THUS SPEAKS DRAUPADI TO ASWATHAMA
B. Indira Kumari
(The following is Draupadi’s expression of her feelings when Aswathama, the assassinator of her five sons was captured and brought by Arjuna to her presence. She in a tear-filled yet smooth, soft and gentle voice thus speaks to Aswathama)
Don’t you know, O
you Learned Man! Is it not your
Father Drona who
taught archery to all our
people? Are you not
Drona in the form of a Son?
How with a heart
bereft of pity you did put to death my innocent children?
A Brahmin by birth,
you are and with intelligence and kindness
You are the greatest
and the foremost of the great intrepid heroes.
Is it good on the
part of a revered one like you
To commit such a
heinous deed as you have done? Sir!
Did my children rise
in rage against you? O Gentle Man!
Or did they confront
you on the battlefield with weapons?
Not a bit of harm to
you they ever did, Alas!
If so, how you, by
unyielding strength did deign
To be heartless to
assassinate my sons so guileless
And untutored in fighting
while still in the soft bosom
Of sleep were they
lying in all innocence at night.
Unsuspecting of fate
awaiting them in future. Alas!
Ah! Overwhelmed with
sorrow infinite I made
Arjuna to fight with
you and bring you here indeed.
But, how the knowledge,
O Man! Of this most tragic fact
Stabs the mother’s
heart of your own dear mother, I know not!
Then turning to
Arjuna, Krishna and others, she says thus forgiving
Aswathama with a
mother’s heart!
She (Drona’s wife) so unwillingly still lives after her husband’s demise
Ah! how her heart
like mine tilled with deep sorrow feels depressed! Alas!
Great Sin it’ll be
indeed, if he be rid of his life
So, I beseech you, kind Sirs, to pity this Brahmin and leave him with life.