Yajnaseni: The Story of Draupadi

by Pratibha Ray, Pradip Bhattacharya

The story of Draupadi, one of the most fascinating characters in the Mahabharata.

Strange as it may appear, Draupadi, the most accomplished heroine of the Mahabharata, happens to be the most suffering, sacrificing, and yet the most misunderstood character from the epic.

Though counted among the five supremely virtuous women, honoured as pancha sati in mythology, the name Draupadi still bears stigma and is often contemptuously uttered by people in society as the woman who brought about the greatest war of all times.

Pratibha Ray makes a determined effort for a balanced portrayal of the epic character and brings to the surface the broader and deeper aspects of Draupadi's mind that lay submerged in the majestic sweep of the grand Mahabharata.

Genres: Mythology, Fiction, India, Indian Literature, Fantasy, Womens, Retellings

408 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Pratibha Ray is an Indian academic and writer. Her search for a "social order based on equality, love, peace and integration", continues, since she first penned at the age of nine. She wrote for a social order, based on equality without class, caste, religion or sex discriminations which are so common in India.

She was formerly a professor in Education and former member of Odisha Public Service Commission. She is one of the leading fiction writers in India writing in her mother tongue Odia. She has several novels, travelogues, short story, poetry and essay collections to her credit. She is the recipient of the Jnanpith Award for her contribution to Indian literature, the Moorti Devi Award, the Sahitya Akademi Award and the Padma Shri given by the Government of India.

Reviews

[Arun Divakar · Rating 3 out of 5]

The closest match that Draupadi of the Mahabharata has in the history of literature is perhaps Helen of Troy. The similarity between them however ends with the fact that they were both harbingers of extremely destructive wars that transformed history. Helen in comparison had a cake walk of a life when compared with Panchali is my observation. Let us look at reasons why : Married off at a young age according to the stipulations of a code of ethics she scarcely understood, never had a voice in determining who her life partner should be, by a single word was she forced to accept polygamy, this one act continued to be the wound that the entire world (even in posterity) loved to sprinkle salt on, suffered the greatest insult ever to a woman's integrity, watched all her sons slain in the great war at Kurukshetra and finally in the journey to the netherworld all her husbands left her when she fell by the wayside bereft and orphaned...aren't these enough trials for a woman or let alone for a human being ? Draupadi is a blazing character from the epic and this is the epic through her eyes.

The name Yajnaseni symbolizes she who was born of the yajna (the sacrificial fire) which in another way is to say that she was not the biological daughter of her royal parents.After a show of strength which doubles up as the courting period, she is married off to a man she has heard of but never known of. In an age when words and promises were sacrosanct, one word by her mother-in-law ends up making her the wife of not one but five men : the Pandavas. While all the five men are different, their attitude towards her initially is more like that of a domestic animal and not rising beyond that. Draupadi while bound in her love for Arjun, sacrifices everything to keep the unity of the Pandava family intact. She tries many a time to break free of these chains of oppression but fails in every way. While the Ramayana is hailed as an epic of righteousness, Mahabharata is more humane in its machinations. It is mostly a history of oppression of women by men and the sly but ruthless moves by women which ends up tumbling empires ! Through insults, tribulations, joys, sorrows and laughter she carries her family through and sails forth into her life until the dice game with the Kauravas arrive.

I do not know nor comprehend if Krishna saved the dignity of Panchali on that day in the royal court of Hastinapur. All that I do know is that this is the grossest injustice a woman can be subjected to. The fact that learned,wise, chivalrous men gave silent nods of assent to Draupadi's violation at the hands of Duryodhan and his brothers makes this act all the more heinous. Since this entire story is written by a woman and told from a woman's point of view, the helplessness and the rawness of this one scene is unmatched throughout the entire tale. The best parts of Pratibha Ray's skills as a storyteller comes when she describes Draupadi's relation with her husbands.Her angst at the righteous and impeccable Yudhistir which is equal parts admiration and revulsion, the love laced with fear and respect for the titanic Bhim, sensual, poetic love for Arjun and motherly affection for Nakul and Sahdev are all captured very well here.

Inevitably, the Kurukshetra war arrives and danse macabre begins. The fabled war scenes are all muted in the tale for women never had a place in the battlefield here. There is however the heart wrenching pain at the death of sons, friends and blood relations. I have time and over been made to believe by the Mahabharata that war wins only corpses and nothing beyond it. Unknowingly Arjun slays his eldest brother Karna who knew he would be killed but being true to the word to his dearest friend, went down that day with satisfaction.All sons of the Pandavas are slain in their sleep and none save a grandson remain to carry forth their legacy. The incarnation of the divine, Krishna himself watches his entire clan kill off each other and later succumbs to the arrow of a hunter. Yudhistir becomes the king-emperor of a field of corpses ! How fickle is life ! Renouncing worldly pleasures, the five men and their wife travel through the Himalayas to reach the world of the divine. For all her attachment to life, Draupadi falls along the way and without a second glance the man walk away. Putting down the bundle of all her troubles at the feet of her life long friend Krishna, she departs from this world of sorrows.

After all these long descriptions , it is a matter of discomfort for me to say that this book's translation to English is a wonderful opportunity lost. The dialog is at times so sappy that I had to remind myself that it is not a soap opera ! It is an age old urban legend among many writers that the characters of epics need to speak language dipped in melodrama and dyed in flowery prose. My love for this epic and its characters made me turning pages but yes the dialog is an irritant here. Secondly, the books suffers from blind devotion to Krishna. While he remains the principle puppeteer of all the acts in the tale, here the author has painted him as an all knowing, supreme being with supernatural capabilities. Krishna is more closer to Odysseus in his brilliant strategy, oratory and diplomatic skills but here he becomes a god beyond anyone's comprehension. A good section of people subscribe to this view but it ever since I have read into the lines of the epic, this view has never sat too well with me.

It is a tale of being a woman in an exceedingly male chauvinistic society and of the inevitable fall of empires.

Just before I sat down to key in this review, on the news came up a title of an estranged father and mother selling off their 17 year old daughter to prostitution ! Draupadi was perhaps the symbol of such atrocities against women in the ages to come and men like Dushasan now don other more subtler garbs and walk free among us.

[Anushree · Rating 1 out of 5]

(Beware – This is a rant more than a review).

Finally, having completed reading this book, I am deeply aggrieved to say that this shall be the first book which is going to earn just 1 star from me. Had there been an option of 0 stars, well, I would have even chosen that.

Why, you think? Here's why.

Pratibha Ray, in her afterword, narrated an incident about her sister named "Krishnaa" which had deeply affected her due to which she thought of reciting Draupadi's tale. She says the book is based on Vyasdev's Mahabharata as also her own imagination and interpretation of the epic.

At the risk of sounding brazenly outrageous (unapologetically), I find that even someone like "Ekta Kapoor" would have done a better job at portraying at least some character of Draupadi.

