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Plot summary
The Palace of illusions is written by award winning writer Divakaruni  retells this drama from the perspective of Panchaali, the wife of all five Pandava brothers. Panchaali’s life was not simple and ordinary starting from her birth to her last breath because she was a “women”.

The Palace of illusions traces Panchaali's life which left a memorable remark on the Indian history. Panchaali also known as Dhraupadi’s life was not so simple but the orthodox beliefs and boundary on freedom just because you are a women has not changed much in our culture .Our culture and history has always been ironical because on one side we duly worship our sacred goddess while on the other hand the women of our society have been practiced to live only for the family and not for themselves.

So let us ride through this Homeric tale of Smart, resilient, and courageous Panchaali. King Dhrupad want to take revenge from Guru Dhrona but he did not have any prince who could fulfill this dream of his father. So King Dhrupad invited hundered of priets and they performed the fire yagna. For thirty days the priets, king, queens, attendants, ministers every attended the yagna and they were allowed to eat only once a day and that also milk and rice and King Dhrupad didn’t even eat that. Finally on 30th day Dhristhdyum the son of king Dhrupad was born and along with him was born Dhraupadi. Dhraupadi had dark complexion,courage and she liked to learn about the arts and knowledge about the kingdom rather than having feminine choices like singning, dancing or stiching .Dhraupadi felt that her father wanted only his brother and not her since childhood but she had a special bonding with her brother Dristhdyum with whom she used to share her desires and curiosity. Dhraupadi used to remain aloof in her chamber engaged in her own thoughts and activities she did not have much feminine friends but she used to have regular talks with her nurse Dhai Ma who used to teach her lessons and values about life. Lord Krishna was her “only” friends. She used to enjoy his company. She used to ask him many questions but he always used to answer them in riddles. Krishna always stood by her side and had faith in her.

Although she was married to Pandavas she had secret affection towards Karna who was the greatest and dangerous enemy of her husbands.It was because of the sadness and calmness she had seen in his eyes and how they both had same destiny:they both were disowned by their parents.

Once Dhraupadi met Vyasa Sage on the outskirts of her kingdom to know about her future. Vyasa predicted that she will marry the five greatest heroes of your time. She will be queen of queens, envied even by goddesses. She will be mistress of the most magical of palaces and then lose it. She will be remembered for causing the greatest war of your time.

He gave her advice Three dangerous mo­ments will come to you at that time, hold back your curse. Maybe it will mitigate the catastrophes to come.”Dhraupadi was stunned to hear this prediction.

First dangerous moment:During her Swayamvar when argument was going on between Karna and Dristhdhyum, Draupadi came between them and asked Karna the question of “who his father was? “ in front of the whole court filled with people from all around Bharata, which humiliated him and he never forgave her.

Secound dangerous moment:When the Pandavas were in power and they built the magical and magnificient palace with the most beautiful garden in the world they invited every renowed king of Bharata including Duryodhan to visit their palace at that time by mistake Duryodhan fell in water and Draupadi laughed at him saying:”Blind son alike blind father.”At that time Duryodhan vowed to teach her a lifetime lesson and show her original value.

Third dangerous moment:When Pandavas lost everything in the dice game they even lost Dhraupadi she was dragged in the court filled with Kauravas, Pandavas. Guru Dhrona, Bheeshma and Karna by her saree. When Dusashan started pulling off Dhraupadi’s sari Dhraupadi cursed that all the wicked and cruel men in this court will die in the great war.

Thus this was the journey of Dhraupadi she was born in fire and she died on the snow covered mountains of Himalayas. These three dangerous moments and her courage to speak made her life hard and difficult but like a brave women she passed all the tests of her life. Krishna was always there by her side even at the time of her death when none of her husbands were there.