- Bheeshm was not a great warrior, and his vow only allowed Vichitraveerya and then Pandu and Dhritarashtra to be the kings, but had no role in the KW as such. One cannot argue that had Pandu/Dhritarashtra not been the kings, the war would not happen. Such arguments are absurd. This way, one might even argue that had Vyas not fathered them, they would never be born and the war would not take place! Or had Pandu not killed the deer (leading to the ‘ascetic's curse’), or had the stag not been mating with the doe, he would not die and Kunti would not bring back the Pandavs to Hastinapur, and the war would not happen. One cannot go back so much in the events, and hold Satyavati, her father Dasraj, Parashar (his boon made Satyavati fragrant, what attracted Shantanu to her in the first place 😅), Shantanu, Bheeshm, Vyas, the ascetic or the stag responsible for the war! Kunti bringing back the Pandavs too was not a critical event. The Pandavs could have lived peacefully with Suyodhan after returning, and this in no way was responsible for war.
- The ‘Great Gamble’ was the brainchild of Shakuni, and laid the foundations of the enmity between the brothers and the war. Yudhishthir had rivalry for the throne already, that made him plot the Varanavat scandal, supported by Kunti, but there were no ‘hard feelings’ between the brothers. When Suyodhan got intolerant of the power and conduct of the Pandavs during Rajasooya (Shishupal killing), Shakuni planned the dice game to snatch away the property and power of the Pandavs. But, dice gambles were played commonly amongst kshatriyas, and planning or winning a dice game cannot be directly held responsible for a war. Even after Yudhishthir had lost his kingdom and wife, the wise Dhritarashtra returned everything to him (encouraged by Bheeshm) and the whole Gamble was undone. But Shakuni then again proposed the final stake of recurrent exile, and Dharmaraj accepted. This was a grave stake for either side, and Shakuni had no business proposing such a huge stake. This transformed the rivalry between the cousins into enmity, and all the younger Pandavs were talking of war and revenge at the time of leaving for forest.
- Draupadī was insulted during the course of the game. Shakuni suggested her stake slyly to Dharmaraj, who was blinded by dice and the desire to win, and accepted such a stake too! Women didn't seem to be respected in the patriarchal society of the times, as was evident throughout Mahabharat. Krishna was then summoned to the assembly ‘as a maid’ and had no option but to obey the orders. She must have got greatly terrified thinking of her fate next (would she be treated as a slave or mistress by Suyodhan and Karn?), and mustered courage to speak up and object in the assembly. Though Bheeshm then subtly supported her and Dhritarashtra returned everything to the Pandavs, but the stake of the grave insult would be impaled deep in her heart. This is what she said in the assembly —
“I offer my homage to all my superiors who are in this assembly of Kurus. That I could not do this before cannot be my fault. The assembled kings set their eyes on me in the arena of the svayamvar. Until being brought to this sabha, I have never been seen by anyone since, anywhere.
One who has earlier not seen the wind or the sun in her house, has today been seen by this assembly of Kurus in the middle of the sabha. I think time has deviated, since the Kurus permit their daughter and daughter-in-law, unworthy of such treatment, to be thus oppressed.
Earlier, it has been heard that pure and chaste wives are not brought into the middle of a sabha. Where is the dharm of the lords of the earth? According to dharm, it has earlier been heard that wives are not brought into an assembly hall. Has that earlier eternal dharm been lost among the Kauravs?O Kauravs! I am Dharmaraj’s wife and I was born in the same varn as he. Tell me whether I am a slave or not a slave, and I will act accordingly. O Kauravs! Have I been won or have I not been won? I want you to answer, whatever you might think, and I will act accordingly.”
(BORI CE, Chapter 287)
Despite all these events, Dharmaraj was not angry and didn't want war. He clearly told Bheem one year into the exile that they were not mighty enough to wage war against Dhartarashtras, with Bheeshm, Drona and Karn on their side! If not for Karn, the war would have occurred 13 years back, and Radheya should rather get the credit of acting as a deterrent to war. Draupadi argued humbly with Yudhishthir at that time (it was unusual for wives to argue in the times), but could not convince Dharmaraj. This is what Draupadi had said –
“There is no sorrow over us in the mind of that evil, cruel and evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra. O king! When you were banished to the forest with me and your brothers, attired in deerskins, the evil-hearted and evil-minded one felt no torment.