Yes, the story is a 1000+ year old Young Adult Fiction(YA). To say this book was written in 1984, when Indira Gandhi was reigning as the third prime minister of India (reference only to the fact of she being a "woman" and nothing political whatsoever), is a sad state of affairs inasmuch as this book doesn't even portray Draupadi as a woman who could express her opinions firmly without being judged. It is just a passing reference in the book that the Pandavs held her opinion high, but when the matters of "Rajyakarbhar" or the working of the kingdom were concerned I do not find a just voice of Draupadi being raised. So much so that I find her unquestioning, sacrificing nature extremely annoying at times.

Throughout the book you find that Draupadi either praises herself or sings songs of the beauty of Arjun or Krishna. Nothing has been mentioned about the rebel Draupadi or the doubtful Draupadi. Sometimes even when she was curious she chose to let her mute side win in order to not hurt people's sentiments. Aren't we all done with this? Shouldn't our interpretation of the myths and legends be a little more aggressive especially considering the Yug that we are facing?

This is a story of a whiny woman called Draupadi who is "forcefully" made to marry five brothers by their mother (and the book goes to an extent to tell us that the ultimate choice of acceptance was of Draupadi - but just because she is so pure and chaste and ever-respectful of elders, 5 she chooses to go by the mother's word). The same incident is narrated in Chitra B Divakaruni's The Palace of Illusions. Although the fate of both the Draupadis' was same, the way the situation was handled in The Palace of Illusions takes the cake away.

I shall share a few passages with you to help you comprehend the reason of my ruthlessness:

"I know that you are extremely cultured, intelligent and patient. Women ought to be like that. If women are not capable of bearing everything, family ties get loosened. If you do not tolerate my anger it is you who will suffer. For, I shall leave you to live with my rakshasi wife Hidimba. Hidimba belongs to the rakshas race, but as a wife she is devoted to me. She is afraid of my anger. She saw how with one blow I killed her brother, Hidimb. Who is not afraid for his life!" Bhimsen laughed loudly, mightily pleased with himself." (Bhim to Draupadi)

A husband threatens his wife to leave her and go to his first wife if she doesn’t abide by his whims – reminds me of my ex who barred me from being upset or angry or sulk about anything. He was a follower of religion and of an opinion that women must always be happy and keep a smiling face to please their husbands. As if they were smile machines – as if they were devoid of basic human emotion to which every living being is prone. Negate me if I am wrong, but don’t animals also face their tantrum days? Why is then a woman asked to keep a cheerful face and hide every sad emotion inside her? And to say that Draupadi did not as much as say a single word about Bhim’s this expression of opinion, she went on to become exactly what he wanted. (This is proven later when she gives an extremely pigeonholed speech to Satyabhama – one of Krishna’s wives - on what it is to be a woman who manages to keep a husband happy and satisfied. More about this speech for another day for her it is too disturbing)

"Carelessy Phalguni said, "Dicing is for pleasure, entertainment. What is the link between life and defeat and victory in a game? Women are suspicious by nature and habitually look at everything in a devious manner. That is why they suffer more." (Arjun to Draupadi)

A typical case of stereotyping women. No. We are not suspicious by nature. Did you know that it is scientifically proven that women have a strong sixth sense? We smell danger from quite a distance. We are made like that. We do not “suffer” because we look at everything in a “devious” manner. We suffer because men (or even women themselves) decide all of these intuitions to be stupid and take some stupider decisions. I am not surprised that Arjun says this to Draupadi. I am astonished and aback because Draupadi does not even once try to counter this crappy argument.

"In an angry tone I said, "I do not even wish to see the corpse of that sinner. Let his filthy body be thrown to the jackals in the jungle." Like rain following lightning, tears poured from my eyes. Hearing my words, Yudhishthir said, "Yajnaseni! I had not expected such cruelty from you. Jayadrath has sinned. If the punishment of every sin were death then no one would remain alive on this earth. Men in general are attracted to lovely women. The discriminating man controls his desire. Jayadrath is bereft of conscience, so he insulted you. Do not forget that he is the husband of our only sister." (Yudhishthir to Draupadi when after Jayadrath sexually harasses her)

“Dharmaraj” Yudhishthir after having ignored all of Draupadi’s pleas, loses her in a game of dice, sits with complete passivity when she is being ripped apart in front of ogling masses in Duryodhan’s court and resorts to a speculative life in a forest. Here Jayadrath sexually assaults Draupadi. And while Draupadi demands a death penalty he calls her “cruel” to have expressed such a wish. “Men in general are attracted to a lovely woman” - again an example of stereotypes. (Not all men chose to get attracted and gawk lustfully at her). It is a pity that such an assaulted woman is told, that the assaulter is a husband of another woman so he must not be subjected to such a cruelty. Why is it so difficult to notice that this man is the cause of grief of two women already – the one who he assaulted and the one who sits at home trusting him to be a real “Man”! It is such a sad state of affairs that Yudhishthir went ahead and gained heaven – when in reality he was absolutely incapable to protect ANY of his loved ones. It is such a sad state of affairs that this person really is given as an “example of manhood”.

"If Jayadrath were given the sentence of death for his sinful act, then for the rest of her life Sushila would suffer the agony of widowhood. Thus, the punishment would have to be suffered not by Jayadrath but by Sushila. A man does not incur sin by enjoying many women, it only enhances the glory of his manhood. In some circumstances, even if we consider it sinful, no one will describe it as an unpardonable crime. That is why there is such arrogance in man. There are many instances of abduction of beautiful women. Therefore, Jayadrath had not done anything overstepping the limits of society. He was a man and moreover a king. It is a kingly right! I felt angry with society. First I felt full of reproach against my husbands, and then against God. Whoever's fate is full of grief is created as a beautiful woman by God. However, Sushila too was a woman like me. She was faithful to her husband, full of love, pure in conduct. Without any fault why should she have to undergo the ultimate suffering?" (Draupadi to herself over her decision about Jayadrath’s fate after being molested by him)

And alas ! Our very own Draupadi weighs the pros and cons of Yudhishthir’s speech and decides very meekly that he is indeed right. “A man does not incur sin by enjoying many women, it only enhances the glory of his manhood. In some circumstances, even if we consider it sinful, no one will describe it as an unpardonable crime. That is why there is such arrogance in man.” And yet he remains unpunished by our very own “Yajnaseni”.

"Krishna was watching karna struggling with the dilemma and said, "Brave karna! There is still time. Come, join the Pandavs. Accept the blessings of mother Kunti. Your union with the Pandavs will bring the whole world to your feet. Forge all the sorrow of the past and fight for the Pandavs. Besides enjoying the whole world, obtain Draupadi, too, and establish the supremacy of your prowess." (Krishna to Karna – a clear case of objectifying Krishnaa)

This is a clear case of how everyone in this book has so freely objectified Draupadi and not once did she raise a voice (she spoke almost always in her head). I refuse to believe that someone who is considered to be “God” can put up a woman for auction like this in front of another man just to obtain his own goal. Her father did it. Her husbands did it. But they have an excuse of being human. What excuse does a God of the stature of Krishna have?

