SMALL MAN IS COURAGEOUS

Vikarna stands for voice of courage and justice in the Mahabhatata. He was one of the ninety-nine brothers of Duryodhana . When Draupadi had been brought forcibly to the court by Dussasana , Vikarna spoke to the courtiers who were too deaf to hear about injustice. Vikarna said that impartial intellectuals have to answer Draupadi’ question if they have to escape hell. Vikarna who showed the righteous indignation continued, “ the elders of Kuru dynasty like Bhishma,dhritarashtra, vidura, teachers like Drona and Kripa are quite. At least, the rest of the courtiers have to keep negative feelings such as lust and anger at bay and have to answer”. When no one spoke out, Vikarna himself acting as an arbiter, declared that gambling, hunting, drinking and gluttony are four addictions which would deviate a man from the path of Dharma .One should not take such a one’s acts into consideration. Dhrmaraja, addicted to gambling had been invited by a gambler and lost the gamble. He betted his wife who belonged to all Pandavas. So Draupadi was a conquest of Adharma. But Vikarna was snubbed by Karna. Still, one has to appreciate courage of Vikarna who defended Draupadi without fear even in the presence of people like Duryodhana and others. This incident appears in Sabha parva of the Mahabharata.