Vyasa narrated that when Dushasana dragged Draupadi by the hair, right into the royal court, the agony of Vidura, Bhishma and Drona was beyond control. Sparks flew from the angry eyes of Draupadi when she was tortured and, if they had fallen on any one in the Hall, he would have been reduced to ashes! Luckily, she was looking only at Dharmaraja; his fortitude and equanimity were imprinted on her mind so, the assembled men were saved from destruction. Or else,Duryodhana, Dushasana and the rest of that foul brood would not have survived at all. Dharmaraja’s unruffled face saved every one from cataclysm that day; else, all would have been consumed in the fire of her anger, making the battle of Kurukshetra superfluous.

Draupadi wailed that no one of her masters rose to save her, though she called upon them and reminded them of their prowess and valour. Just then; the thought of Krishna, the Saviour flashed like lightening, and filled Draupadi’s drooping heart with courage. ‘O Shyamsunder!’ she cried out, ‘This is not an insult dealt to me.

Remember, God is your guardian, when you sleep; when you are helpless; even when you have forgotten or neglected or discarded Him. He has no need for the things you offer or promise to offer. He is ever content, ever blissful, ever full and ever free. Do your duty to yourself -that is enough offering for Him. (SV, p. 29)

The fate of the country will depend on the character of its people and character is elevated and purified bysadhana, the hard way of regulation of behaviour and the control of desire. God is the guardian, and as guardian, He has to warn and punish to wean people away from harmful habits. If it is necessary, the guardian will resort to the infliction of pain too, as a curative and corrective treatment. (SSS Vol.17, p. 25)