My choice is Draupadi rather than Sita or Kannagi || Mahabharat life lessons

First of all, I would like to clarify one thing that my intention is not to do a raw comparison of Draupadi, Sita, and Kannagi and applaud one while degrading others. I know all these three characters are unique and special in their own way. But I am just trying to point out certain features in their characterization and my choice will be based on the principles I believe and follow. No intention to offend anyone’s faith or belief.

We all know that Mithila’s King Janaka got Sita in a field while plowing but from then she led a life of a princess while the same with Kannagi who was born to a rich merchant of the city and had a happy childhood. Draupadi was born as a blessing from altar fire out of the ritual performed by the King Dhrupad. But she was not welcomed with joy by her stereotypic father who opted for a son to fulfill his revenge on Dronacharya and considered Draupadi as an unwanted arrival. 

When he was insisted to receive her he prayed all curses to be filled in her life and wanted her to lead a life full of sufferings. Still, Draupadi vowed to stand by her father with all due respect and tried to obtain his affection. When Shikandi, the rebirth of Amba was removed from the position of Army chief just because she was a woman and was considered incapable of leading the army, it was Draupadi who raised voice for the rights of her sister and tried to restore her honor.


Sita and Kannagi were happily married to Ram and Kovalan respectively while Draupadi’s marriage decision was the toughest to any woman of those times. We consider Sita and Kannagi as icons of Patni cult for being the strong ambassadors of chastity but it was Draupadi who broke the myth of physical chastity and courageously proclaimed that chastity is something related to mind and not the body. She decided to marry the Pandava brothers not for selfish need but for the welfare of the society.

A woman marrying the brothers is known as fraternal polyandry which is not something sinful because early humans were following promiscuity and fraternal polyandry is something still being followed in a few aboriginal tribes. I am not supporting the concept because not everyone doing such a thing can become Draupadi but as Lord Krishna says anything which is done can be categorized as good or bad only by the intention and not by the means. On this note, Draupadi was all ready to assassinate her own character for the welfare of society and till now being accused.

Finally comes the very important episode of the life of the three. When Sita’s character was questioned by a dhobi, Ram in spite of being confident about her did not stand by her. When he ordered Sita to prove her chastity by entering into the fire, she did that too but still, Ram ordered her to leave to the forest and she did not raise her voice against it and readily obeyed thus proving her loyalty towards her husband. The same happened with Kannagi when Kovalan was attracted by Madhavi, she did not question him or try to stop him, instead, she offered all her jewelry and encouraged Kovalan, considering that as her duty. 

In the game of dice when Yudhistir kept Draupadi as a bet and lost her following which Duryodhana tried to enslave her and dared to disrobe her in front of the King’s court. When Draupadi was called to summon in the court she refused it. Later when Dushashan caught her by her hair and pulled her to the court, she was fighting to escape with all her strength. When Duryodhan announced that she was lost by her husband, the Draupadi who took the pain of marrying the five brothers for their welfare now stood against the same, proclaiming that they do not have the right to place her as bet and lose her.

When great warriors and wise men like Bhishma, Dronacharya, etc stood dumb in front of the injustice that was being delivered to her, it was Draupadi who questioned each and every one by raising her voice against the injustice. After when Krishna saved her she threw away the Chudamani which is the symbol of her husbands proclaiming that they are no more her husbands and vows not to tie her hair because in those days only widows will not tie their hair. This was the punishment she gave to her living husbands for tolerating the injustice in the name of the dharma.


After Ram’s realization of his guilt, Sita was taken inside the earth by the goddess Bhoomi while Kannagi who should actually have questioned Kovalan and tried to stop him, burnt the entire city of Madurai for the vengeance against King Nedunchezhiyan who was guilty of giving death sentence to her husband by mistake. But it was Draupadi who looked forward to the great battle of Kurukshetra for the welfare of the world even tolerating the pain of losing her family and kinship.

Draupadi has one more specialty which cannot be quoted to Sita or Kannagi, that is the friendship she grown with Krishna barring gender difference. Both Sita and Kannagi were loyal to their husbands by providing divine status to them and were submissive in obeying their orders without thinking that they may set a bad example to the other women folks. But it was Draupadi who was subtle at needed situations and stood tall always without compromising her right or dignity. She was the one who strongly professed gender equality and iterated ‘A No is always a No’ which we now are campaigning for justice to the women.

So my choice is Draupadi rather than Sita or Kannagi and this wonderful portrayal of her characterization must be the role model to the present-day women. Once again I would like to reinstate that I have no intention to degrade the other two because these are mythical characters but the purpose of these mythologies is to teach us our life lessons. All I want is that the women should stand for their rights with courage and say a big ‘NO’ to the injustice being done to them.

Disclaimer: Pictures are used only for reference. I do not own the copyrights.