“ Forgive me! I have committed a sin. Though I dared to oppose when the greatest warriors like Bhishma, Guru Drona, Mahamantri Vidura failed to protect Dharma, I could not dare to behead my brother when he was disrobing Panchali. Her husbands failed to protect her.” sobbed Vikarna in his chambers. He cursed himself. He was gazing at the vast black ocean that engulfed the sky.
“I am a Kaurava, and today I feel cursed to be one. I feel ill-fated to be the brother of Duryodhan and Duhsasana. I am doomed. I witnessed Adharma and I did not protect Panchali. He closed his eyes, as the gentle breeze caressed him and his mind traveled into the past. The horrific day.
” You have lost your kingdom, all your wealth, and your brothers Dharmaraj Yudhisthir. You have lost yourself, but you still can have all that you lost. Put Panchali on stake, and I promise to return all your belongings back to you. You still haven’t lost the battle yet brother. One more chance, and you can have all that you lost. Just one another chance.” stated Duryodhan with an evil grin. He knew that Yudhisthir won’t give up. Not yet.
” Duryodhan!!!” erupted Arjun as all the Pandavas ferociously looked at Duryodhan. “I will kill you if you involve Draupadi!”
“And how dare YOU speak! You are nothing but my servant Arjun! Your brother lost you, and now that I am your master, I would not tolerate you interrupting me. Yet alone, daring to speak of killing me! I am in power! Respect!” screamed Duryodhan.
He took a deep breath, gained back his composure, and looked straight into the eyes of Yudhisthir. “Shall we?”
“I put Draupadi on stake!” replied Yudhisthir to everyone’s astonishment. He murmured a small prayer before he rolled the dice. And as fate dictated, he had lost Draupadi. The evil laughs of Duryodhan and Shakuni echoed in the hall as all eyes were bewildered, staring at the Pandavas.
“Duhsasana! get Panchali into the Sabha,” commanded Duryodhan coldly to his younger brother. Time froze as all the souls were nervous and horrified. I closed my eyes and promised to dare to oppose. The screams of Panchali intensified and all the warrior’s body petrified as they saw Duhsasana dragging the fire-born empress by her long black hair. She was cursing and fighting back, her red teary eyes were ragious. The Pandavas clutched their wrists tight, unable to draw their swords and behead Duhsasana. They were bonded. They were the servants of Duryodhan. They bent their heads low, their souls shivering.
“Duhsasana! She is the queen of Indraprasth! How dare you! She is the daughter of Hastinapur!” exploded Bhishma. Duhsasana at once let go of her and looked at Duryodhan, afraid at the rage of the Pitahmah.
” Pitahmah, she isn’t the Queen. She is my servant. Her husband gambled her away” replied Duryodhan with respect, hiding his anger under his faint smile.
“And when Dharmaraj had lost himself, how did he owe any right to gamble me away!” said Draupadi ferociously. The Pandavas looked at her, their eyes erupting with tears. Draupadi glanced back at her husband, broken.
“A husband has the right over his wife Panchali. Your husband is a coward! He dared to lose you! You are the servant of Duryodhan.” interrupted Karna.
” Radhey! No one has the right to gamble a woman. Husband, father, or even gods cannot put a woman on the bet! Do I have to remind the Sabha of the shastras” I confidently opposed as I rose from my throne. I dived into the eyes of Panchali and assured her of my support.
“Vikarna! You do not oppose me! Dare you speak another word brother and fate will have you killed!” replied a frustrated Duryodhan. He was annoyed as I, his younger brother dared to oppose him in the Sabha. “Panchali! Your husband gambled you away! And now that you are mine…” continued Duryodhan patting his inner thigh, hinting Draupadi to sit on his thigh. Before he could even complete his statement, Bhima errupted ” Duryodhan!! I vow to break your thigh and if I failed to do so, I accept being your slave for seven lives!”
Vikarna opened his eyes, breathing deeply. He was terrified at the thought of what happened next. He refused to let his mind recollect the memory of the day further. Panchali was disrobed in the Sabha. The greatest warriors witnessed the sight but suffered the sin of not protecting her. She surrendered. She surrendered to her faith. To the omnipresent power. As all the heads were bent low, as Duhsasana’s and Duryodhan’s laughter echoed in hall and as Duhsasana pulled her saree, another feeble but confident voice engulfed the Sabha. “Vasudev, Vasudev” chanted Draupadi. I closed my eyes and prayed. Prayed to protect my sister in law who was suffering. Who did not deserve to be humiliated. Duhsasana’s laugh subsided and everyone looked up. A divine presence touched all the souls. Vasudev protected Draupadi.
Vikarna wiped his tears and turned to stare at his sword. “I regret not daring to behead my brother. Not daring to protect Panchali. Though I dared to speak, I witnessed Adharma. I am sorry for I did not dare to step ahead.”