Mahabharata

The disrobing of Draupadi is a symbol that illustrates themes of honor, justice, and the degradation of moral values. After Yudhishthira gambles away Draupadi in the rigged dice game, Dushasana attempts to disrobe her in the royal court, subjecting her to extreme humiliation. Draupadi’s fervent prayers to Krishna result in a miracle where her sari becomes endless, protecting her modesty.

This event underscores the ideal of divine intervention in response to injustice. Draupadi’s ordeal exposes the moral bankruptcy of the Kauravas and catalyzes the ensuing conflict. It also highlights the vulnerability and resilience of women in a patriarchal society. The event underscores the belief that the divine upholds dharma and protects the righteous, reinforcing the idea that wrongful actions, especially against the innocent, will lead to inevitable retribution.

The episode echoes, though does not fully recapitulate, the event that opens the narrative and the origins of the Kuru lineage: the accidental disrobing of the goddess Ganga, whose witness, King Shantanu, is sent back into the cycle of rebirth as punishment. Divine intervention thus resolves both incidents of disrobing, reasserting justice.