Isn't it a paradox? But in this case, since they became 'owned' by the 100 brothers, they lost all their rights, so to speak. Even the Elders sat by and did nothing. Welcome to the world of grey!
The Mahabharata is awesome. Fortunately, it was finalized before it could be sanitized. We get to see people in all of their glory and nastiness.
Draupadi had a better fate than Vashti in the Book of Esther (Old Testament) which is read during the Jewish holiday of Purim. Vashti was queen of Persia. On the seventh day of a seven day feast her husband, King Ahashverus (Xerxes,) was holding for the Persian nobility, Ahashverus ordered her to come the dinner wearing her crown (as in, only her crown and nothing else) so he could display her beauty to his buddies. She refused. Ahashverus asked his advisors what he should do about her refusal. They told him that, if Vashti could get away with disobeying her husband, wives throughout the empire would disobey their husbands. With that he had her beheaded.
Following her death, Ahashverus chose Esther, a Jewish subject of the empire, to be his queen, and in that role she was able to save the Jewish community from extermination planned by one of Ahashverus' advisors.
Thanks for reading and sharing this story. Yes, I agree she went onto avenge herself so it was a better fate than Vashti! Which is why I recounted the story under 'Powerful Women of Ancient Times' :-) But this story you share reminds me of the fate of many of Henry VIII's wives!
I also agree that the Mahabharata has a lot of stories that defy understanding from our modern vantage point.
Hi Charlotte, thank you for reading! I hope you also get a chance later to read its first 3 parts too for the final part to come together (links at the start of the link I shared here).
Hmm, bound by honor to tolerate dishonor. Something to think about...
Isn't it a paradox? But in this case, since they became 'owned' by the 100 brothers, they lost all their rights, so to speak. Even the Elders sat by and did nothing. Welcome to the world of grey!
The Mahabharata is awesome. Fortunately, it was finalized before it could be sanitized. We get to see people in all of their glory and nastiness.
Draupadi had a better fate than Vashti in the Book of Esther (Old Testament) which is read during the Jewish holiday of Purim. Vashti was queen of Persia. On the seventh day of a seven day feast her husband, King Ahashverus (Xerxes,) was holding for the Persian nobility, Ahashverus ordered her to come the dinner wearing her crown (as in, only her crown and nothing else) so he could display her beauty to his buddies. She refused. Ahashverus asked his advisors what he should do about her refusal. They told him that, if Vashti could get away with disobeying her husband, wives throughout the empire would disobey their husbands. With that he had her beheaded.
Following her death, Ahashverus chose Esther, a Jewish subject of the empire, to be his queen, and in that role she was able to save the Jewish community from extermination planned by one of Ahashverus' advisors.
Thanks for reading and sharing this story. Yes, I agree she went onto avenge herself so it was a better fate than Vashti! Which is why I recounted the story under 'Powerful Women of Ancient Times' :-) But this story you share reminds me of the fate of many of Henry VIII's wives!
I also agree that the Mahabharata has a lot of stories that defy understanding from our modern vantage point.
I was mesmerized while reading this intriguing saga I found this morning in a link you posted in the story you published today. Thank you for sharing!
Hi Charlotte, thank you for reading! I hope you also get a chance later to read its first 3 parts too for the final part to come together (links at the start of the link I shared here).
Thank you! I’m now perusing them. This is a good way to start my Monday! Thank you!
There is a lot packed in this epic! You retold the story very well!
Thanks, Anju! Agreed.
Thank you Jayshree, a story well told and an important lesson.
Thank you! I think I shall take a break from retelling in series mode :-)