The Hindu epic Mahabharata is filled with many wondrous, mysterious, and subtle themes of righteousness and irreligion. One such memorable and thought-provoking episode involves Dhritarashtra's son Vikarna and Draupadi.

Despite being a Kaurava, Vikarna stood for Dharma.

Vikarna was one of the 100 sons of King Dhritarashtra and Mother Gandhari. He was Duryodhana's brother and a member of the Kaurava side, but unlike his brothers, he was not a blind follower of injustice and immorality. When Yudhishthira, having lost everything in the gambling hall, put Draupadi at stake, Draupadi was dragged into the court.

At that time, wise and great warriors like Bhishma Pitamah, Guru Dronacharya, and Vidura sat silently. Draupadi continued to question her honor and dharma, but due to fear of Duryodhana and the influence of power, no one could muster the courage to call wrong a wrong.

Raising his voice for Draupadi in the full assembly

When Draupadi raised the sharp question—“Did a man who had already staked himself have the right to stake his wife?”—the entire assembly remained silent on this moral dilemma.

In such an environment, Vikarna alone took a stand against his brothers. He stated clearly that the staking of Draupadi was unrighteous and the treatment meted out to her was completely unfair. Angered by Vikarna's statement, Karna advised him to remain silent and not interfere in the matter, but Vikarna rose above the pressures of family and power and displayed his prudence.

Opposition to the abduction of women and the tragic end at Kurukshetra

Even when Dushasana began disrobing Draupadi, Vikarna was against this heinous act. However, alone, he could not stop his overbearing brothers.

The greatest irony of this story is that Vikarna, who had defended Draupadi's honor in the gambling hall, was forced to fight on the Kaurava side in the Kurukshetra War due to his loyalty to his royal duties and lineage. During the battle, he encountered Bhima. Bhima respected Vikarna's just conduct and did not want to kill him, but due to the rules of war, Bhima ultimately had to slay Vikarna.

PC: inkhabar