Mahabharat - Indian mythology confuses me
By vanny
@vandana7 (100257)
India
March 8, 2018 2:12am CST
Ok...so Draupadi the wife of five Pandavs, was molested by Dushhala's husband.
Dushshala being sister by relationship, Pandavas chose to do nothing about it.
Then they went ahead and lost their wife while gambling, and she was publicly humiliated by being stripped.
That became good enough reason to fight.
So is private humiliation to be ignored, especially if it is concerning sister's husband? Whose humiliation was it? That of Draupadi or was it of Pandavas?
Did Pandavas go for that war because they were burning with anger about their inability to do much when they lost in wager or did they go for war for their wealth, or did they go for the pride of their wife!
Somehow, it pains me to think that they did not punish Dushshala's husband.
It also pains me to think that Pandavas wanted to resume their lives without going for war after their exile term as long as their kingdom was returned to them.
The woman who was their wife, and mother of their children never got any respect!
18 people like this
16 responses
@RasmaSandra (79750)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
8 Mar 18
Even in mythology women get no respect how terrible. The mythology of different countries can get confusing.
6 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (46928)
• India
10 Mar 18
@vandana7 I know this epic might have been manipulated.
Yet it teaches us many things. The principles of Good and Bad karmas always guide me in my toughest moments of life and I don't unduly worry about other people achieving more with dubious means or I being unable to get more by following goodness.
And I believe a true believer in Lord Krishna can never be intolerant of others and will always get justice whether here or in heaven.
3 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (46928)
• India
11 Mar 18
@vandana7 that teacher would be Lord Ganesha, if and when we meet him in the heaven!
But again remember Lord Krishna was in human manifestation at that time and had follies. Even Lord Rama had some follies in his human form!
2 people like this
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
8 Mar 18
It is true Draupadi got disrespected many times in her life. The current situation is not different from her. If any one tries the same way (like Dushala's hubby) the inmates try to hide it just on family reputation. The poor lady forced to suppress her anger and insults in her own mind just for saving the family's reputation. Really a pity situation to think that the same fate is going on for ladies still in this modern age.
I think Bheeman loved her and respected her a lot. He fought with many for saving Draupadi on different occasions.
4 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (46928)
• India
10 Mar 18
Krishna still gave a chance to Kauravas to hand over 1 village each- a total of 5 villages to Pandavas and they would then live peacefully.
Yet Duryodhan did not agree to part with any land at all.
5 villages! That would have been such a great deal for him but he did not exercise his free will and went as per his sense of greed and list for power.
3 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (46928)
• India
10 Mar 18
Well, I don't think that the original Mahabharata written on probably some tree bark would be there anywhere in the world due to many invasions and wars and probably climate changes or drought or flood.
So over a period of time some discrepancies might have crept in.
Yet based on what I personally believe and my limited understanding of Bhagvad Gita, I think that It was all due to Lord Krishna's Maya.
Pandavas too had their vices, ego and follies but Lord Krishna choose them as his mode to rein in the injustices, Power-hunger and neglect of the people and other lawlessness mainly by the Greedy and cunning Kauravas and Shakuni Mama.
Krishna knew that the war will bring in lots of destruction but it was inevitable.
3 people like this
@vandana7 (100257)
• India
11 Mar 18
I refuse to say it is power hunger alone. I explained elsewhere that it may be K oo nti's ambition more than anything else. Or may be Vidur's desire to be the king and when nobody thought of him to be fit to be king, a need to get even by creating dispute.
2 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (46928)
• India
11 Mar 18
@vandana7 and if Bhishma had refused to side with Kauravas, things would have been different. But he went by the traditions and not his free will.
One of the Kauravas even opposed the humiliating treatment to Draupadi, but he was told to keep quiet.
Also Dhritrashtra's hidden ambitions made him overlook his sons- especially Duryodhan and Dushasan's deeds.
I can go on but then it will be like a 2 hour debate!
2 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (46928)
• India
11 Mar 18
@vandana7 was Vidur that important in the equation?
2 people like this
@vandana7 (100257)
• India
11 Mar 18
@just4him Valerie...I always ..ALWAYS question things that do not seem to make sense.
Two reasons.
a. I might get lucky and find somebody who will enlighten me;
and
b. If I find right answers my faith would have better foundation.
I spare no religion in pursuit of answers. Who knows, the answer to my query might lie in your religion, and vice versa, the answer to my question related to your religion might be given by somebody following my religion. It can happen and has happened before.
