Lord Krishna Protects Draupadi's Honor : Episode 86

Recap of the Previous Episode :

Duryodhana forces Yudhishtra to stake Draupadi, and Yudhishtra loses. Vidura and the elders protest in anguish, but Dhritarashtra remains silent. Draupadi refuses to appear and challenges the assembly with piercing questions about dharma and justice. Dushasana drags her by force into the court, and Draupadi appeals to the elders, but no one speaks in her defense.

Draupadi Challenges the Silence

Draupadi continues to lash out at Bhishma, her voice trembling with anger and despair. She tells him that she was foolish to expect justice from him—the great guardian of Kuru honor. Bhishma lowers his head and replies that dharma is subtle, interpreted differently by different minds. He recalls how, when he brought Princess Amba to Hastinapura, he believed he acted according to dharma, but his own guru Parashurama thought otherwise. Their duel had to be stopped only because neither could defeat the other.

Bhishma says that when a woman is wronged, anyone may rise to defend her if she stands alone, but Draupadi has five husbands, and therefore he has no right to intervene while they are present.

Drona speaks next — flatly, without emotion. He says he is bound by the debt of bread, dependent on the kingdom for his livelihood.

Kripacharya says nothing when Draupadi reminds him of his duty as the adopted son of King Shantanu. Only Vikarna, son of Dhritarashtra and Gandhari, rises with courage. He urges the assembly to answer Draupadi’s question truthfully, warning that silence will tarnish the glory of the Kuru race forever. Duryodhana snaps at him to sit down.

A Woman Alone Against the World

Draupadi turns to the Pandavas. She asks them whether they gave permission when Yudhishtra staked them. They admit they did. Then she asks whether they also permitted him to stake her—their shared wife. The Pandavas bow their heads in shame.

Karna bursts into mocking laughter and says that the Pandavas are now slaves, and so is she. He suggests that she allow Duryodhana to become her sixth husband. Arjuna grips his Gandiva to strike him down, but Bhishma and Bhima restrain him.

Duryodhana’s Outrageous Demand

Duryodhana slaps his thigh and orders Dushasana to seat Draupadi upon it. Bhima thunders that he will break that thigh, or else live as a slave for seven lifetimes.

Duryodhana then commands Dushasana to disrobe Draupadi. Bhima swears he will tear off the hands that touch her. Dushasana pulls violently at her saree. Draupadi fights him fiercely until exhausted—then she raises her hands and cries out to Krishna.

The Miracle of Endless Cloth

The cloth keeps flowing endlessly from her body—an unbroken stream of divine protection. The court freezes in shock. Dushasana collapses, panting in defeat.

Bhima rises with a terrible oath: he will rip open Dushasana’s chest and smear his blood on Draupadi’s hair.
Arjuna swears he will kill Karna.
Sahadeva vows to kill Shakuni, the architect of disaster.
Nakula vows to destroy the entire Gandhara clan.

The King Finally Speaks

Draupadi turns to Dhritarashtra and demands to know how long he will remain silent. Vidura cries that a court that watches injustice without protest is a hall of the dead.

Draupadi prepares to curse the Kauravas — but Gandhari rushes in, falls at her feet, and begs her not to curse the dynasty. She chastises Duryodhana and Shakuni and accuses Dhritarashtra of cowardice.

At last, Dhritarashtra speaks. Trembling, he apologizes for all that has happened and offers Draupadi three boons. Her first request: that she and her husbands be freed from slavery. Duryodhana watches in disbelief as Dhritarashtra grants it.