This entire book is Pratibha Ray’s own skewed perception of how the epic would have been. And I am extremely sorry to say that this perception is so marred and bizarre that it embodies her own myopic view about womanhood.

What is a myth? It is a story. Written by someone. Told through ages. From one person to another. From one Guru to another. It is told and retold several times and at the end of it, it becomes our own view of how things would have been at that time. Every retelling or a POV is the author’s discernment of the character. While the back cover of the book says that this is a “balanced” portrayal of a “misunderstood” character of the biggest epic ever told – I am vexed to find out that it is yet another narrow-minded attempt to permeate chauvinism and misogyny into the already struggling society. I kept reading till the end to find out that strong-minded, rebellious Panchali that I had come to love in Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's The Palace of Illusions – but to no avail. So disappointed I am, that I do not recommend this book to anyone who detests gender stereotypes, misanthropic narratives, sexist dialogs (without a counter-attack to slacken the impact). I basically will go to a different level and say I do NOT recommend this to ANYONE solely because it passes on the wrong message.

This book isn’t spiritual. It isn’t mythological. Neither is it moral or philosophical. This book doesn’t give you anything. It is, as I mentioned earlier, a vent of the author, who for some purpose, thought that she is doing a great service to humanity by reiterating the same age old gender issues devoid of any inspirational message embedded in it. It is hideously translated and I am still wondering if that was the reason it went on to become so misguided in its vision (if at all there was one).

I have a genuine question here. Considering, Mrs. Ray's such a close relative had to undergo hardships due to her being a woman, didn't Mrs. Ray have a duty towards her to show some spunk in her envisaged "Draupadi"? She, however, chose to create a woman who is nothing more than a peeved teenaged love-smitten little girl who cries foul about every injustice meted out to her (with total inaction), flatters herself constantly about her "flawless" beauty and impeccable education and hundreds of thousands of "Sanskaar" (showing us her ugly narcissistic side – otherwise who writes the same thing about herself in her own diary. Where is the humility?).

The narration doesn't absolutely do any justice to the title "Yajnaseni" (which is supposed to mean born from fire) or even the vibrant glowing cover. In Draupadi’s defence, a woman who was destined to perpetrate a terrifying war against injustice, a woman who was born out of blazing fire, a woman who was an epitome of “Naritva” must have had something more than beauty, must have had something more to say than “Sakha, why do you jest so much at my expense” or “Cheeh! Does this look good on chaste and pure Draupadi?” or “My heart fluttered when I saw his lotus feet” or “I was so shy in front of them”.

Go read the actual Mahabharata instead of investing time in something so frivolous that trivializes not only the problems of mankind but also does not offer any concrete insight into the “Why”s or “How”s of it! And to say this book received two prestigious awards. It is just a distorted view through an ill-defined, blurred, muddled lens.

Incidentally, I am going to post this review on International Women’s Day – a day when being a woman is celebrated. Just a single day unfortunately so far. And no. This is not a whine or playing a victim card. The situation is better of course than what we might have faced a few 100 years ago or even a few 50 years ago. But it is still deeply grave and many a times unaddressed. The ground of “feminism” is equality of both the genders. Propagation of this simple rule of equality is all that is going to take to make a difference. And it is not just upon the men. It is upon the women too. The author of this book is a woman. Something huge as this, when put up for public consumption, has to be looked at objectively and broad-mindedly even when you are an author.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I posted a spiffed up version of this review on my Indian history blog: http://videshisutra.wordpress.com/201...

It is a retelling of the Mahabharata from the viewpoint of the primary female protagonist: Draupadi. She is the wife of the 5 Pandava brothers, who are the heroes of the original story. If you've never read the original story you will probably find this confusing. The Mahabharata has a huge cast of characters and this book doesn't thoroughly introduce all of them. It was written by an Indian for Indians, so it presupposes a base level of knowledge about the original story. The sentence construction is also obviously Indian, seeming imitative of the protracted, overly dramatic dialogue style of the ancient epics. Before I go into a rant against the core message of the book, I should note that I enjoyed reading it for its unique perspective on gender issues which is rarely heard in the west. Also, while the diologue may have been a bit stilted or odd at times, the descriptions of war, death, sorrow as well as of natural beauty, urban beauty, courage, and strength were quite lovely.

Despite being a tale told from a female perspective, this is basically an anti-feminist work in my evaluation. Draupadi constantly endures hardship because of her gender, and what is expected of her as the royal wife of the 5 Pandavas. She doesn't get to choose who to marry, and is forced into a polygamous marriage which she doesn't initially want either. Throughout the story she is forced to live in the forest, forced into a scheduled mating pattern with her 5 husbands, has her children killed in a war due to the actions of her husbands, is humiliated in court due to her oldest husband's gambling her away as an article of property, etc etc etc. She bears all of this willingly, and even lovingly. She is the epitome of the "good Hindu wife". She worships her husbands (particularly Arjuna) literally as Gods.

Now, it would be one thing if the story was written for us to see this and say "What a tragic character! She had to endure all of this abuse because of the faulty moral beliefs of her day. If only she could have broken out of that paradigm and seen her own enslavement." But it isn't written that way. It is written for us to ADMIRE her for her submission, and willingness to live entirely for her husbands and for Krishna. Her obedience and submission IE her adherence to her wifely Dharma regardless of any of the consequences is supposed to be admired. This is precisely why Hindu/Bhagavad Gita morality is pathologically self abusive. There is a much better moral model in the story: Karna. But before I get to that, here are some quotes relating to Draupadi to illustrate what Im talking about:

Draupadi: "I have made an offering of my life to keep the five Pandavas bound together"

!!!!!! IF YOU DONT READ ANY OF THIS REVIEW JUST READ THIS QUOTE:
"Removing pride from within me, I pour out my femininity like an offering of flowers before my husbands, made fragrant by the water of desireless action. I try not to be envious under any circumstances…. I never eat or lie down before my husbands eat or lie down. I am up before they get up. I am never lazy in their work. If they return from a long journey, I keep seat, water, food, resting place ready for them. Despite servants being available, I keep watch on household chores. I cook their favorite food myself and serve it with my own hands. I do not burden them with my own worried and anxieties. Rather, participating in their concerns, I offer my views. I do not spend too much time on toilet, bath and dressing. If my husbands are far away, I refrain from decorating myself. I do not make interest in mattes which they dislike. Without their having to tell me I am able to sense their likes and dislikes. I am never interested in arguing fruitlessly or in rolling about in meaningless mirth. The most important thing is that I never doubt them, nor do i ever shower them with unnecessary compliments. Similarly I never keep anything secret from them… I anticipate their wishes, even their commands to servants. I never describe the wealth, prosperity, luxury of my father's house before my husbands… I do not mention any woman as more fortunate than myself. I do not feel it necessary to display my innumerable desires before my husbands. I do not spend time in private with another man. I avoid women who are of a cunning nature. In front of my husbands I try to appear fresh, beautiful, ever youthful."