O supreme Bharat! It is certain that there is no anger left in you. Despite seeing your brothers and me, your mind is not miserable. The sacred texts say that there is no kshatriya in the world without anger. But in you, today, I see that which is contrary to kshatriyas.”
(BORI CE, Chapter 325)
“Therefore, one should neither always be overpowering, nor always be gentle. One should adopt gentleness and harshness at different times. He who is gentle at the right time and harsh at the right time always finds happiness in this world and the next.
O lord of men! Therefore, I think that the time for displaying your energy has come. The avaricious Dhartarashtras are always engaged in doing harm. This is not the time to exhibit forgiveness towards the Kurus. The time has come to show energy, and punishment must be displayed.”
(BORI CE, Chapter 326)
“A man never obtains prosperity in this world through dharm, gentleness, forgiveness, uprightness and tenderness. O Bharat! Else, this miserable calamity would not have befallen you, which neither you, nor your immensely energetic brothers, deserve.
I think that you can give up Bhimasen, Arjun, Madreyas and me, but you will never forsake dharm. I have heard from aryas that a king protects dharm and dharm in turn protects him. But I think it does not protect you.”
(BORI CE, Chapter 328)
“We have now been overtaken by misfortune. However, if you engage in action, there is no doubt that this misfortune will be removed. Even if you are unsuccessful, you will have the pride
and this is also true of Vrikodar, Beebhatsu and the twin brothers.”(BORI CE, Chapter 330)
It is evident from the forest discussion that Draupadī was not angry upon Yudhishthir, but on Dhārtarāshtras. She was not hurt due to her molestation or insult, but was angry upon the unfair loss of kingdom and exile. She wanted the king to express his anger as a kshatriya and strive to get his kingdom back and punish the Dhartarashtras. Draupadi had great anger deep inside her, and she was thus mentioned to have arisen from fire to indicate her anger.
But Yudhishthir was determined to bear all the hardships quietly for 13 years, including the painful life as servants during incognito, and get his kingdom back as per the exile agreement. Dharmatma Suyodhan would certainly have returned his kingdom, following their agreement (the elders Bheeshm, Dhritarashtra and Vidur too would ensure that; Yudhishthir himself mentioned this in the discussion). Hence, the Pandavs would have got back their kingdom, and would have lived peacefully in Khandavaprasth once again, as they did earlier after the Partition. No war would have happen, despite all the preceding events and the Gamble. But Draupadi was not just looking to get back the kingdom, but wanted to take revenge from the Dhartrashtras.
Let us consider the scenario two days before the exile and incognito were about to end. Virat had left to fight Susharmā at the southern front, taking along all the Pandavs except the eunuch Brihannada. Kauravs attacked from the northern front, and Uttar was bragging, amidst women, that he could fight the Kaurav army alone, if he had an accomplished charioteer. Virat and Pandavs had won against Trigarts, and were about to return shortly. Draupadī then hatched a plan to break the incognito, and asked Uttar to take Arjun (Brihannada) as his charioteer. Draupadi knew that –
- The incognito was about to get over in two days, and then there would be peace in the family. If the incognito was not broken, there would be no possibility of war.
- The innocent Arjun would not refuse, and would accept being a charioteer, esp. when asked by the damsel Uttara. All warriors were trained charioteers too (and vice versa), and Arjun certainly knew how to drive a chariot well.
- If Arjun went to face the Kauravs, either as a charioteer or a warrior, he would be identified by Suyodhan/Karn, and then they would not return the kingdom (that is what the exile agreement was drafted for). She could then push for war (taking help of her friend Krishn).
- She also knew that Arjun’s life was not at risk, as the virtuous Dhartarashtras, Bheeshm and Drona would never attack or kill Arjun. It was not that she was risking the life of Arjun or Uttar.
