Gandivdhari Arjun-The Warrior Prince

PANCHAALI'S INSULT AND THE VOWS

As soon as Yudisthir agreed, Duryodhan ordered his younger brother Dushasan to bring Draupadi in the court by dragging her all the way by her hair.
The Pandavas couldn't control their feelings but they had to keep quiet.
As Panchaali was bought to the court in such a way, the next order by Duryodhan was even more embarrassing and painful. He asked his brother to pull of Panchaali's garments!

As her robe was being peeled off her body,Draupadi thought of Hari (Krishna), and cried aloud saying, "O Govinda, O who dwells in Dwaraka, O Krishna,are you not seeing that the Kauravas are humiliating me.O grinder of foes, rescue me! Save my honor! I have five husbands rivalling the prowess of the celestials, but they are powerless to prevent my humiliation. This assembly is filled with men of great fame, invincible warriors and Brahmans learned in the scriptures, but none has shown the power to prevent this injustice. I am the most unfortunate of women, for I am being insulted in a public court, by those who ought to be the defenders of my honor. I am the daughter-in-law of the Kurus, and they, for reasons best known to them, have chosen to insult me in this reprehensible manner! O Naryana! you are my sole refuge. You are the only one who can save my honor!"

By his divine insight, Krishna heard the prayer of the Panchala princess, and was deeply moved. By his grace, a miracle took place. As Dushasan pulls off the sole garment of Draupadi, another appeared in place, covering her body from prying eyes! Stunned, but determined, Dushasan pulled the new garment off, and another appeared in its place! In this manner, many hundred times did the wicked Kauravas attempt to disrobe her, only to have a new cloth in a different, brilliant color cover the beautiful form of Yajnaseni! The assembly roared their approval of this miracle, that had saved the Kurus' honor, and applauded the resplendent Draupadi. At last, exhausted and defeated, Dushasan fell down in a swoon to the ground.

Bheem could contain himself no longer. With lips quivering in rage, he strode to the center of the assembly and in a loud voice, swore a terrible oath: "Hear these words of mine, O Kshatriyas of the world. Words such as these have never before been uttered, nor shall ever be uttered in the future. Lords of the earth, having spoken these words, if I do not match them with deeds, let me not attain the blessed regions of my deceased ancestors. Tearing open in battle by sheer force, the breast of this wretch, this wicked minded scoundrel Dushasan, I shall drink his life-blood. If I fail in my quest, let the regions of the blessed dead be ever barred to me!"

Everyone in the assembly was stunned. The body hair of everyone hearing this terrible vow stood on end. A roar from the crowd signified their appreciation of the second Pandavas's vow and their censure of the wicked Dushasan.

Once again, Vidur got up and said, "All of you here! Draupadi is weeping helplessly, having posed a question to this assembly. No one save Vikarna has answered her question, and he regards her as a free woman, not the slave of the kauravas. He has spoken his mind. It is now your turn. One, who despite knowing the rules of morality, does not answer a query put forth, incurs at least half the sin that would have accrued on having spoken a lie. If, despite knowing the truth, he answers falsely, he would incur the sin of a lie. It is time you all spoke up!"

Despite Vidur's pleas, none of the Kings in the assembly dared to answer Draupadi's question. Fear of Duryodhan held them silent. Smiling triumphantly, Karna said to Dushasan, "Take away this serving-woman Draupadi to the abode of your slaves!"

Dushasan began to drag Draupadi out of the assembly, even as she was trembling and crying. She cried, "Wait a little, wretch! I have not saluted the Kuru elders. It is by no fault of mine that I have not paid them their due respects, so busy I have been with saving my honor. Fate is cruel! Only once before, on the occasion of my Swayamvara(wedding ceremony), I was beheld by the assembled kings in a full court. I, whom even the sun had never before seen in her palace, is today dragged to this assembly and exposed to the gawking crowd. She, whom her husbands would not suffer to be touched even by the wind, has been dragged to the court by this wretch! How is that the illustrious Kurus have let their daughter-in-law to be insulted thus in a public assembly!"