(context, all of the Pandavas have barely escaped death. Draupadi is clasping Arjuna's feet, thankful that he is alive, because he is who she is most truly in love with of all the Pandava brothers): Arjun quickly removed his feet, "As a wife, all [the Pandava brothers] are your husbands. You ought to behave in the same manner with all… If we countenance injustice then the defeat of the Pandavas is inevitable. Draupadi, remove this mountainous burden of unjust love from me. That is all' I thought my grief would provide Arjun with some encouragement. But lecturing me regarding justice, law, rules, he again turned me into an untouchable. My tears keep flowing, washing away the guilt and sin of loving my husband."

Ok. With that in mind, look at a fellow Goodreads user's review of the book:

"I must admit that I have always had a sneaking fondness for the proud princess of Panchal. I have found in her a strength that is lacking in most other mythological heroines. Sita, I have always visualised as a doormat, but masculine culture will portray her as the womans softer side, while Draupadi is unabashedly and prominently a queen, with a womans pride, a sharp intellect and a strong will. Very few women in Indian mythology were strong enough to speak their own minds. Imagine then, my delight in coming across a novel in which Draupadi finally comes into her own."

Given all the quotes above, this (presumably female and Hindu) review still considers Draupadi a strong character. Clearly, this is a system of morality which is alive and well.

-----Karna-----

In my eyes, this retelling makes Karna into the greatest hero of the story. He is kind to those who treat him well, and spiteful to those who denigrate or abuse him for no reason. He is also supremely generous, courageous, and honest. The reader is supposed to think that he is deeply flawed because of his pride, egoism, and "arrogance". I see these as virtues which in combination with his more traditionally "moral" traits (honesty etc) make him a well rounded character, and (almost) an ideal Man. He is the greatest warrior who has ever lived. He has reason to be proud. His greatest flaw is supposed to be that he relies on himself to achieve greatness rather than relying on Krishna. This is to me, his greatest virtue. Draupadi should take some lessons from Karna.

"Mocking, Karna said, 'Lady! I acknowledge that your husband [Arjuna] is brave. But I fail to understand what sort of man he is. If i were in Arjun's place and Ma [Queen Kunti] had ordered that the woman I had won in the svayamvar [contest to win a bride] was to be shared by other brothers, I would have left that kingdom…I do not consider blindly obeying improper directives as the sign of manhood. This is the only difference between Arjun and myself."

Did you catch that?

"I do not consider blindly obeying improper directives as the sign of manhood."

Karna is the best.

[S.Ach · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the rather disappointing read of Divakaruni's quite famous 'The palace of illusion', I decided to revisit the award winning Odia novel by Pratibha Ray- Jagyaseni - with similar theme - Mahabharata from the point of view of Draupadi. I remember the reading of few pages of the English translated version of Jagyaseni, several years back had disappointed me. So, this time, I decided to read Ray's creation in its original language - my mother tongue Odia.

It is but inevitable to compare two similar books when you read those one after another.
So, here goes my two line comparison - While 'The Palace of Illusion' reads like a book written by an author who is well versed with the story of Mahabharata, especially the B R Chopra version, and has tried to give Draupadi the much needed strong feminist voice while narrating the entire story of Mahabharata to the uninformed, Jagyaseni, on the other hand, reads like a book written by Draupadi, herself. Cause, while the former focuses on the sanctity of storytelling, the latter focuses on Draupadi's feelings, sentiments, perplexities, confusions, apprehensions, aspersions, hostilities, animosities, despairs, lusts, loves, furies, mercies, and all those myriad emotions a woman possesses.

There are many reviewers here have provided negative feedback to Jagyaseni while lauding the 'The Palace of Illusion'. I would presume two reasons for that - they have read the English translation of 'Jagyaseni', which I think does little justice to the original creation. And secondly, I believe many of them have an unrealistic expectations of Draupadi to provide a voice of strong feminism, and sadly got disappointed to read the version that paints Draupadi's character as a woman of conflicted emotions and a victim of patriarchy.

Anyway, everyone is entitled to their own opinions. For me, Jagyaseni provides me an inner view to "What Draupadi wanted and felt" - irrespective of how true it remains to the original text (?).

My only peeve of this book is that characterization of Draupadi as a mother is underwhelming.

[Meera Srikant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Draupadi - a woman of strange contrasts, she disturbs our very sense of balance and order. She is the victim and the destroyer. She is chaste, and she has five husbands. She is submissive, and yet dictates terms. She is the queen, she is the slave.

'Yajnaseni' is a challenge to read in the beginning, with long-winding self-debates and detailing of emotions. But once the story picks up, it draws you in. My suspicions were roused when the beginning reminded me strongly of 'Palace of Illusions', and though I suspected the book by Divakaruni to be the imitation, the language there had been swift and the story more gripping from the word go. Here, Ray takes her time and the translator - Pradip Bhattacharya - has not done much to make it crisp.

But while in Palace it was Karna who had filled Draupadi's thoughts (been a while since I read it, but it made strong impression), here it is more dynamic and vibrant, her relationship with her husbands, Krishna, other women all coming out with greater clarity. Arjuna had seemed callous in Palace, but here, though his actions are much the same (for that is how Mahabharata must have described them), the emotions are different.

If only it had been tightly edited, this book would have been even more gripping.

[Arunima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Filled with life lessons. I love reading about MAHABHARATA, so I found this work extremely absorbing.

[Pratyush · Rating 1 out of 5]

***Read for the Women's Writing course***

As my friend Liberosis said:
“It is my dharma not to discuss the book, only to accept the book. Nothing is bigger or truer than dharma. Only thing which matters is dharma and everything else works around the Dharma.”

And in the end I didn't get why all the fuss about Dharma. Doesn't make any sense to me, let it be the whole book. I get that the injustice of women was prevailed during the mythical time as well and I agreed upon it. But the repetition of the same thing, same situation is quite frustrating to read.

Every character feels absurd and hypocrite lol. The amount of absurdity I faced, it's just beyond my expectations. One thing I liked that, Karna is the only one who is true to his character. I really liked how clearly, and to the point he was described. Other than that I didn't like anyone nor agreed to any of the views at all.

Is it the end of my misery or the beginning? ☠️

[Sumeetha Manikandan · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved this book. Probably the most definitive book on one of the most controversial character in the history of epics. beautiful characterization of the draupadi. loved it. glad that I bought it.

[Aravind P · Rating 2 out of 5]

Draupadi is a symbol of Indian woman. A character culturalised to represent chastity. A role model created by male chauvinism to show case how they want their women to be. Pure, law abiding, beholder or their honour, personification of beauty and sacrifice.

