Week 7 Planning: Draupadi's Story

• Bhima and Kichaka:
  **When doing my notes, I take a very detailed summary, so I copied the summary from my reading notes. I did re-read the source story.
• This story is primarily about Prince Kichaka. The story begins by saying that Prince Kichaka was the bravest, most fierce warrior in all the lands of Viratnagar. It even said that men, even kings were afraid to cross him. In this story, Prince Kichaka goes to visit his sister, Queen Sudeshna, and while he is there, he lays eyes on a serving maid, who he really likes. He then instructs his sister to send her to his palace. The queen loved her brother so much that she did not want to displease him, so she sent Sairandhri to his palace with a tray of food and wine. As soon as she entered the door, the prince grabbed her waist and tried to rape her. Sairandhri was able to free herself from his clasp and flung the tray of food in his face. She then ran straight to King Virata's palace. On her way, the prince caught up with her and struck her on the face, but she was able to escape again and flee unannounced into King Virata's audience room. Here she showed her face to the king and told him what the prince tried to do to her. The king however, being afraid of Prince Kichaka, told her it was her in the wrong (or the cruel one). Sairandhri was horrified about what happened and went to seek Prince Bhima hoping that he would help. She found him asleep in his room and he told her he would kill Prince Kichaka with his bare hands. The next night at a dancing hall, Prince Bhima waited until Prince Kichaka was alone and killed him. He then told Sairandhri (he calls her Draupadi) to go and raise the other maid-servent and tell them her husband (an immortal) caught her with Prince Kichaka and killed him.

  

  Sairandhri watching the Prince's fight
  Source: Wikimedia Commons

• Bibliography: "Bhima and Kichaka" from The Indian Heroes by C.A. Kincaid
• Wikipedia:
• Draupadi is considered to be one of the Panch-Kanyas (Five Virgins). The version of this story is discussed on this website There are few differences. 1. This version said that Kichaka first asked for Draupadi's hand in marriage and she refused, warning Kichaka that she was already married and warned him that her husbands were very powerful. 2. Kichaka kicked her in front of all the courtiers (nothing was mentioned about this in the original version). 3. It says that when Draupadi went into King Virat's court, Bhima was present, and it took a look from Draupadi to keep Bhima from attacking Kichaka there. In the version we read, it said Bhima was asleep, and Draupadi woke him.
• Wikipedia:
• This source confirms that Draupadi is Sairandhri. I figured this was true, but the story confused me. Draupadi was disguised as Sairandhri for one year in King Virata's palace
• My Plan: My plan for next week is to rewrite this story in Draupadi's perspective. I wanted to gain some background information on her before I write from her perspective. I plan on incorporating some of her background information into the story. For example, I want to make her immortal husbands really be the ones to avenge Kichaka. I think this would add a good twist to the story. In the original story, I was confused why Bhima did not just take the King's side and do nothing to help Draupadi. I want to change this and give an influential person in her life a role of helping her.