Bhagat Maalaa ~ Mother Daraupti - Part XIX

Introduction to the short stories

 

The short stories are a collection of stories taken from the Aadh Guru Granth Bhagat Mala, which have been translated into simple English. The purpose of translating these stories is to provide understanding and the significance of these stories when reciting Gurbaani.

The Sikh Gurus and other Bhagats within Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji have made references to the various saints and disciples who existed at the time of the Hindu deities. By no means are these stories a form of praise or worship of the Hindu deities, but they are used as a reference to purely develop the meaning of Gurbaani.

The stories taken from Hindu mythology provide examples from the lives of the disciples and saints as parallels to understand the power and greatness of the One Lord, the righteous practise of faith and Dharma and how one is emancipated from sin and misfortune through meditating upon the Primal Lord.

~ Harjinder Singh Khalsa  

The Story of Daraupti

dhuhasaasan kee sabhaa dhropathee a(n)bar laeth oubaareealae ||1||
In the court of Duhsaasan, You saved the honor of Dropati, when her clothes were being removed. ||1||
(Bhagat Namdev; GGSJ: Ang 988)

The story of Daraupti's honour being saved by remembering the Lord has been mentioned within Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji by Bhagat Namdev and extensively by Bhai Gurdas Ji in his Vaaran (8th Pauri of the 10th Vaar: click here for the complete Shabad).

Daraupti was the daughter of Drupada, the King of Panchala and the wife of the five Pandava brothers (Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sanadeva). At the time of Mahabharata, a game of dice was being played in Duryodhana's court. Wanting to humiliate the Pandavas and possess all their material wealth, Duryodhana had the dice work in his favour.

The Pandavas lost all their material wealth to Duryodhana. Having nothing else left to bet within the next round, Yudhishthira put his wife, Daraupti up as a wager. Duryodhana summoned Daraupti to present herself in the court, but she refused to do so. Infuriated by her protests, Duryodhana ordered his younger brother, Dushasana to fetch her to the court. Dushasana dragged Daraupti by her hair into the assembly.

To further humiliate and provoke the Pandavas, Duryodhana commanded his brother to strip Daraupti stark naked. Feeling completed dejected and sexually exploited, Daraupti felt helpless. She closed her eyes and invoked Krishna to come to her aid and save her honour.

A miracle took place; as Dushasana began to disrobe Daraupti, more and more layers of her sari continued to extend, thus forming a fort around her. Dushasana and the servants became so agitated and exhausted, they gave up.

The Lord listened to the prayers of the helpless Daraupti and saved her honour.
 

ghar aaee t(h)aakur milae paij rehee bolae sharamaa(n)dhee||
On reaching home, Dropati was asked by Lord Krishna whether she was saved in the assembly.

naathh anaathhaa(n) baan dhhuraa(n)dhee ||8||
She shyly replied, "Since perennial times you are living up to your reputation of being father of the fatherless ones."(8)
(Bhai Gurdas Ji Vaaran; Vaar 10)
 

The moral of the story is whenever we are faced with hardships or when we have no one else to turn to; the Lord will always listen and fulfil our prayers. It is a matter of having faith. Just as Daraupti's honour was saved, so will be the one who invokes the Lord within their prayers.

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Related Articles:

Part I: Raja Ambrik

Part II: Bhagat Angra ji and Bhagat Bidar

Part III: Sri Dhru Bhagat & Sri Prahladh Bhagat ji

Part IV: The Story of Ajaamal

Part V: The Story of Bhagat Sudama

Part VI: The story of Gotam Muni & Ahalia

Part VII: The Story of Raja Janak

Part VIII: The Story of Raja Bali

Part IX: The Story of Ajraja-Akrur

Part X:The Story of Bhisham Pitaama 

Part XI: The Story of Chandar Hans

Part XII: The stories of Durbaasha Rishi and Gajinder (the Elephant)

Part XIII:The Stories of Kubija Maalan and Oudhar

Part XIV:The Story of Sarvan Bhagat

Part XV: The Story of Rishi Balmeek 

Part XVI: The Stories of Sankaadik and Rukmaangudh

Part XVII: The Story of Sukdev Muni

Part XVIII: Madhusudan Demon Destroyer

Part XIX: Mother Daraupti

Part XX: The Story of Ganika

Part XXI: Sulhi & Sulbi Khan's Evil Conspiracy

Part XXII: The Story Raja Hari Chand

Part XXIII: The Story of Kaesee Dainth

Part XXIV: The Story of Raagmaala