Main thing here is that Pratibha Ray has put Draupadi into the stereotyped repesentation of Indian woman. It was like reading some Ekta Kapoor's tearjerker 'bahu' serial! Too much of melodrama and un-realistic dialogues and artificial emotions. Pratiba, instead of letting her be on her own truly, on the pretext of making a feminist book, has tried to garner more sympathies for Draupadi. To do that she had to change the other characters, like Bhima as a lecherous glutton like one of those dakoos of old movies. And Karna, ever since the original Mahabharata was written, this is one character that everybody wanted to re-define. A poor Aryan who had to live a humiliated life of a Dalit. This is nothing but an invention of a society which couldn't tolerate that a Dalit could be chivalrous. So they have to say that he is not actually a dalit but son of Sun! Why is is hard to accept that he was a Dalit! And the lovestory bit, what a bonkers. It is not that she can't fall in love with Karna due to morality issue. But just because the author was smitten by the tragic hero, she had to give him redemption by letting the heroine fall for him. Duh!

Draupadi here is someone who had to stay as a wife of 5 men, which was not a unique thing entirely because polyndary used to be practised in societies where matrilinear heirarchy used to be practised. But the thing here to be discussed is, is that really humiliating for a woman to marry more than one man? if so why? is it because of hte fear of what others would say? Unlike the case of polygamy, where a man can spend his time with any woman at any time, Draupadi was not given a chance like that, she had to follow a one year/husband policy, again this could be desputed as it is likely to be an alteration made by moral policymakers, people who cannot tolerate/accept a woman (having to)marrying more than one man. I guess even Pratibha Ray is one of them.

Main thing I didn't like, as I had mentioned above, was un-realistic sentiments. A woman who is depreived of all her personal freedom, was humiliated in a worse way in the front of family and elders, would have turned hard and bitter. The idea that women are peaceloving gender is a nonsense. Humans have emotions, anger is a prominent one. Draupadi had been a key figure in the war and just to put some anti-war message at the end, the author seems to have ruined the character of Draupadi, by making her a weak woman.

[Vinoth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the First Book am reading on Mahabharata( including Mahabharata )Pratiba Ray has done a nice job in trying to portrait the Psychological picture of Draupadi .This book made me think a lot. made me compare the time when the Mahabharata Happened to the present time.Not many things make sense.the biggest problem i faced was Comprehending the Dharma which used to prevail during the time of Mahabharata.But am at least glad that everyone including Krishna is shown as a human/god with their own weaknesses,Instead of Painting them as god or men without any negative shades. I should have read the Mahabharata before reading this.I say this because not many things were as elaborate as they should be (for example the time before and after the Kurukshetra is shown but not the war!),it is understandable as this book shows the Mahabharata in the point of view of Draupadi as it folds out with lots of emotional outbursts which makes you feel for her.I am eager to read the Mahabharata next and then the other books based on it.

[Anshu Raj Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book changes your perspective. Many of us have read different accounts of Mahabharata. But narrators of all of them have been men whether Yudhisthira, Arjuna, Krishna, Karna. The protagonist of this book is a woman, Draupadi, and this differentiates it from other books. The author has given a beautiful account of the mindset of Draupadi, both as a damsel and as the queen of Pandavas. Through this book Pratibha Ray tries to explain the condition of Draupadi and thus remove the stigma attached to her name.
Moreover,reading this book opens one's eyes to the condition of women in this male dominated society. Through the example of Draupadi it shows that how even without any wrongdoing of their own, women are declared faulty and punished. A must read for anyone interested in Mahabharata.

[Kabeeta Pathak · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the book about woman and womanhood from the perspective of Draupadi in the time of Mahabharat. While I might not agree to all the things that's been written or said by Draupadi here, It helped me to know about that time and how women were supposed to be as women, how they were supposed to behave/act, how they were supposed to live! Also, the spiritual (maybe fictional) love between Krishna and Krishna really swept me off of my feet. I enjoyed reading this book thoroughly.

I recommend this book along with Radha by Krishna Dharabasi. 💟💟

[Anupama C K(b0rn_2_read) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't like how Draupadi is portrayed in this book. She is too meek and all accepting. There is too much of Krishna devotion. I have always imagined Draupadi as outspoken, someone who didn't care what others thought. Here the Draupadi does have an internal monologue, but she accepts whatever the Pandavas say.

[Swati Garg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Worst book i have read this year. The author makes Draupadi look like a vain and shallow woman who can't stop thinking about Arjun and her all sacrificing nature. This is not what Draupadi is supposed to be about. Unreal book.

[Gorab · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

I enjoyed the initial parts of the book because of the beautiful language and the choice of words. Feels almost poetry. The translation is top notch.
Loved the depiction of Draupadi's thoughts and dilemmas. Her feelings and conflicts with her husbands was one of the pivotal points of the plot.

However I could not enjoy the book overall. As the flowery language started to feel too sweet - to the point of causing slight suffocation.
In multiple narrations, I have come across her friendship, camaraderie, respect and utmost devotion towards Krishna. However this one took that devotion way too much to the point of fixation - which personally hindered my joy of reading this book.

I love narrations and retellings of epics. Especially when done in regional languages.
This is one book which I wanted to enjoy so much, but couldn't.

[Maitreyee Mordekar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful perspective on the life of the woman born from the fire altar - Yajyaseni.

It serenly walks us through her state of mind as she lives through various phases of her challenging life.

And, the delicate, soulful and pure relation between sakha (Krishna) and his namesake Draupadi (Krishna) is wonderfully written.

A must read for anyone who likes reading Indian mythology.

[Sri · Rating 2 out of 5]

(2.5)
More often than not, I end up loving any book based on the historical epic 'The Mahabharata'. However, this book let me down in so many ways. I think I went into it expecting a whole new take on the Mahabharata's most misunderstood character, Draupadi, but boy, this book kept emphasizing on the fact that Draupadi was a product of a patriarchal society and the epitome of feminity. It irked me to see that a 'new age' retelling of the epic decided to completely blow the fierce, resilient, unwavering Draupadi out of the water. When I first heard about this book two years ago, the idea of a 'balanced portrayal' of one of the strongest female characters in our epics had me sold completely. And by completely, I mean hook, line and sinker. But then, everything fizzled out once I actually started reading the book. From there on, it was a very downhill reading experience.

