit on bamboos.
Duryodhana then sends a messenger called Pratikami to bring Draupadi. Draupadi is shocked to know that Yudhishtra has lost his brothers and himself in the game. She is furious to know that Yudhishtra has lost her too in the game and sends back Pratikami with a question to Yudhishtra whether he lost himself first and then staked Draupadi or lost her first and then staked himself. Pratikami conveys Draupadi's question to the court. Yudhishtra is speechless, and Duryodhana says that Draupadi should come to the court and ask the question herself.
Pratikami narrates the incidents to Draupadi and she once again sends him back, with the stinging question to the Kuru elders such as Bhishma, Vidura, Drona and Kripacharya, whether Draupadi's coming to the court is in accordance with Dharma. Bhishma's objection that as per rules set in the beginning that women are not to be allowed inside the gambling venue is brushed aside with the snide reminder that Draupadi was only a dasi now and dasis were allowed inside the court.
As per Duryodhana's order, Dushasana barges into Draupadi's chamber. Draupadi warns him that he shouldn't disrespect his sister-in-law who is like a mother to him. Dushasana says that Draupadi, as a wife of five men, is only a prostitute. Even when Draupadi reveals that as she is undergoing menstruation and shouldn't appear before her husband or other elders, Dushasana dismisses her protests saying she is a mere slave who doesn't deserve any respect. Dushasana drags Drapdi by her hair and pushes her down on the floor. Karna reminds her that she had called him a 'sootaputra' at her swayamwara, now what would her children be called -- a slave's sons? Draupadi then stands before Bhishma and tells him not to hang his head but look at her pitiable state. As she pelts out questions after questions, Bhishma only cries out in anguish. She tells him that Bhishma is taking the side of adharma under the pretext of the vow given to his father of protecting the crown. Instead, he should protect the dharma. She then asks if women were mere chattels or property which could be staked in a wager. Is it appropriate, she asks whether a man who has lost himself in a wager and become a slave, stake another person?
She questions other elders like Drona and Vidura, but nobody answers her.
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