Duhshasana forcibly drags Draupadi into the assembly
When the attendant is too afraid to lay hands on Draupadi, Duryodhana orders his brother Duhshasana to bring her by force. Duhshasana grabs her by her long, blue hair—hair once sanctified at a royal sacrifice—and drags her into the sabha as she protests her state and her dignity.
Draupadi stood before the assembly in her single garment. Duryodhana looked at the faces around him and delightedly told the attendant Pratikamin, “Bring her here. Let her be in front of us.”
But Pratikamin was in Duryodhana’s service and scared of the wrath of Drupada’s daughter. Giving up his pride, he told the assembly, “How can I speak to Krishna?”
Duryodhana turned to his brother. “O Duhshasana! This son of a suta has limited intelligence. He is frightened of Vrikodara. Go and bring Yajnaseni here yourself. Our rivals are now under our control. They can do nothing.”
Duhshasana arose, his eyes red with anger. He entered the inner quarters and found Draupadi. “O Panchali! You have been won by us. Look upon Duryodhana without any shame. You will now love the Kurus. Come to the sabha.”
She arose in great distress, wiped her pale face, and ran to where the aged king’s women were. Duhshasana rushed after her, letting out a great roar.
He grabbed her by her long, blue, flowing hair—hair that at the time of the great rajasuya sacrifice had been sprinkled with auspicious waters. The valour of the Pandavas was vanquished, and Dhritarashtra’s son grabbed it with force. She had protectors, but was without a protector. He pulled and dragged her to the sabha like a plantain tree buffeted by the wind.
As she was dragged, she bent down her body and whispered, “It is the period of my menses now. I am only clad in a single garment. Do not take me to the sabha thus.”
He forcibly grabbed her black hair and said, “Pray to Krishna and Jishnu and Hari and Nara. Cry out for help, but I will take you. Whether you are clad in a single garment or in no garments at all, you have been won and are now a slave. One can sport with a slave as one desires.”
Her hair was dishevelled. Her half-garment came loose. She burnt with shame. In a soft voice, she whispered again, pleading with him not to strip her or debase her before her preceptors and elders. She told him the princes would not pardon him, and that the elders of the Kuru lineage were ignoring a terrible transgression.
She cast a scornful, sidelong glance at her husbands. The Pandavas were inflamed by that glance; their bodies filled with a wrath greater than any they felt at the loss of their kingdom. Seeing her look at them, Duhshasana dragged her with even greater force. He repeatedly called her “slave” and laughed.
Karna was delighted and laughed out loudly. Shakuni, the king of Gandhara, applauded the deed. In that assembly, with the exception of these men and Duryodhana, everyone was extremely miserable.