Draupadi takes us through her life, event by event, right from her birth from the fire altar to her death as she sets foot on the Himalayas and this entire book is supposed to be a 'letter' of some sort, for the future generations to read. Born with the sole purpose of vanquishing adharma and destroying the Kuru clan, she is promised as a reward to the best archer in the world who manages to pass an extremely difficult archery test. No surprise. Here's were Krishna's cleverly orchestrated plan comes in and she is given as a gift to Arjuna, following which she is asked to be shared with his four brothers as well. Lots and lots of suffering right there. So, the real question is, does Draupadi come up with an argument for the injustice which was being done to her? You bet. But she never voices a solid one. That was my main problem with this book. The 'Krishnaa' which Pratibha depicted was very much a woman who lived in an era where patriarchy ruled supreme. I understand that women were supposed to be at their husband's beck and call all the time, but man, she is Yajnaseni! Draupadi is worshipped as a goddess in some temples of South India as an embodiment of the Goddess Kaali. Naturally, I expected her to raise her opinions. But no. The Pandavas here don't even give a penny to her thoughts, which leads me to the second point. The portrayal of the Bhim and Arjun was so inconsistent. In the first 200 pages, they preached on and on about how the ideal woman should behave and in the last 200 pages , they were all so considerate about Draupadi. Yuddhisthir is 'God-like'-unperturbed, passive. You're left wondering if this is the same Dharmaraj Yuddhisthir that we were told stories about. Here's an example:

Before justice, dharma, tolerance, forgiveness and generosity his wife's honour,helplessness,grief,pain and insult were nothing today him. Seeing my bewilderment,helplessness,anger and disgust, he would recite ethical axioms to me, "Yajnaseni! You are intelligent and learned. If a person does not protect himself, no one can save him. Carefully avoid falling victim today Keechak's lust. Do not do anything whereby our secret will be in danger. For,then we will be helpless. The time together reveal our identity has not yet come. With so many beautiful women in Virat's palace, why did Keechak's eyes fasten on you? You ought today have been careful from the beginning... "

Uh-huh. And another:

"The obsession of winning Draupadi can make anyone go mad. What is the fault of Jayadrath?"
But I said, "So the fault is mine? That it is sanctioned by the scriptures for the woman right be enjoyed by the enemy after her husband has been defeated in battle, is the true fault. But who will understand that? Who will oppose the scriptures?"

I would have loved to see some substance in the characters of Nakul and Sahadev, but Nakul was depicted a narcissist, who was obsessed with his looks, which I guess he was, but I needed a tad bit more about his military prowess. Sahadev chipped in with reasonable arguments, but considering the fact that Draupadi is the one who's narrating the story, it seems okay. Or is it really?

The portrayal of Karna was very lacklustre, to say the least. I don't know. He just seemed so confused about his love (yeah love and admiration) for Draupadi and yet, at the same wanted to make Draupadi suffer terribly due to her calling him a 'charioteer's son'and not marrying him in the Swayamvara. Plus, he is extremely rude to Draupadi(explains his bitterness) but then the very next second, he is deeply ashamed for having hurt her?

There were a few saving graces: the raw vulnerability of Draupadi during the vastraharan was exceptionally well done. Her pain and anguish were so palpable. The descriptions of Draupadi's feelings,Krishna and the writing in general were good but were a bit choppy at times owing to the translation maybe.

Ravan abducted Sita but did not rape her. Despite finding her alone he did not misbehave with her. Despite being moved by his perverted lust, he did not touch her body in the Ashok forest. He only kept begging her for love. That was natural. But here, wicked people, driven by perverted lust, are insulting the bride of the Bharat dynasty and stripping her body naked in the assembly hall! Such a gross outrage on womanhood will never be wiped out in history. The descendants of this country will blame the Kuru king for this. This lawless, gross injustice and tyranny of the Kuru clan will demean the entire male sex for all time. It will outrage all the chaste women of the Bharat dynasty and the entire female sex on earth. For this insult there is no forgiveness, for this sin there is no expiation.

I could ramble on and on, but it'll be a never ending discussion. In brief, this book was ordinary at best. Nothing great. A shadow of Draupadi's rebellious self surfaced here and there, but that was it.

[Carolin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Faszinierend und frustrierend
Das Buch an sich hat eine sehr faszinierende Prämisse und gerade die Metaphorik, die wirklich in allen Teilen steckt (Pflanzen,Tiere, Zahlen, Namen), macht es so spannend und vielschichtig. Außerdem hat es eine sehr vordergründige, metapoetische Komponente, mit der ich so nicht gerechnet hatte und die mich sehr glücklich gemacht hat (Form und Inhalt ergänzen sich da perfekt).
Was ich persönlich immer noch schwierig fand, ist wie Draupadis Geschichte aufgearbeitet wurde. Zunächst wirkt es so, als würde es darauf hinauslaufen, die Doppelmoral anzuprangern, die die Verurteilung von Draupadi beinhaltet, wenn so viele Helden hinduistischer Mythologie nicht nur 5 sondern sogar tausende Partnerinnen haben, an denen kein Anstoß genommen wird. Doch besonders das letzte Kapitel zeigt, dass das nicht der Fall ist: Der Punkt, der hier gemacht wird, ist, dass Draupadi nie 5 Ehemänner haben wollte und deshalb bemitleidet werden sollte. Das stimmt zwar (let’s be real, die Frau hat in der ganzen Geschichte so gut wie keine eigene Entscheidung treffen dürfen), aber unser Fazit daraus sollte nicht sein, dass Frauen nicht mehrere Partner haben dürfen, weil ihnen das nicht gut tut.
All in all: Der Schreibstil war schön, es ist eine Verbesserung dazu, wie Draupadi sonst dargestellt wird (immerhin darf sie jetzt Gefühle haben) und auch einige andere Frauen der hinduistischen Mythologie bekommen empathisch Gastauftritte, aber ich bin schon enttäuscht, ich hatte ein differenziertes Fazit erwartet.

[Avanthika · Rating 4 out of 5]

History portrays Draupadi as self-centred, hot-tempered, head-strong woman who inflicted terrible war in the kingdom of Hastinapur. She is one of the most misinterpreted characters of the epic. Draupadi's chastity is a question of ridicule since eternity. She has all reasons to be head-strong, yet she chooses to sacrifice and stays humble.
She is the princess of Panjaal, Daughter of mighty king Durupad, sister of the fire-born warrior Drishtadyumna, queen of the Pandavas and the mistress of the most beautiful palace on the earth. Her life is full of up's and down's. One day she is the queen of Indraprasth, and the next day she is exiled for no mistake of hers. She chooses to marry Arjun over Karna and pays dearly for that decision all through her life. She compromises and forgives the mistakes of pandavas all the time, but as a woman, she cherishes her self-respect and loathes the mockery made in the hall of dice. She avenges for the dishonour that Duryodhan inflicted on her.
This book is Draupadi's narration of the story from her point of view, which as I expected missed out the haughtiness she expressed in the actual Mahabarat. The translator slowed down the phase of the story. The book sounded more like "Palace of Illusions" in many places, still the unstained relationship Draupadi shared with Krishna is very well narrated. :)

[Anupama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who, exactly, was Draupadi?
The stunningly beautiful princess who never got to experience a childhood?
The woman who, by a twist of fate, became a wife to 5 husbands?
The victim of the infamous 'Draupadi ka Cheer-haran', where no one, not even the great Bhishma, opened their mouths?
The lady at the centre of the most devastating war in history, a mother who lost all her 5 sons to the war?
Draupadi was no silent sufferer. She was no 'Abala nari'. She was a forceful woman who never hesitated to speak up & demand her rights, a woman of great self- confidence and spirit, and most importantly, the sakhi of Lord Krishna.
Read the 5 last wishes she makes as she lies dying on the Himalayan slopes, and you will be moved to tears.