- And it was not that Dhartarashtras were invincible and one could not dream to win a war against them! Her father had a strong army to fight against them (the Pandav army was interchangeably addressed as the Panchal army throughout the war). They had mighty warriors such as Yudhishthir, D’dumn and Bheem too. Karn was the only real threat amongst the Dhartarashtras. Draupadī knew how Krishn got the mighty Jarasandh and Shishupal killed deceitfully, and could hope/trust Keshav to take care of Karn as well.
Yadavs came to attend the wedding of Abhimanyu next, and we find Krishn strongly provoking war in the meet after the wedding! What made him do so? Achyut was not bothered about the rivalry between Kurus. If he had any revenge against Bheeshm (for Shantanav provoking all the kings against him during Rajasooya), why would he wait for so long and show no interest to incite a war earlier? The close bond of the three Krishnas (Vāsudev, Arjun, Draupadī) was no secret, and the camaraderie between them was quite evident during the Khandav expedition (this was the main significance of Khandav in the text). It was Draupadi who asked Krishn to incite war, when she met him during Abhimanyu wedding. Krishn became active in the Mahabharat only after that, and took an important part in the war. Earlier, he had only plotted the Jarasandh murder, to take his personal revenge. Krishn was any way never keen for wars in his life. Why would he wage a war amongst the Kauravs, and participate in it too risking his own life? Krishn did all this for his soulmates Draupadī and Arjun.
Then, Krishn completely took over. He first managed to provoke Drupad in the AM meet, and made him send an aggressive message to Kauravs, warning a war! Karn accepted the challenge of the war as expected. Sanjay then came to ashame Dharmaraj for going towards a fratricidal war. Krishn again sent a stern warning of defeat with Sanjay. He convinced Yudhishthir and Bheem that they were trying for peace only, and that he would personally attempt the same, going as a peace ambassador to Hastinapur. When Krishn reached Nagasahrya, he again privately met Karn-Suyodhan and misbehaved with them, further provoking them. He then delivered his message in the assembly next day, putting the blame squarely on Kurupati. Suyodhan then defended himself in strong words, dismissing all his allegations, and declaring war, as expected. Kunti too was rooting for war, to take revenge like Draupadi, and delivered a motivational message to Pandavs with Krishn.
Hence, Krishn was suddenly activated to ensure war by none other than Draupadi (he had met Kunti only just before war). Panchali was burning in revenge ever since the Gamble. She first tried to motivate Yudhishthir for war, in the forests, but could not succeed. Then she managed to break the incognito using Arjun. Still Dharmaraj and Bheem were not keen for the war, and Krishn was trying hard to convince them for the same before his mission. Draupadi then spoke up (it was unusual for women to speak up in such important discussions in those times). She nearly instructed Krishn to unleash his anger upon Dharatrashtras and ensure war, in front of her husband Dharmaraj, who was rooting for peace (Bheem had changed his stance after being taunted by Vasudev)! This was like cutting Yudhishthir, and was a premeditated move by Draupadi to provoke war. This is what Draupadī said that time –
On hearing the king’s words, which were in conformity with dharm and arth and ensured welfare, Krishna was afflicted with grief, and spoke to Dasharh, who was seated there. On seeing that even Bhimasen spoke in favour of peace, she was extremely dejected. With tears in her eyes, the spirited one spoke these words —
“O Madhusoodan! O mighty-armed one! You know about dharm. O Janardan! You know how the Pandavs were deprived of their happiness through the deceit of Dhartarashtra and his advisers. You know about the advice that the king secretly gave to Sanjay..
While the Kauravs, Panchals and the Vrishnis were alive, I was brought to the middle of the assembly hall and made a servant maid to those evil ones. O Krishn! According to dharm, I am the daughter-in-law of both Bhishma and Dhritarashtra. Yet, I was forcibly made a slave.O Krishn! If you wish to show favours towards me, if you are compassionate towards me, you should direct your entire wrath at Dhartarashtras. Thirteen years have passed, while I have waited. I have hidden my anger in my heart, like a kindled fire.
