by Kunal Roy
Draupadi, the dark beauty, and Karna, one of the famed warriors of the timeless epic Mahabharata have always been the focal point of the readers’ attention and with the passage of time their curiosity has mounted, which often makes them ask an eternal question: ” Did Draupadi love Karna?”. The answer to this question is not one but countless. Draupadi, however, was not in love with Karna even in the wildest of her dreams! Karna and Draupadi met at the latter’s Swayamvara for the first time. Krishna was too invited to attend the gala wedding ceremony of Yagaseni. But Karna could not participate in the marriage ceremony nor in the competition as he was the son of the charioteer Adhirath. This simply enraged Karna and he was looking for the right opportunity to avenge Draupadi! So the relation was embittered before it had a chance to bloom in the garden of bonds!
In the Kurusabha, Yudhisthira lost everything to Duryodhana even his spouse Draupadi, though she was the wife of all the Pandavas. Dushshasana dragged Draupadi by her hair to the open court and eventually tried to disrobe her! Lord intervened and Draupadi was saved from further humiliation! Here too, Karna called Draupadi a slut and added to his version that she had no self-esteem as she stayed with five male beings! Karna actually took revenge of his insult at the Panchali’s Swayamvara and hence supported the “adharma” of Duryodhana! There was no colour of love nor respect until the time ripened when Draupadi came to know that Karna was one of the Pandavas and both apologized for indulging in wrath and ego for such a longish span of time!
Had Karna been in love with Panchali and married her, he would perhaps not have allowed himself to see his wife being humiliated in the open court which the Pandavas indulged in incorrigibly! Draupadi and Karna could have been a better couple than the others, but their roles on the earth were judged by the Lord of Heaven. Krishna and Draupadi, the daughter of fire were friends. Draupadi loved Arjuna the most, something always blamed by Yudhisthira. But there was no such bond between the Suryaputra and Draupadi. Undoubtedly their story of love and romance could have inspired the sage Vyasa to pen the epic in a much ‘unconventional’ style and diction!! Any explanation?
About the Author:
Kunal Roy was born in Kolkata. Right from his childhood, he has shown a tremendous interest in art and literature. With the passage of time, he has begun to pen articles, passages, and poems for different web portals, newspapers, and magazines. His works have also been recognized abroad. He has been awarded many times by the web magazines, printing and publishers guild, and others. In 2007 he received the best award for his dissertation on ‘Bhakti and Sufi Movements – A Socio-Religious Perspective’ from the department of Indology and Research Studies, Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Golpark, Kolkata. He has also translated three short stories of the book “Love in Siesta” by the author and columnist Avik Gangopadhya. His special areas of interest comprise art, philosophy, literature, sociology, mythology, and astrology. Currently, he is working with George Group of Colleges, Kolkata as an Assistant Professor of English Language and Communication. He is a permanent resident of Kolkata. The author can be contacted at: [email protected]