Marvellous Mahābhārata Morals - VIII

Evil men can fall to any limits

Duryodhana was an evil man. He had no scruples and could fall to any limit to accomplish his evil intentions. From his childhood to youth to manhood, he nurtured hatred towards the Pāndavas and behaved not as their cousin brother but as their enemy. At every turn of event, he wanted them dead. The incident of Lākṣagṛha where Duryodhana attempts to burn all the Pāndavas alive in a palace made of lac and other inflammable materials proves his evil wish. If he could not kill them, then he humiliated them. He even made Karṇa his friend only because he saw that Karṇa was equal or perhaps better than Arjuna in archery.

Is there any greater depth that a man can fall than when he tries to disrobe a menstruating woman in full public view? The profound humiliation of Draupadī speaks volumes regarding the perverted minds of Duryodhana and Duḥsāsana. Their extremely wicked acts and the inhuman humiliations of Draupadī reveal important aspects of evil-minded persons. Firstly, evil-minded persons will have no compunction, no qualm, and no regret in performing their evil deed. Secondly, they take an inexplicable, sadistic pleasure in tormenting, degrading, humiliating, and harming others. Thirdly, there is no rational explanation behind their horrid behaviour. The incident of disrobing Draupadī also shows that people of pure hearts and devotees of God can come to no harm. When nobody could help, then Draupadī surrendered herself to God and Śrī Kṛṣṇa saved her modesty. This proves that God does never let his devotees suffer and is always there to help when he is earnestly called.