The Backstab
Draupadi Harana Parva Chapter 1 (262)
Introduction
Harana means taking of, so this parva is about Jayadratha taking Draupadi by force.
Jayadratha is married to Dushalaa, the lone daughter among Dhritarashtra and Gandhari’s 101 children who are born in embryonic pots. Pandu and Dhritarashtra are brothers. Duhshala is a cousin to the Pandu’s sons, the Pandavas. That makes Jayadratha an in-law to the Pandavas by way of marriage to paternal cousin.
Jayadratha’s standard is a silver boar. AKA Saindhava - because Jayadratha is the king of Sindhu’s son. Jayadratha is the king of Sindhu too. Jayadratha has a cameo appearance at Draupadi’s svayamvara. Jayadratha is a brutal man. Jayadratha is like a tough, club level fighter. Jayadratha is very active during the 18-day war - especially the climactic days 13-14. On Day 13, Jayadratha closes the trap on Abhimanyu. On day 14, Arjuna revenges Jayadratha, in the process defeating the Kuru army by bringing down the great warrior Bhurishrava and breaking General Drona’s defense.
Chronologically Draupadi Harana takes place during the middle of the Pandavas thirteen years of exile living in the forest following the gambling match, Dyuta. Thematically, Draupadi Harana may be similar to Ghoshayatra- wherein the Kauravas plan to troll the down-on-their-luck forest dwelling Pandavas backfires spectacularly.
The chapters of Draupadi Harana parva can be accessed by tag https://crackpot.substack.com/t/jayadratha
As It Rhymes
Chapter 262
[1-23] (abridged):
Karna sang to Duryodhana at the Sabha,
‘Kaurava fame rolls fat royal spoils.
Temple flames stay flat lit by Kuru oils.
24.
Pandu’s five lit fires roil in a fathomless ocean pit.
Pandava fame falls silent as they and accomplice trip on sin into abyss bit by bit.’
25.
Duryodhana’s laugh lines cut up at Karna’s clever two-bit couplet.
The royal court adjourned and the men retired to their residence with sides half split by wit.
Notes
[1-23] The first 22 shlokas of this chapter are abridged.
Karna is Duryodhana’s best friend. Duryodhana is the first son of Dhritarashtra and cousin to the Pandavas. Karna is actually the eldest Pandava, but this is not known to the characters at this time. Karna’s mother Kunti bore Karna’s out of wedlock pregnancy in secret and sent her infant floating down a river after he was born. The story of Karna’s conception and birth is told in Sambhava.
A Sabha is a royal court or building.
The Kauravas wealth and fame grow and increase.
The Kauravas have so much wealth they can afford to subsidize the fuel required to light sacrificial fires at temples.
[25] Five lit fires is a reference to Pandu’s five sons; Yudhishthira, Bhimasena, Arjuna, Sahadeva and Nakula.
The Pandavas accomplices may be their allies as well as brahman entourage.
Translation Notes
