Draupadi - A Woman of Virtue

Both of these events show a forethought expressed by Draupadi, as without this characteristic she would have had a harder time killing Kichaka and escaping her death at the hands of the citizens. This is only shown further in her conversation with the King and Queen of Matsya after the earlier events took place; she is able to negotiate her position in the palace and able to keep her family under their protection until the official end of their incognito year (114). Throughout this one situation, Draupadi is the only one who shows any forethought into the situation and is able to navigate it without harm to anyone found undeserving of it. This proves her ability to know what she is doing and a characteristic of virtuousness. .
             "They choose to act for themselves; " a distinguishing factor that does not often occur in the epic. With most decisions, the character in question seeks advice from another character, typically a sage. This is not the case with Draupadi. As seen in the previous example, she decides to take the issue at hand into her own hands and only seeks assistance when she physically cannot complete the task alone. She does not request any advice on the situation, she comes to a conclusion herself and resolves the problem on her own terms. Another instance of her ability to act for herself comes into play with the issue of Yudhistira gambling her away. When Duryodhana called Draupadi to the assembly hall, she chooses not to appear; one reason due to her being in her "monthly period clad in a single piece " and the other due to her argument of "if [Yudhistira] had lost himself first, he could have no right to stake me " (78). In both situations, Draupadi thinks and chooses her actions without the guidance of another. Likewise, those actions are credible and without sin with both cases being seen as issues with another person and her pointing out the faults. All in all, her ability to act for herself establishes her virtuous character.