Draupadī and Satyabhāmā: How a Wife Wins Her Husband

Classical

While Kṛṣṇa visited the Pāṇḍavas in the forest, Satyabhāmā, his favourite queen, sat with Draupadī and asked her what charm kept five heroes devoted to her. Draupadī answered at length. There was no sorcery, she said, only conduct. In all worlds, even among the gods, nothing is greater for a wife than her husband. If he is pleased with her she can have children, comforts, beds, garlands, perfumes, fame, and finally heaven; if he is displeased all of that can slip away. A good woman gains good things only by patience and hardship, not by an easy road.

Her advice was practical. Offer him a comfortable seat and fragrant garlands and attend to him promptly so he feels loved. When you hear his voice at the gate, stand up and wait inside; when he enters, give him a seat and water for his feet. If he asks a servant to do something, do it yourself, so he sees how wholeheartedly you honour him. She also warned about discretion. What a husband says in private should stay private, even if it is not a great secret, because a rival wife who repeats it to Vāsudeva could turn him against you. Look after those he cares for and seek his welfare. Keep away from his enemies and from deceitful people. In company avoid excitement and carelessness, hold your feelings in, and avoid long private talks even with your own sons Pradyumna and Sāmba.

On company: she should keep only the friendship of noble, blameless women who are devoted to their husbands, and avoid those who are quick to anger, addicted to drink, greedy for food, thieving, wicked or unsteady. Such conduct, Draupadī said, brings a good name, prosperity, softens hostility and leads to heaven. She finished by advising Satyabhāmā to honour her husband with costly garlands, ornaments, perfumes and unguents.

Kṛṣṇa then finished his talk with the Pāṇḍavas and the Brahmins led by Mārkaṇḍeya, said farewell, and called Satyabhāmā to the chariot. Before she left she embraced Draupadī and told her not to grieve or lie awake: she would regain the earth, Yudhiṣṭhira would rule in peace once Dhṛtarāṣṭra's sons were dead, and the Kuru wives who had mocked her would be reduced to despair. She reported that Draupadī's five sons were well and skilled at Dvārakā, treated by Subhadrā and Rukmiṇī as their own. Then she walked around Draupadī, mounted Kṛṣṇa's chariot and drove away.

Told by Vaiśampāyana → Janamejaya

Who: Draupadī, Satyabhāmā, Kṛṣṇa, Pradyumna

Bound to

Draupadī and Yudhiṣṭhira on Forbearance mirror

Pativratā (Dharmavyādha) mirror

Places: Kāmyaka forest, Dvārakā

Where this comes from

read for this telling · Mahabharata, Ganguli translation (mahabharataonline.com) Vana Parva, Section CCXXXII (Draupadī's advice to Satyabhāmā)
read for this telling · Mahabharata, Ganguli translation (mahabharataonline.com) Vana Parva, Section CCXXXIII (Satyabhāmā consoles Draupadī)

See it on the tree · All stories

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