[Meetu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this, reignited my interest for reading Hindi novels. And I am ever grateful for this.
Brilliantly written and after few pages, it stops bothering me that I have heard so many words for the first time, or so it seemed.
What I loved about this book:
1. It depicts a point of view always missed in the more popular versions of story. 2. Touches on a subject considered bold even in modern times. A woman having feelings / soft corner for another man. And this in-spite of having 5 husbands already! 3. Shows the spiritual love between a man n woman. 4. Beautifully woven words kept me engrossed till end.

[Saral · Rating 1 out of 5]

Never mind the awards. This book converts Draupadi into a dithering dimwit forever unsure of who she loves/likes/lusts/loathes and forever confused whether to seek justice or to seek guilt.
draupadi ...unsure? Utter nonsense.
To add to woes, the English translation is stiff, prudish and thoroughly stilted.

[Neha Vora · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a reason why Mythology is separated from Mythological fiction. Period.

We all grew up reading the Mahabharatha and while some may call it a version of the actual Mythology written by Vedavyassa, there is an interesting trend nowadays to retell the same by imminent authors and wrap the story in different garb, introducing a love triangle, retelling from the feminist angles etc...
I will admit I liked to read the different interpretations of Draupadi first in the Palace of Illusions and now in this book, where she was shown as not only being attracted to Karna but also the Supreme Krishna.
Though she does realize her love for Krishna is the same as that every single being feels for him and the story moves on from there to how her journey began with her being born with the sole purpose to destroy Adharma and be the cause for the establishment of Dharma, I felt the book has taken over the tone of someone who demands empathy and justice through her constant complaints and tears which seem to overflow at each and every moment. There is no denying that Draupadi did suffer and vastly but I believe she was headstrong too and a very learned one who knew her purpose and who was very dear to Lord Krishna, Surely she was above all this whining?

In this book, It is interesting to note however that there has been clear mention about each of the Pandavas having some or the other weakness. Also, Arjuna's way of punishing her seems unnecessary as the hate he emanates is directly proportional to the love she professes.

There are some questions that Draupadi asked which remain unanswered even now

1) If a woman was learned or wise did no one think of her? Was there no affection, sympathy, for her in anyone? Was she stone, a lifeless piece of sculpture?

2) I (Draupadi) flared up at Bhim's blaming it on me frivolously. I was a woman. What was my fault in this? I was beautiful. How could I be blamed for that? Arjun won me. In this what was my crime? Karna did not win me — in this was I blameless?

3) Does the company of a woman suck out the strength of a man? Is this his lack of confidence in the strength of his character or is it due to the fear of a woman's charismatic attraction

[Anil Swarup · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many books have been written on and about Draupadi and most of them bring out the travails and tribulation of this central character of Mahabharat. This one is a trifle different in narration. Like the masterpiece, "Palace of Illusions" this too is written in first person. It doesn't reach the excellence of Devkurni's narration but is almost there. The "war" itself doesn't find much space in the book as it is focused more on characters around whom the war came about. It is the brilliance in building these characters that the book stands out. The book is all about Yajnaseni but the beauty of the book lies in Pratibha enmeshing this central character with those around her.

[Ameya · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I saw a book on Draupadi, I was expecting to read a feminist view of Draupadi. But although the beginning of the book intrigued me, the chauvanist angle given by Pratibha Ray started putting me off. Although the instances are as I have heard in stories and have read in Mahabharat, I do not know how much of Draupadi's emotions are actually as described in Mahabharat and how much is a figment of imagination. The way she accepts how she was born to destroy the Puru clan, the way she accepts the 5 husbands without any protest and starts worrying about how she could appease them together rather than getting angry at the fact that she was probably deceived into doing so, does not go hand in hand with the character of Draupadi that is generally described so far in whatever stories I have read/heard.

I think Draupadi does deserve to be angry. She does deserve to seek revenge. I do not understand the devotion towards a man just because he is the husband even after he put her at stake in a game of dice. Was she really that devoted to Yudhishthir?
I do not understand the love towards a man who keeps on punishing her for having four other husbands when he himself abides by his mother's words and 'shares' the wife he won in the swayamvar.

Does Mahabharat use Draupadi to portray the image of an "ideal" woman? Or is it the example of an "unlucky" woman?

The time and again reference to how she is 'chaste inspite of having 5 husbands', how she is devoted to her husbands by taking care of their needs, by pressing their feet, by being the companion each one of her husband seeks for in a wife gets a little too irritating towards the end. No mention has been there anywhere of how the husbands try to keep her happy, how THEY try to be HER companion. That role has been assigned to Krishna!

There is a big description of her duties towards her husband that Draupadi describes to Satyabhama, at the end of which Satyabhama "realises" how great Draupadi is. That was one of the most irritating pages of the book for me. Another such irritating discourse that left me fuming was what Yudhishthir explains and Yajnaseni thinks and agrees with when Jayadrath tries to abduct her and Yudhishthir wants Yajnaseni to forgive him.

I think Ray has also been a little too hard towards Yudhishthir as a character. As someone who probably manipulated his words to Kunti when Arjun won Yajnaseni in the swayamvar and got her home, someone detests war, goes to any length to keep peace and avoid war, loves dice, wants to forgive the men who disrobed his wife in public, doesn't want to look back when his beloved wife falls down on their way to heaven and someone who was the only one who really enjoyed his time in the thirteenth year of their exile playing dice with the king, he comes across as really cunning but extremely weak and a coward. That also does not go with the descriptions of Yudhishthir I had read/heard so far. I ended up being really angry with Yudhishthir at the end of the book!

Arjun's description has been as a valiant warrior, but weak at heart, hapless before the words of his elders.

Bhim has been as he has been described elsewhere too. Forever hungry, frank and caring.

At the end of the book I was left with some angry questions.. Did the scriptures really want to portray Draupadi as an ideal Indian woman? Is that really the role of a woman that society wants? Why the insistence on Draupadi being chaste 'in spite of' having 5 husbands because she was loyal to one at a time? Why were Arjun's 3 other marriages described as 'political alliances only'? Arjun is supposed to love Draupadi 'the most'. Yet when Draupadi falls on the way to heaven, she falls because she was partial towards Arjun amongst her 5 husbands?!

My view is probably influenced by the fact that I was expecting to read a feminist book, but thats not how Pratibha Ray wanted to portray it..! Also since it is a book on Yajnaseni herself, the most contoversial, unjust and unfortunate incidences in Mahabharat are described here in detail. That is also why you end up feeling really angry at the end of the book. Just as you end up feeling angry when you read about Karna. Karna has been described a lot as the most unlucky man in Mahabharat.
But at the end of the book, my sympathies as the most unfortunate character in Mahabharat go with Draupadi than with Karna.
I think that is what Pratibha Ray wanted to say too...
The language, the descriptions, the way she portrays emotions is really beautiful!
In all, this book definitely did leave a lasting impression on my mind!

[Windfist · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is not the story of Draupadi. Or Krishna. Or the Mahabharatha.

