Krishna Protects Draupadi's Honour

When Dushasana tried to disrobe Draupadi in the dice hall of Hastinapura, her complete surrender to Govinda brought the Lord's protection.

Jealous of the glory of the Pandavas after the Rajasuya sacrifice, Duryodhana, with the help of his uncle Shakuni, invited Yudhishthira to a game of dice in Hastinapura. Shakuni was a master of deceit, and throw after throw Yudhishthira lost his wealth, his kingdom, his brothers and finally himself. Then, urged on, he staked Queen Draupadi, and lost her too.

Duryodhana sent for Draupadi as if she were a servant. When she refused to come and asked whether a man who had already lost himself had any right to stake her, Dushasana dragged her into the assembly by her hair. Standing before the elders, Draupadi asked her question again. The great men of the court, Bhishma, Drona and King Dhritarashtra, sat silent. Only young Vikarna spoke for her, but he was shouted down, and Karna mocked her cruelly.

Then Duryodhana ordered that her garment be taken from her. As Dushasana began to pull at her sari, Draupadi understood that no human help remained. According to the widely known tradition, she let go of every other support, raised her hands and called out with her whole heart to Govinda, the Lord of Dwarka, the friend of the helpless.

At that moment a wonder took place. As Dushasana pulled, more and more cloth appeared, of many colours, until a great heap lay on the floor of the hall. He pulled until his arms ached and he sank down in exhaustion, but Draupadi remained covered. The assembly was stunned. In popular devotion this is understood as Krishna himself becoming her endless garment.

Bhima, burning with anger, vowed that one day he would break Duryodhana's thigh and drink Dushasana's blood. Frightened by terrible omens, Dhritarashtra offered Draupadi boons, and she asked only for the freedom of her husbands. Yet the insult of that day became one of the seeds of the great war of Kurukshetra.

The lesson devotees draw from this story is the power of total surrender. As long as Draupadi held on to her own strength, the crisis continued; when she surrendered completely, the Lord's protection came at once. This is the same truth Krishna later taught in the Gita: take refuge in me alone, and I will free you from all sins.

Source

Mahabharata, Sabha Parva (Dyuta Parva)

Place

Hastinapura

Lesson

When we let go of every other support and surrender completely, the Lord's protection comes at once.