Justice in the Hands of Torture - Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
Justice in the Hands of Torture - Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha Justice in the Hands of Torture - Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
Even with the two I have given, my heart is not content. Of all mydaughters-in-law, you are the loftiest one given to Dharma and supremevirtues."Draupadi then replied, 'Greed will only destroy Dharma and itspursuit, Therefore I do not propose to fall a victim to it. I am unableto seek another boon, the third one. "The Vaishya seeks one boon: thekshatriya women choose two; three are ordained for the kings, while for theBrahmins a hundred can be sought; this indeed is the behest of the Scriptures.O respectable king, I do not intend to flout or violate this law.My husbands, driven by fate to the midst of these ordea1s, wil1 beable to elevate themselves by virtue of their own noble deeds andattain Shreyas (final Good) by themselves."Thus concluded the tragic, perplexing, grave and deep riddle. It isfor the common thinker to understand the whole series of developmentsin their own respective depths and places and take lessonsfor his own life and those of his family and relatives. To an elevatedthinker, the task will be a little more. He has to find rhythm andbeauty which Providence's mysterious hands have woven insideand outside the whole episode and then revel in them for himselfand also reveal their charm and magnitude for the benefit of thoseothers who seek to know and improve their wisdom, thereby enrichingtheir lives, deriving greater and deeper insight and inspiration.Before making some observations myself on sacred and sublimetruths the whole illustration contains, let me also reproduce the lastpage of the episode where Karna comes out with his own characteristicremarks on Draupadi and the role she played at this uniquepredicament.28
Karna burst forth: I have not heard till this hour of any adorableand illustrious woman having done a great deed as was now seento be accomplished. When the inspiration of anger and hatred overpoweredthe Pandavas and the sons of Dhritarashtra, it is thisKrishnaa, the beloved daughter of King Drupada (the reference isto Draupadi) who brought peace and relief to the afflicted Pandavas.The Pandavas were on the verge of sinking deep into the unfathomableocean of slavery and grief, with no straw of hope, thisdaughter of the Panchala King suddenly emerged as an efficientboat to rescue them to the shore."Mystery of Providential ProtectionI have narrated the whole episode, referring to its description asfound in the original text of Mahabharata, that is the way in whichSage Vyasa has penned it himself. It is true that Sri Vyasadeva wasa Sage of excellence in every way. And it is also true he was a greatand even an unrivalled poet. Coming to a step lower and a timelater, we also have the instance of Kalidasa, the famous poet notedfor his unerring tongue, besides his matchless poetry. Traditionholds that whatever Kalidasa would say would become true. If itwas not true when it was uttered by him, it should come true themoment it emerges from his faultless mouth.There is a mysterious note of attunement which the human mind,heart and intelligence can reach, though the exact science of theprocess may not be clearly deciphered. By the superb merit of this,the hidden truths and ways of Nature and all she comprehendswithin Her, including the most complex humanhood, can be easilyrevealed. The secret primarily rests in the determination withinoneself that Truth alone should be struck by the mind and thatwhatever is struck at this way is revealed only for the sake of the29
- Page 3 and 4: Justice “In the Hands of Torture
- Page 7 and 8: Where the role of women is rightly
- Page 9 and 10: even myself.’ At this Shakuni lau
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- Page 24 and 25: "Look at my long sturdy hands. Even
- Page 26 and 27: To these words of Bheema, Yudhishth
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- Page 38 and 39: In India, right from the ancient da
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Even with <strong>the</strong> two I have given, my heart is not content. Of all mydaughters-<strong>in</strong>-law, you are <strong>the</strong> l<strong>of</strong>tiest one given to Dharma and supremevirtues."Draupadi <strong>the</strong>n replied, 'Greed will only destroy Dharma and itspursuit, Therefore I do not propose to fall a victim to it. I am unableto seek ano<strong>the</strong>r boon, <strong>the</strong> third one. "The Vaishya seeks one boon: <strong>the</strong>kshatriya women choose two; three are orda<strong>in</strong>ed for <strong>the</strong> k<strong>in</strong>gs, while for <strong>the</strong>Brahm<strong>in</strong>s a hundred can be sought; this <strong>in</strong>deed is <strong>the</strong> behest <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Scriptures.O respectable k<strong>in</strong>g, I do not <strong>in</strong>tend to flout or violate this law.My husbands, driven by fate to <strong>the</strong> midst <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se ordea1s, wil1 beable to elevate <strong>the</strong>mselves by virtue <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir own noble deeds andatta<strong>in</strong> Shreyas (f<strong>in</strong>al Good) by <strong>the</strong>mselves."Thus concluded <strong>the</strong> tragic, perplex<strong>in</strong>g, grave and deep riddle. It isfor <strong>the</strong> common th<strong>in</strong>ker to understand <strong>the</strong> whole series <strong>of</strong> developments<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir own respective depths and places and take lessonsfor his own life and those <strong>of</strong> his family and relatives. To an elevatedth<strong>in</strong>ker, <strong>the</strong> task will be a little more. He has to f<strong>in</strong>d rhythm andbeauty which Providence's mysterious hands have woven <strong>in</strong>sideand outside <strong>the</strong> whole episode and <strong>the</strong>n revel <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>m for himselfand also reveal <strong>the</strong>ir charm and magnitude for <strong>the</strong> benefit <strong>of</strong> thoseo<strong>the</strong>rs who seek to know and improve <strong>the</strong>ir wisdom, <strong>the</strong>reby enrich<strong>in</strong>g<strong>the</strong>ir lives, deriv<strong>in</strong>g greater and deeper <strong>in</strong>sight and <strong>in</strong>spiration.Before mak<strong>in</strong>g some observations myself on sacred and sublimetruths <strong>the</strong> whole illustration conta<strong>in</strong>s, let me also reproduce <strong>the</strong> lastpage <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> episode where Karna comes out with his own characteristicremarks on Draupadi and <strong>the</strong> role she played at this uniquepredicament.28
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