This is Mills and Boons. For Brahmins.

Girl meets boy (sort of). He’s big and blue (like, what could be sexier?). They fall in love (or something). But no. It can’t happen because he is too cool. So other stuff happens.
This is not Mills and Boons.

Pratibha Ray is the Indian Stephanie Mayer.

This is a book for upper class Brahmin teenage girls with private (probably British) education. I swear. Read the book. It’s all there: the no sex at all. Trust me. I read the book. Apparently the bedroom’s a place for talking. Unless ‘talking’ is a euphemism. In which case what was she thinking while ‘talking’?
“There are many instances of sacrificing personal interest pertaining to the world (what?). The world is now in peril. Just understand this that we have come (oh yeah!) on this earth not for our own sake, but with greater aim. I am no different from my brothers. If for any reason I wish to be different, then that will be the beast within me (what’s that? Another euphemism?). Even though I am proud of winning you, that is the egotism of my manhood (It has to be a euphemism, right?). In truth, who are you? Who am I? (Not Jackie Chan.) Who are these four brothers of mine? (Definitely not Jackie Chan. He’s Chinese.) Where have we come from? (One Child Policy.) Where are we going? Even this we do not know. By living on this earth for some days if you are able to add to the happiness and prosperity of everyone, why should I be sorry for that? Will that not be gross selfishness on my part?” That’s how Arjuna talked Draupadi into coming on the third night of marriage.

The novel’s in first person. A letter. From Draupadi to Krishna.

“There is poetry in the heart of every human being. Some pour it out in writing, others do not. I wrote down whatever came to mind in the form of poetry. Father had made arrangements for my education. Both my tutor and my father said that I was scholarly, Knowledge-hungry. Quickly I mastered many branches of knowledge. I became an expert in mathematics, music, painting, cookery, flower-management, hospitality and other matters (such tired prose). But writing poetry was an obsession which I went on learning by myself. Father did not know anything about this.”

Very difficult to figure out who is talking. Ray or Draupadi. Whoever it is, that person is a nerd. This novel has o-so-subtly edited out the sexy Draupadi. Why?

Feminism. Confused, pseudo-liberal pop-feminism. To speak of the ills women face today Draupadi is dragged (by the hair) and paraded in front of the ogling masses of the Indian upper class waiting to ejaculate at the pleasure of political correctness. Oops. Let’s back up. Was Draupadi oppressed? She must have been. Had five husbands. And everyone stared at her. For shame. How could she have ever enjoyed all that? She couldn’t have. Five husbands means patriarchy times five. Not sex times five. Which obviously a woman can’t enjoy. Or shouldn’t enjoy? Who says a woman shouldn’t enjoy sex times five? Upper class Brahmins. That’s who. Wait? What? That’s confusing. Back up.

Rhetoric. Language is used to convince. Patriarchy=bad. 5 husbands=bad. So 5 husbands=patriarchy. But why do 5 husbands=bad. Because 1 husband=good. Which is what the current upper class western infused Brahmin that calls himself liberal believes is moral. Which means Draupadi was oppressed, doesn’t it? So, go feminism! No. Rhetoric. Patriarchy is still talking, just using the language of Feminism. The true patriarch is the Brahmin. And Ray has been convinced.

Unsexed. So why is Ray’s Draupadi a nerd? Because Ray is a nerd. And this book is a teenage fantasy about the perfect man. That’s Krishna, by the way (if you didn’t get it). He’s just so sexy. I mean, how else could he have so many gopis? And he’s blue (gosh!).

Unsexed is sexy. Because smart is sexy. Which is why the bedroom is for ‘talking’, not sexing.
Literature. This is not a bad book. It just has lots of problems. Like anyone. But the first chapter and the last are really good. Honest. Like literary style good.

Fuck Literature. We can always do with some Mahabharatha-Twilight now and then.

[Anshu · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't read many Indian authors, and not that I'm stereotyping or anything, but they have this.. particular emotive flare and flourish with which they narrate their stories, which is very entertaining!
And I personally like it in the mythology genre...
You just have to enjoy it and keep your wits about you to not take it too literally.

I liked this book from Draupadi's point of view, got to know a lot more about this very integral character of the great Epic, even more so since it was narrated in first person. Her opinion on things, of people, of her own role on Earth and her duty ... how she viewed life, her relationships with Arjuna, Krishna and others tell a lot.
Even more can be said from how people and society treated her and how she viewed the treatment.
I personally found some ... absurdity and annoyance with the role of a woman in that society... She was very respectable as a mother to an heir, an elder who's word could not be refuted. As a queen she was the honor and good luck of the king and his kingdom, but, as a mere wife, the role and respectability was just what you read.. "mere", especially in comparison to a husband or mother-in-law or anyone else for that matter. So much so that her life's most important decisions were nothing in front of the value of someone else's word or dharma. No one can even entertain the idea of adharma towards anyone.. be it a brother, mother, friend.. they all appear so virtuous... but it all comes to null in their dealings with their wife. It appears as if a woman is treated as the least important being ...
Being a wife in that yuga appears to be very peculiar, even more in Draupadi's case with five husbands to take care of... and each were demigods with unique personalities.
But then, Draupadi cant be thought of as anyone lesser than a goddess herself...

[Vinay Leo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review @ A Bookworm's Musing: http://wp.me/p2J8yh-2S6

What Yajnaseni brings to the world of Indian mythology is a retelling of the Mahabharata from a different perspective, narrated from the point of view of Draupadi, the main female character in the epic. Even that is enough reason to pick up the book. The early parts of the book are quite slow and at times made me wonder if the book is headed anywhere, but there are parts that are also well done, like the battle descriptions from this new perspective. But the character of Draupadi itself fell short of what I was expecting from this narrative, and that is one flipside that kind of dampened what I felt was a book that held promise. It depends on the reader of course, so I feel the book will appeal to other readers more than it did to me.

[Anjali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Currently reading the english translated copy of Yajnaseni(Pratibha Ray) ..quite interesting...book is on draupadi...on the lines of PAlace of illusions if u have read it...I must admit that I have always had a sneaking fondness for the proud princess of Panchal. I have found in her a strength that is lacking in most other mythological heroines. Sita, I have always visualised as a doormat, but masculine culture will portray her as the womans softer side, while Draupadi is unabashedly and prominently a queen, with a womans pride, a sharp intellect and a strong will. Very few women in Indian mythology were strong enough to speak their own minds. Imagine then, my delight in coming across a novel in which Draupadi finally comes into her own.

[Anuradha Kabra · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's really well written.
The heart pains for draupadi.
Cannot understand the logic of the dharma all the time.
It all seemed so political.
I used to think that women were hugely respected in that era - the woman choose her husband in her swayamvar!
But after the few versions I have read of the mahabharat and Ramayan it seems that all of it was to use women - whether daughter or wife.
Reading the mahabharat from draupadis point of view has been quite revealing.
A similar book I read and enjoyed was Palace of illusions. A must read.