(BORI CE, Chapter 743)
Draupadi was the silent killer in Mahabharat. No wonder it is commonly said that ‘one woman can lead to Mahabharat’ or ‘wars are caused by women’! Mahabharat delivered the important message that how a helpless and hurt woman can strike back and take revenge against the patriarchal society. One needs to understand the pain of Draupadi throughout her life to understand what made her do so –
- Draupadi was seemingly the only daughter of the Panchal king Drupad, born by the sacrifice conducted by Yaj for him. She would not have grudges against Drupad for that though (Kunti had grudges against her father for giving her away to Kuntibhoj). She was brought up in the palaces of Panchal only, and seemingly had a happy childhood. Nothing is mentioned on that in the epic, and she was born as an adult as per interpolations.
- Draupadi got the first shock of her life during her svayamvar. The special Arjun came and grabbed the ceremonial bow from her, in the disguise of a brahman. The qualities of Arjun would have become evident to Draupadi and Drupad from his appearance, body language and acts (this was the reason Krishn knew that no girl, including Subhadrā, would choose Arjun in a svayamvar). Draupadi would have expected her father or brother to object. But Drupad was afraid of the huge crowd of cheering brahmans, and let her daughter be taken away by an unknown, strange brahman.
- Drupad then invited the brahmans (Pandavs) to his palace, having sent spies to follow them. He was relieved to know that they were Pandavs, and asked Yudhishthir to marry Arjun with Draupadi, when to the shock of everyone, Dharmaraj declared that all five of them had to marry her, as per their pact to share all prized possessions! Is woman a shareable possession? Should her opinion not be sought on such an important thing? Draupadi didn't have the guts to object that time, but would have expected her father and brother to object certainly. But she was abandoned by her family again, and they agreed to the decision of Dharmaraj, happily or unhappily (there is a possibility that looking at the condition of Arjun, all of them agreed, thinking that she would this way get some normal husbands too).
- Dhritarashtra then invited the Pandavs back to Hastinapur and settled them in Khandavaprasth, upon Bheeshm’s insistence. Draupadi would have accepted her destiny of multiple husbands, and lived peacefully, till Gamble happened! She had nothing to do with the Jarāsandh Murder, Rajasooya Sacrifice, Shishupal Murder, or with Suyodhan or Shakuni. She had never insulted anyone in her life, including Karn and Suyodhan (the ‘Hall of Illusions’ was an interpolation). But she then got the biggest shock of her life! An orderly (Pratikami) came and told her that she was staked and lost by Yudhishthir to Suyodhan in the game of dice, and that she was ordered to report to the assembly as a maid of Dharatrashtras!! Why on earth was this being done to her? She was a wife of five husbands, but nobody could protect her and stop the stake? Why did Dharmaraj stake her? Why did uncle Shakuni suggest the stake? Why didn't her other husbands stand against their elder brother? Why could Dharmatmas Suyodhan and Karn not stop Shakuni or Yudhishthir from the stake? Why could her fathers-in-law, the elders, Dhritarashtra, Bhishma, Drona, etc not stop the game? Why did the whole assembly of men and kings stand as silent spectators? Why should women be dragged into political affairs?
- Draupadi then handled the situation with her intelligence and mustered courage to speak up against the assembly, and could save her sanctity. The interpolations of her stripping and molestation reflected her mental state at that time. An empress of a powerful kingdom was, all of a sudden, turned into a slave of Kurus! Draupadī was stripped, not of her clothes, but her honour and self-respect, in that assembly of men! And, that pain would not vanish just by their kingdom being returned.
- Shakuni and Yudhishthir didn't stop at that, and then played again for a stake of recurrent exile to woods, in which Draupadi was specifically mentioned to accompany Pandavs to the woods by Shakuni! What was the need to mention Draupadi, though she would accompany her husbands dutifully any way? Elders were sympathetic towards Kunti, and Vidur offered to take care of her, but nobody showed any concern for Panchali. Kunti rather lectured her on the virtues and duties of a wife. Should Kunti not have scolded Yudhishthir for his misconduct, in front of Panchali, to reassure her? Is the authority of a king stronger than the authority of a mother?
