Is the Draupadi Vastraharan Interpolation in Mahabharata?

One ongoing debate revolves around the authenticity of the Draupadi Vastraharan, or the event of Disrobing Draupadi, within the epic of Mahabharata. Many are questioning whether this segment is an interpolation, brought up by Karna fans and some scholars. This article uncovers the core of the issue and challenges these claims.

Historical Context and the Event

The Draupadi Vastraharan episode is undoubtedly part of the initial Mahabharata. This significant event occurs during a dice game where the Kauravas trick the Pandavas and take Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas, as a trophy. Duryodhana orders Draupadi to be disrobed in the presence of everyone. However, she is saved by divine intervention, as her sari becomes infinite to prevent her complete disrobing. While the episode served as a crucial event leading to the Kurukshetra War, its authenticity is questioned by some.

.getKeyword(): Interpolation

Some Karna fans claim that the Draupadi Vastraharan is an interpolation according to BORI (Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute). However, this is a debatable point. The Mahabharata's core revolves around the actual events, not necessarily cross-referenced details.

Arguments Against Interpolation

Cross-Reference Absences:
One argument is that there are no cross-references to the disrobing event. However, this ignores the principle that the Mahabharata focuses on key events rather than every minor detail. For instance, Karna's capture by Gandharvas is not mentioned in cross-references, but the event is acknowledged. Similarly, the incident of Karna-Krishna samvad and the Nagastra are not cross-referenced but are part of the epic.

Textual Evidence:
There are several instances where cross-references do exist, yet the events are not considered interpolations. For example, in Gada Yuddha Parva, Chapter 1277 (BORI CE), it states:

“O supreme among brahmanas! Why will they endeavour for my good Krishna was in her season and was clad in a single garment. While all the worlds looked on, she was oppressed by Duhshasana in the midst of the assembly hall.”
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This reference to the disrobing incident is clear and establishes its authenticity.

In-Custody Details:
The Karna fans argue that Karna only asked Dushasan to remove the upper clothes, not the entire attire. However, the text clearly states that Draupadi was in a single garment, meaning that removing her upper clothes would result in her being completely naked. Therefore, the act of removing the upper clothes equates to vastraharan.

Scholars' Opinions:
Dismissing scholarly opinions is another key argument of Karna fans. They often claim that scholars should not be taken seriously unless the entire institute agrees with their points. This is a flawed approach, as scholars are human and can have differing opinions, but their contributions are valuable in understanding the epic.

Conclusion

The Draupadi Vastraharan episode is a critical part of the Mahabharata, occurring during the dice game. Its inclusion is supported by various textual references and is not an interpolation. Both cross-references and the core narratives of the epic converge to affirm the event's authenticity. Scholars' opinions should be evaluated critically but are not definitive, and they should not be dismissed outright without a deeper analysis of their context.