The Pandavas spent ten months of their stay in disguise in the palace of the Virata king without hurdles.
Sudeshna, the queen of Virata had a brother by name Keechaka. He was the commander-in-chief of the army and was extremely powerful, both physically and by influence. He feared none and had a free hand in running the affairs in and outside the palace.
Keechaka happened to set his eyes on Draupadi one day. He was immediately smitten by her extraordinary good looks. He wondered how such a beautiful woman lived in the palace without his seeing her. On enquiry he found out all about Sairandhri.
Keechaka confronts Draupadi
Keechaka approached the Pandava queen in her assumed role as Sairandhri and spoke his heart out to her. He told Draupadi that he would make her his “queen”. All his other wives would become her servants. He said. “A beauty like you should not spend the rest of your life doing menial jobs in the palace”.
But, Draupadi brushed him off saying that she was already married. She had five powerful Gandharvas who were constantly watching her. He asked Keechaka to better keep off her.
The queen backs with the tormentor
Keechaka was not one to be dissuaded that easily. He went to his sister Sudeshna and asked for her help. The queen first tried to dissuade him from chasing a woman married to five powerful Gandharvas. When Keechaka continued to pester her she promised help. She would ask Sairandhri to get some drinks from Keechaka’s place at night on the next new moon day.
Keechaka in high spirits
There was no limit to the joy Keechaka felt thinking that he would soon get what he desired most. He made elaborate preparations for the occasion. Drinks were ordered to me made for himself to enjoy in the company of his beloved and also for his sister. He decorated his house and bed chamber in advance. He started counting the days, hours and even the minutes for the appointed time. When the new moon day arrived he dressed himself elaborately and waited for Sairandhri to appear on her mission.
Draupadi in agony
It was a great shock for Draupadi when the queen asked her to get some drinks from her brother’s chambers at night on the next new moon day. She tried to argue with the queen that that was against the terms she had placed in the beginning. There was any number of other maids for the task. But, the queen stood firm. She assured Sairandhri that she would be safe in the house of her brother.
There was no escape for Draupadi from the errand she loathed most. She moved with trepidation into the house of Keechaka on the night. Keechaka was waiting impatiently for her arrival. When he started talking in terms of love Draupadi cut him short and asked for the drinks. That was what she had come for.
Keechaka said. “You do not have to take that trouble. I shall send a maid with the drinks for my sister. You remain with me and let us enjoy”. With those words he caught hold of Draupadi’s hand. The distraught queen of the Pandavas somehow got herself free and ran to the Virata assembly for help.
In the august assembly
Keechaka was right behind her in hot pursuit. When Draupadi reached the assembly Keechaka came running from behind and caught her by her hair. He then started kicking and pulling her at the same time.
That was the limit for Draupadi’s suffering. She was being put to shame in the assembly of the Matsya king where several high ranking citizens watched the scene in disbelief. She wailed asking for pity and help.
Yudhishthira was in the assembly. So was Bhima. Yudhishthira simply looked at Bhima for any signs of agitation on his brother’s face. Bhima was getting worked up. The senior Pandava could see his brother’s eyes turning red and his lips trembling. So, he sent a warning look directed at his brother asking him silently to cool down.
Draupadi pleaded with the Virata king for help. The king kept aloof by saying that he did not know why the two were “quarrelling”.
Other prominent members in the assembly sympathized with Draupadi and criticized Keechaka for his evil behaviour. They asked Draupadi to retire safely to the queens’ chambers. That was how the distressed queen of the Pandavas was saved from Keechaka’s clutches that day. But, she knew that she was far from being safe.
We shall conclude the story in the next episode.
