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Yudhishtar and Draupadi: A Tale of Love, Passion and the Riddles of Existence
IN THE FOREST, IN THE STILLNESS OF HTE MORNING, YUDHISHTAR, CUSTODIAN OF MORALITY, OBLIVIOUS TO SCALE OR BALANCE, UNTHINKING, MADE LOVE TO THIS WOMAN, HIS WIFE DRAUPADI. A long poem in rhymed sonnets, Yudhishtar and Draupadi is and imaginative retelling of the encounter between the Pandavas and the Yaksha of the pool, which finds Yudhishtar, the eldest Pandava, answering fundamental philosophical questions about existence and the lives of his brothers hang in the balance. Unknown to him, also at stake is his relationship with Draupadi, who is still furious with him for having wagered her at the game of dice with Kauravas ('he hadn't won her; she wasn't his to lose'). This marvellous poetic interpretation of a key episode from the Mahabharata has now been translated by renowned poet-lyricist Gulzar, and is re-published in a bilingual edition.
- GenresPoetry
175 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
8 people are currently reading
209 people want to read
About the author
Pavan K. Varma
33 books89 followersPavan K. Varma is a former Indian Foreign Service officer and was an adviser to the Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar, with cabinet rank. With effect from June, 2014 he was a Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) until July 2016. He is currently the National General Secretary and National Spokesman of the Janata Dal (United).
Varma is a graduate of St. Stephen’s College, New Delhi where he studied History (Honours) and received the first position. He was President of the St. Stephen’s College Debating Society as well as the star debater and elocutionist of the University of Delhi. He also won the Sir CP Ramaswamy Aiyar Memorial Essay Prize at St. Stephen’s. Subsequently, he acquired a degree in Law from the University of Delhi.
He joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1976. His career as a diplomat has seen him serve in several locations, including New York and Moscow. In New York, he was with India’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations. His assignments in India include that of Press Secretary to the President of India, Spokesman in the Ministry of External Affairs, Joint Secretary for Africa and Director General of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, New Delhi.
Varma is a graduate of St. Stephen’s College, New Delhi where he studied History (Honours) and received the first position. He was President of the St. Stephen’s College Debating Society as well as the star debater and elocutionist of the University of Delhi. He also won the Sir CP Ramaswamy Aiyar Memorial Essay Prize at St. Stephen’s. Subsequently, he acquired a degree in Law from the University of Delhi.
He joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1976. His career as a diplomat has seen him serve in several locations, including New York and Moscow. In New York, he was with India’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations. His assignments in India include that of Press Secretary to the President of India, Spokesman in the Ministry of External Affairs, Joint Secretary for Africa and Director General of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, New Delhi.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 24, 2014
Even after reading so many versions & views on the same tale, I'm fascinated about Mahabharat related books.
I've read Vyasa Bharat, Rajaji's version, Draupati's version, Bhima's version, Karna's version, Duryodhanan's version, Arjuna's version, Shikandi's version and so on. This book is glorifying the son of DharmaRaj, the epitome of righteousness, the eldest-pandava, Chakaravarthi Yudhistir. The translation by Gulzar makes you to get hooked to dictionary, no matter how strong you're in the language.
Yudhistir and Draupati, the sonnets, are beautifully describing the fragile relationship that Draupati & the eldest-pandava shared. He hadn't won her. She wasn't his to lose. - This explains it all.
He did not just stake her modesty in the game of dice, along with it, what he had put in stake is the relationship that he shared with her. His conversations with the Yaksha rajan, Draupati & his brothers are well-portrayed.
The whole of Mahabharat is rendered in poetic form, and believe me, you'll see the eldest-pandava in a completely new dimension after reading it !
I've read Vyasa Bharat, Rajaji's version, Draupati's version, Bhima's version, Karna's version, Duryodhanan's version, Arjuna's version, Shikandi's version and so on. This book is glorifying the son of DharmaRaj, the epitome of righteousness, the eldest-pandava, Chakaravarthi Yudhistir. The translation by Gulzar makes you to get hooked to dictionary, no matter how strong you're in the language.
Yudhistir and Draupati, the sonnets, are beautifully describing the fragile relationship that Draupati & the eldest-pandava shared. He hadn't won her. She wasn't his to lose. - This explains it all.
