Draupadi - Duryodhana's Insult

Duryodhana's Insult

Indraprastha was built at the site of the Khandava forest. The pride of buildings was the Palace of Illusions and this was where Draupadi took Duryodhana and his entourage. The moment Duryodhana entered the palace he encountered an atmosphere of mystery. A retinue of maidservants appeared through a wall and lined up before the guests. The courtyard was divided in two parts. The surface of one part appeared to ripple like the surface of a lake. The surface of the other part appeared solid as granite flooring and when Duryodhana stepped on the apparently solid part of the courtyard, there was a splash and Duryodhana found himself waist deep in water, drenched from head to foot. When Draupadi's maids saw this from the balcony they were amused. Duryodhana felt extremely insulted that Draupadi and her maids saw his embarrassing predicament. Draupadi's statement of "andhey ka putra andha" meaning "blind man's (referring to Dhritrashtra) son is blind" further enraged Duryodhana. (In the original text, Pandavas laughs with their servants. Draupadi, being a queen, is absent from such a public place as a court. No words are spoken by her. Popular insult of "blindman's son" is a later addition). This was the last straw, he swore revenge on her and such a revenge that Pandavas would fall at his feet begging for mercy.