MANY people wonder why Duryodhana humiliated Draupadi by disrobing her in view of the entire court! Some believe that the reason was a very minor one because he had felt embarrassed on being humiliated by Draupadi and for which he never forgave her. He waited for the opportunity to take his revenge on her.
When Yudhishtira was being crowned king, a gala function was organised when kings from all over the country were invited. Duryodhana too had been invited to the function. He went around the kingdom, admiring the grandeur of the palaces, the well-laid out streets and gardens and well ventilated rooms and brightly-lit palaces. He was filled with envy and wished he could do the same back home.
It so happened that while looking up at the ceilings of the palaces which were beautifully painted and had sculpted pillars and beams, he failed to notice a pond and fell right into it.
Draupadi was walking past at that moment and on noticing him land in the pond, she burst out into laughter. Not only did she laugh at him, she unwittingly went a step further by making a rude comment, “The blind son of blind parents.”
Duryodhana did not say anything then, but he had remembered the insult and decided to take revenge, which he did by disrobing her in front of a big gathering.
That is why it is said that fun should not be made of anyone’s disabilities for who knows you may have to pay a heavy price for your folly!
-MG