He did not just stake her modesty in the game of dice, along with it, what he had put in stake is the relationship that he shared with her. His conversations with the Yaksha rajan, Draupati & his brothers are well-portrayed.
The whole of Mahabharat is rendered in poetic form, and believe me, you'll see the eldest-pandava in a completely new dimension after reading it !
March 18, 2015
Meh. Some of the verses are beautiful; many of the others feel forced. In order to meet the rhyme, word choice verges on the ludicrous. In many places the poem does not appear to flow -- one gets snagged reading it. As this poem was originally written in English, there is no excuse for this.
As for content, perhaps the book would have been better titled Yudihsthar and His Anxieties Stemming from Not Knowing Whether or Not Draupadi Orgasmed on Their Wedding Night. The first part of the poem chronicles Yudi's insecurities concerning his relationship with his wife. Given his and his families actions towards her, I find it difficult to sympathize with him as he wonders in bewilderment as to why Draupadi does not find fulfillment, neither carnal nor spiritual, in his arms. The second portion of the poem, concerning Draupadi's sentiments leading up to the forest scene, is simply bizarre. At some points Varma acknowledges how Draupadi's wishes and dreams have been ignored repeatedly. At others, he makes ludicrous statements about what desire feels like for (all) women -- some tendril of flame seeking some tree of longing or some other hackneyed shit. Takeaway: he (or rather the narrator) oversteps severely in portraying Draupadi's subjectivity.
The third, and longest, part of the poem deals with the meeting with the Yaksha. This section is a bore. The questions and answers are sufficiently vague to appear wise while containing no content. All they reveal is Yudhisthar's flawed world view wherein agency is a delusion, man exists for the whims of the gods, and transience strips life of all meaning. I do not find these beliefs compelling.
The poem ends with Draupadi accepting Yudhisthir. There follows a rather poorly written sex scene with skies being rent, certain orgasm on Draupadi's part, and a plethora of nature metaphors. A man's quest to understand his insecurities in the bedroom indeed.
As for content, perhaps the book would have been better titled Yudihsthar and His Anxieties Stemming from Not Knowing Whether or Not Draupadi Orgasmed on Their Wedding Night. The first part of the poem chronicles Yudi's insecurities concerning his relationship with his wife. Given his and his families actions towards her, I find it difficult to sympathize with him as he wonders in bewilderment as to why Draupadi does not find fulfillment, neither carnal nor spiritual, in his arms. The second portion of the poem, concerning Draupadi's sentiments leading up to the forest scene, is simply bizarre. At some points Varma acknowledges how Draupadi's wishes and dreams have been ignored repeatedly. At others, he makes ludicrous statements about what desire feels like for (all) women -- some tendril of flame seeking some tree of longing or some other hackneyed shit. Takeaway: he (or rather the narrator) oversteps severely in portraying Draupadi's subjectivity.
The third, and longest, part of the poem deals with the meeting with the Yaksha. This section is a bore. The questions and answers are sufficiently vague to appear wise while containing no content. All they reveal is Yudhisthar's flawed world view wherein agency is a delusion, man exists for the whims of the gods, and transience strips life of all meaning. I do not find these beliefs compelling.
The poem ends with Draupadi accepting Yudhisthir. There follows a rather poorly written sex scene with skies being rent, certain orgasm on Draupadi's part, and a plethora of nature metaphors. A man's quest to understand his insecurities in the bedroom indeed.
September 14, 2025
I have a lot to say but I have no idea how to organize it. This is definitely a book that needs to be reread. The first two parts I cried a little and also had to put the book down multiple times, but the Yaksha part didn’t hit as hard for me personally other than a few lines. Part four was interesting but I found I didn’t agree with some developments, though I can see how things could plausibly play out that way. It just felt like the author was endorsing a forgiveness that wasn’t deserved, rather than Draupadi just getting tired and giving in.
Will write more detailed thoughts after a reread.
Will write more detailed thoughts after a reread.
December 29, 2021
Disappointing
I wad disappointed because I prefer prose to poetry. The story lost its essence to me without the prose narration.
I wad disappointed because I prefer prose to poetry. The story lost its essence to me without the prose narration.