- Draupadi accepted the difficult life in the woods, and even working as a hair-dressor (sairandhri) in Matsya. The counterpolations of Bheem-Draupadi conversations before the killing of Keechak highlighted her pains and sufferings, and anger for the gambler Yudhishthir! But her sufferings only increased, and she was then eyed by the mighty Keechak, brother-in-law of Virat. When she refused her polite proposals, he hatched a plan with his sister Sudeshna to pounce upon her. Even a woman Sudeshna went against her and ordered her to go to Keechak's home! She ran away from him, mustering all her courage and strength to push him. She ran to the assembly of the king Virat expecting safety, where her husband Yudhishthir was present. But Keechak pushed and kicked her defiantly, in front of everyone! Dharmaraj was bothered more about the incognito and the kingdom, than the honour of his wife! Yudhishthir asked her to quickly go inside, but didn't object against Keechak or ask the king Virat to take action. There are beautiful counterpolations at the time, wherein Draupadi laments addressing her gandharv husbands (reflecting how disappointed she was with them, particularly Yudhishthir), and also, harshly condemns the king Virat for his biased conduct. Vyas had the liberty to express all her emotions by way of interpolations, but Draupadi was a servant, and could not even speak against the king or her shameless husband! All such pain and frustration was building up inside Draupadi.
- It was then that Draupadi reached the limit of her patience and tolerance! She had never displayed her anger before in her life, even in the Gamble assembly (she was pleading helplessly), but then became angry and decided to take revenge against manhood. At the time of gamble, she was only humiliated, but Keechak had assaulted her in the presence of king Virat and Dharmaraj. She decided to get Keechak killed first. She went to Bheem, asking him to kill Keechak, and he obliged. The counterpolations of their conversations at the time reflected the mental state of Draupadi thoroughly.
- After taking revenge from Keechak, she decided to take revenge against the Kauravs next, thinking of war. She thus grabbed the opportunity to break the incognito, when four Pandavs were away, and used the innocent Arjun for it. Once the incognito and Yudhishthir's plan was broken, she could then push for war.
- Though Suyodhan had declared that he would not return the kingdom during VW, but the Dharmatma and Dharmaraj would never declare war. She then approached the clever Krishn when he came to attend Abhimanyu’s wedding, requesting him for war, and Krishn decided to accomplish her mission, ensuring the war and destruction of Kurus.
Thus, it was the vengeance of Draupadi against the patriarchal society and the Kurus that lead to the destructive war of Mahabharat. Her real anger was directed against the gambler Yudhishthir, but societal norms didn't allow her to resent, or even express her anger against, her husband, the king, the Dharmaraj. The subconscious mind then resents in such a way. She just wanted to go against Yudhishthir and destroy his plans. She did not want him to get back his kingdom peacefully, and wanted to make him face a war. She could not tolerate the Kauravs to live peacefully despite insulting her badly during the Gamble. All those who were responsible for her humiliation got killed during or shortly after the war — Bheeshm, Drona, Suyodhan and Karn were killed in the war, and Dhritarashtra died soon after the war. And her revenge ended with Dharmaraj committing suicide next, with his brothers. She even accompanied him in his final journey, as a dutiful wife!
Vyas has captured the injustices to women by the patriarchal society beautifully in his text. Not only Draupadi, Kunti too had great angst against society – her father (who abandoned her), foster father (who left her with Durvasha), Durvasha (who raped her), Pandu (who gave up the kingdom, retired to woods and asked her for repeated niyogs). She too rooted for war, and motivated her sons to fight. Interestingly, none of the men (except Krishn who was helping Krishna), both on Pandav and Dhartarashtra side, were interested in the war, but it was the women – Draupadi and Kunti, who lead to the war.
To conclude, it was Draupadi who was the silent killer in Mahabharat and was the one most responsible for the fratricide. Had she not asked Arjun to go with Uttar during VW, the incognito would not be broken and the KW would never happen! The Kauravs were greatly virtuous, with Dharmaraj on one side and Dharmatma on the other. It was extremely difficult to strike a war between such strong-minded people, but it was the resolve of Draupadi and then the mind of Krishn that could cause a war in the virtuous clan. It was the fire of anger kindling inside Yajnaseni that caused the Kurukshetra War and destroyed all the Kurus. The fire was finally extinguished with her life in the waters!