Draupadi abducted

Jayadratha

It is time that we get to know a great warrior by name Jayadratha. One of the most memorable battles in the Mahabharata war involved this king on one side. He was the powerful ruler of the Sindhu kingdom (and hence, addressed often as Saindhava) and had married Dussala, the only sister of the one hundred Kaurava princes. He was one of the suitors of Daupadi at the Swayamvara.

Jayadratha enamoured by Draupadi

The Pandavas were living in the Dwaita forest. One day Draupadi was moving alone in the forest near the place where the Pandavas lived. Yudhishthira and his brothers were all away hunting. King Jayadratha happened to pass that way and noticed Draupadi. The queen of Pandavas appeared so beautiful to the Sindhu king that he stopped his chariot immediately, at a distance. He was love struck and decided that he would not leave without Draupadi at any cost.

Jayadratha wanted to try the peaceful ways first. He sent his friend, the king of Trigarta by name Kotikasya as envoy.

Kotikasya confronted Draupadi and introduced himself. He started describing the merits of Jayadratha and tried to impress on the Panchala princess how life as the Saindhava queen would be so much better as compared to her suffering in the Dwaita forest.

Draupadi politely turned down the request. She, then, started describing how great her husbands were. It was meant to be a message for Jayadratha that he better moved out of the forest before they returned.

Jayadratha arrives

Kotikasya returned to Jayadratha and reported that he tried his best to persuade Draupadi. But, she was devoted to her husbands and would not even entertain thoughts of any other.

Then, Jayadratha decided to come in person and talk to her. He tried various ways to impress Draupadi, but, without success. Then, in a surprising move he pulled her into his chariot and drove off.

The Pandava priest, Dhaumya and a woman attendant of Draupadi were the only ones around. Dhaumya tried running after the chariot demanding the release of the Pandava queen. The maid remained on the scene crying.

The Pandavas sense trouble

Yudhishthira suddenly observed bad omens while hunting and told his brothers that there was possibly trouble at home. Their thoughts turned to their wife who was left behind alone in their hut. They hurried back home and found the maid crying. Learning about the tragedy they all rushed in the direction pointed out by the maid.

They found Dhaumya on the way. The Pandava priest pointed to the Saindhava army marching away at a distance. The Pandavas wasted no time and dispatched swift arrows challenging Jayadratha. The Sindhu king did not think much about the Pandavas without an army and proper equipment and ordered his men to thwart the attack coming from behind. But, they were no match to the power of Bhima’s club and Arjuna’s unfailing arrows. The Pandavas made short work of most of the Saindhava army in no time and were ready to meet Jayadratha face to face.

Bhma and Arjuna thought that the two of them could easily handle Jayadratha. They asked his brothers to return with their priest. Yudhishthira agreed, but, asked his brothers to spare the life of Jayadratha. He did not want his cousin sister, Dussala, made a widow just then.

Jayadratha flees

But, Jayadratha thought it better to avoid a direct confrontation. His single aim at that time was to get Draupadi. There was not much point in wasting time on fights when most of his men were killed. Jayadratha decided to escape from the scene with Draupadi. He asked his charioteer to hurry. Arjuna observed the move made by the Sindhu king and sent arrows directed at the horses. The horses fell down dead and Jayadratha was stuck where he was. Bhima jumped into the chariot and caught hold of Jayadratha by the hair. He was about to chop the head of the Sindhu king. Arjuna prevented him. They saved Draupadi from the clutches of the Saindhava and took him to their elder brother.

Yudhishthira maintained that the king’s life must be spared. So, Bhima shaved the head of Jayadratha in an insulting manner and released him

Jayadratha on a revenge mission

The king of Sindhu felt humiliated. Instead of returning to his land he remained in a nearby forest doing penance. He meditated on Lord Siva for his blessings. Lord Siva appeared after some days and asked Jayadratha to choose a boon. Jayadratha wanted the god’s blessing so that he could defeat all the Pandavas in battle. Lord Siva said. “I grant you the boon that you will defeat all the Pandavas, except Arjuna. I have given him the formidable Pasupata and many other divine weapons. There is no way that I can grant you the power to defeat Arjuna. But, you shall win over the others in war”. So saying, the Lord disappeared. Jarasandha returned home satisfied.

Two chapters are covered in this episode with titles “the capture of Draupadi (Draupadeeharana Parvam)” and “the release of Jayadratha (Jayadratha Vimoksha Parvam)”.

The next chapter is on the story of Ramayanam in some detail as told by sage Markandeya earlier. We may attempt that after completing Mahabharata. This is followed by the famous story of Satyavan and Savitry which also we keep aside for the time being. Then, the story of Lord Indra getting the armours of Karna which was part of his body at birth is told. We have briefly covered that earlier.

The only remaining chapter of our current book, before the Pandavas go into their stay incognito, will be covered in the next episode.