Justice in the Hands of Torture - Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha

property not merely of Yudhishthira but of the other four brothersas well. He should not consider himself alone as her Lord. Even ifthe act of pledging the four brothers could be held proper andvalid, that of pledging Draupadi could never Shakuni exploited hisinnocence and coaxing and provoking him dexterously, won himto stake her. When all these factors are taken into account, Draupadihad not become a slave. Duryodhana's side had not won her.This was his summary view.Karna then took the floor to object to what Vikarna said. Abusinghim and calling him a child, Karna upheld the slavery of Draupadi,making use of the occasion to hold Draupadi as an unchastewoman, who had now become a servant and slave of Duryodhana.An immoral woman as she was (because she had five husbands),he said, it mattered little whether she put on only one piece of clothor none at all. Shakuni's victory was righteous, just and valid. ThePandava brothers as also Draupadi were clearly Duryodhana'sproperty now, to be used and treated by him as he wished. All ofthem had been won by him fully in accordance with the codes ofdharma. He added: ‘We shall prove to this foolish and childish Vikarnathat all these six persons are slaves to us now. Like morallydecent and chaste ones, these people are not to stand before us well-dressed and erect. Let us get them disrobed by themselves andpass on their dress to us without delay, to prove their slavery andour masterhood.’As soon as Karna spoke thus, Yudhishthira and his four brothersremoved their uttareeyam (the upper garment) and placed it downand sat on the floor. Finding Panchali (Draupadi) not followingsuit, Duhshasana by force caught hold of her saree and began topull it to disrobe her!13