I just don't want to be blind follower. Blind followers can be rudely awakened, and desert god more easily when things don't go their way.
3 people like this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
11 Mar 18
Indian mythology must be very rich and interesting. I agree. The one who did the wrong, the molesting - should be punished
3 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (46928)
• India
11 Mar 18
@FayeHazel the punishments came but after a very huge cost and loss of millions of lives just as in a world war.
3 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (46928)
• India
11 Mar 18
@FayeHazel but greed and ego are much more prevalent today and the result is the still prevailing conflicts and environmental damage.
3 people like this
@stapllotik (1933)
• India
10 Mar 18
I still don't understand why it is called Mahabharata ( big epic of India ) where the main characters are morally wrong. So far what are we seeing is the motion pictures created by media. I would love to see Peter Jackson version of Mahabharata on big screen. I hope in that dushala's hubby would be punished.
3 people like this
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
14 Mar 18
I think Mahabharata is an epic where the Pandavas are depicted as the heroes respecting the Dharma and Kauravas are the one against that....Draupadi was a strong role in this epic!
If coming to this specific issue...this has been seen in the past in many indian families and are still seen today....maximum of child and female molestation occurring today are by the person known to them and they rarely come out!
There is lot to say on this topic! Thanks!
2 people like this
@sjvg1976 (41281)
• Delhi, India
11 Mar 18
Vandana May be you don't know the whole story. Read below link to know :
This page may be out of date. Save your draft before refreshing this page.Submit any pending changes before refreshing this page. Hide this message.QuoraAsk New QuestionSign In Chakravyuh Abhimanyu (Mahabharata character) Dronacharya (Mahabharata character
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@ptrikha_2 (46928)
• India
11 Mar 18
@vandana7 there is a karmic angle. Recall that Draupadi laughed at Duryodhan saying that "Andhe ka beta Andha" (blind man's blind son).
So as per her Karmic action, she was destined for humiliation but and a big but here : Krishna knew that he would have to be ready to save Draupadi's honor.
And of course, later Bhima would avenge by killing Dushasana and Duryodhan.
Of course, again the principle of free will was there. If king Yudhister had abstained from gambling and not gave in to what was the tradition, they would not have lost their Kingdom.
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (100257)
• India
11 Mar 18
@sjvg1976 When we proudly beat our chest....we Hindus ...we need to remember that another person who has read something about our religion has those doubts and is laughing at us. So we should keep our show of religion down and follow only good principles in it and DARE TO SAY WHAT YOU JUST WROTE. LOL
2 people like this
these are all stories don't believe much on them
@vandana7 (100257)
• India
18 Mar 18
I think today we are not great at discovering things only because we have suppressed intellect of half our population. Had we given due respect to women chances are that children would listen to them, and have more versatile perspective about things. Sad that we go to such great lengths to destroy our own race.
2 people like this
@vandana7 (100257)
• India
18 Mar 18
@Daljinder Yes, even in the school, children are not allowed to ask anything else other than what teacher has come prepared to vomit. But that is there even in the west. JJ possibly is a victim of one such egoistic teacher.
But if women get respect at home, it makes child listen to her, ask her, when he or she is in doubt, and have intelligent conversation that causes overall growth. As things stand, women get treated as people who have to cook and serve. Somehow child accepts that and tries to find answers to the question in his or her brain with limited knowledge he or she possesses which often is the wrong answer.
2 people like this
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
18 Mar 18
@vandana7 Natural curiosity of children is killed inthe school. They aren't allowed to ask questions or even question the teacher when teacher is wrong because teachers get insulted. Their egos can't take it.
That is why, I always say that we are creating robots in our schools.
2 people like this
@TerribleMan (579)
• India
10 Aug 21
Dushala;s husdband ws Jayadratha. The Pandavas did punish him. Bheema jumped on him and gave him blow after blow and later, his head was shaved. Shaving somebody's head in those days was a grave insult, especially if he was a kshatriya.
Pandavas fought a war against the kauravas because they wanted the kingdom back and not for the pride of the wife at all, though now TV serials try to paint it that way.
@vandana7 (100257)
• India
19 Mar 18
Being brave about it is important. Without that, we will perpetuate wrongs and remain behind as a social group. Luckily, people from my religion who have come here, are open to discussion and are not going hammer and tongs at me. Others are not pointing fingers too, as this pertains to my religion.
1 person likes this