April 18, 2024
This was soo beautiful, lyrical and gorgeous! It had a dreamy yet grounded feel to it.
I had been meaning to read this for years now. Glad to finally read it.
I had been meaning to read this for years now. Glad to finally read it.
November 17, 2013
'Even a forlorn puddle on a forgotten street, does not lose its power to reflect.' Wow!!!
Not my most favorite couple. Atleast, not one half of it. But the feisty, supremely regal other half always more than compensates.
A poetic interpretation of the Yaksha-Yudhisthir quiz is beautifully interwoven with his trepidations, guilty passion and patient devotion
towards Draupadi. His yearning comes through just fine.
Gulzar's translation of this sonnet yields some other too gems, like
1. Millions pass on, yet the livng think they wont die.
what can be more wonderful than this strange lie?
2.Yudhisthir, epitome of justice, lay supine.
Her back, no more unyielding, an arc sublime.
3. He hadn't won her. She wasn't his to lose.
Not my most favorite couple. Atleast, not one half of it. But the feisty, supremely regal other half always more than compensates.
A poetic interpretation of the Yaksha-Yudhisthir quiz is beautifully interwoven with his trepidations, guilty passion and patient devotion
towards Draupadi. His yearning comes through just fine.
Gulzar's translation of this sonnet yields some other too gems, like
1. Millions pass on, yet the livng think they wont die.
what can be more wonderful than this strange lie?
2.Yudhisthir, epitome of justice, lay supine.
Her back, no more unyielding, an arc sublime.
3. He hadn't won her. She wasn't his to lose.
July 2, 2014
4.75 STARS
Sonnets, we all know, are one of the toughest forms of poetry to perform. And when it comes to putting our very own epic "Mahabharata" into sonnet sequence, its a tougher job and adds to the difficulty level with all the limits you work in.
This little book covers the major episode of the epic, where Yudhishtar gets to know who he really is. With an intense development of thought, the author puts this episode into the Shakespearean sonnet which we also call English sonnet.
What we literature students call sensuousness or imagery, are the things this book has in store for you, in an abundance..
Happy reading
Sonnets, we all know, are one of the toughest forms of poetry to perform. And when it comes to putting our very own epic "Mahabharata" into sonnet sequence, its a tougher job and adds to the difficulty level with all the limits you work in.
This little book covers the major episode of the epic, where Yudhishtar gets to know who he really is. With an intense development of thought, the author puts this episode into the Shakespearean sonnet which we also call English sonnet.
What we literature students call sensuousness or imagery, are the things this book has in store for you, in an abundance..
Happy reading
July 2, 2014
4.75 STARS
Sonnets, we all know, are one of the toughest forms of poetry to perform. And when it comes to putting our very own epic "Mahabharata" into sonnet sequence, its a tougher job and adds to the difficulty level with all the limits you work in.
This little book covers the major episode of the epic, where Yudhishtar gets to know who he really is. With an intense development of thought, the author puts this episode into the Shakespearean sonnet which we also call English sonnet.
What we literature students call sensuousness or imagery, are the things this book has in store for you, in an abundance..
Happy reading
Sonnets, we all know, are one of the toughest forms of poetry to perform. And when it comes to putting our very own epic "Mahabharata" into sonnet sequence, its a tougher job and adds to the difficulty level with all the limits you work in.
This little book covers the major episode of the epic, where Yudhishtar gets to know who he really is. With an intense development of thought, the author puts this episode into the Shakespearean sonnet which we also call English sonnet.
What we literature students call sensuousness or imagery, are the things this book has in store for you, in an abundance..
Happy reading
May 27, 2014
powerful language, and an interesting take on our mortality and need for morality, and the tension that arises from the interaction of these two; the resolution was a little too deus ex machina and gratuitous for my taste, but the imagery is still vibrant and vivid; the real gem in the text is perhaps the Yaskha portion
January 7, 2015
A poetic verse which seeks to delve the most unexplored relationship of Mahabharata in context of one of the most important dialouges. Its a pleasure to read the translated verses by Gulzar (I haven't read it in Hindi yet). Each question of Yaksha stirs a recollection of some event in Yudhisthir's life and he attains clarity as he answers them all.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews