Duryodhana Vadham is written by Vayaskara Arya Narayanan Moossatu.

The play
consists of the main parts of Mahabharata.

[Bhanumathi tells about the newly built palace of Pandavas to her husband
Duryodhana. Duryodhana decided to see that beautiful palace.]

Duryodhana and other Kauravas went to see the beauty of Indraprastha, the new
palace of Pandavas. The palace was built by the Asura architect Mayan who had
built the palace with his magical skills. The Kauravas were completely confused by
the construction and mistook the floor to be a pond and a pond to be a floor and fell
and got drenched. Draupadi and Bhīma laughed at them. Yudhishtira advises Bhīma
not to laugh at anybody because it will cause unwanted events to happen. This
incident filled Duryodhana with anger and embarrassment and he decided to take
revenge and left the palace.

Duryodhana approaches Sakuni, his uncle. Duryodhana’s padam starts with-

Pandavas came to see the newly built “Keli Gruham” (Play house) of Duryodhana.
Duryodhana tells Dharmaputhra, “Hey great son of Yama, you are an expert in the
game of dice and hence I desire to watch a game between you and my uncle
Sakuni. If my uncle is defeated, I promise you that I will give you the penalty.”
Dharmaputhra replies, “The game of dice brings sorrow, it destroys the happiness,
it creates mayhem, but it is decided by Lord Brahma that kings should play the
game of dice. So I will play without any worries after offering prayers to Lord
Krishna.” (Duryodhana expresses his irritation upon hearing the word Lord
Krishna). Dharmaputhra continues “But my brother Duryodhana and my uncle
Sakuni - please don’t cheat me in the game.” Sakuni replies,” What is the use of
cheating in the game of dice. Don’t tell such nonsense. As per God’s wish, victory
and defeat will come. Dharmaputhra, please do come and sit with us for the game”.
Then the game starts. Dharmaputhra starts seeing his defeat. He gambles away not
only his army, palace, wealth and kingdom, but also one-by-one all his brothers,
himself and their wife-in-common - Draupadi. Duryodhana overwhelmed with joy
orders Dussasana to bring Draupadi and commands her to do the servile job. When
she refuses to come there, Dussasana pulls her hair and drags her to the court. She
asks for mercy and nobody including her husbands (because they are now servants
of Duryodhana) hears her plea. She prays to Lord Krishna to help her. Dussasana
tries to disrobe her in public. Lord Krishna helps Draupadi as a savior.
Draupadi curses them, “Sakuni, who cheated my husbands in the game of dice and
made them servants, will be killed by Sahadev during the battle. Dussasana who
tried to humiliate me in front of the public will be killed by Bhīma and Bhīma would
rip him open and drink his blood and my own hair would remain disheveled until the
fulfillment of the curse. Bhima will kill Duryodhana by crushing his thigh with the
gada.” [Drutharashtra tells Draupadi to stop the curses and tells her to ask
anything she wants. She asks her husbands along with their weapons back. She got
her husbands back. This part is not shown generally.] As a result of the second dice
game Duryodhana orders, “Hey Pandavas! Live in thick forest for 12 years. And
13th year, lived incognito. If you are recognized during that period, the same will
be repeated again.”

[After 13 years of exile Pandavas return to ask their rightful share back which is
denied by Kauravas. As a last attempt for peace Lord Krishna is requested to go to
Duryodhana as a messenger. Dharmaputhra tells Krishna to ask for half country. If
not, at least 5 villages. If not, at least 5 houses, or even one house is enough. That
is the greatness of Dharmaputhra.]

Draupadi comes near Lord Krishna, “Krishna, When Dussasana tried to humiliate
me in front of the public, you only saved me from the humiliation. Krishna, when
you are going to ask for our portion, you please remember my disheveled hair.”
Krishna replies, “My friend, Draupadi, don’t worry. You are the Queen among all
women. All your wishes will soon come true. Please wait for that auspicious time.
The bad act of Dussasana was a decision by God.” Thus Lord Krishna consoles and
sends her back Lord Krishna then makes all the arrangements for his visit to
Hasthinapura .

[Duryodhana tells Dritarashtra that Pandavas should get the justice and also to tell
his son to do the needful.]
Duryodhana gets the news of Lord Krishna’s arrival at his palace. Duryodhana
ordered all people in the palace to give no respect to Krishna. Even though they
agreed with him, when Krishna arrives in the court, all of them praised him and
gave full respect. [Krishna will come through the audience with Alavettam,
Venchamaram, Panchavadyam, and Muttukkuda]

Krishna addresses Duryodhana. Krishna requested him to give half of his country,
then five villages, or five houses or at least one house to Pandavas. Duryodhana
refuses to give even to give space taken by a needle point. Duryodhana in a fit of
rage orderes Dussasana to get a cord to tie Krishna. Krishna takes the
Vishwaroopa(his cosmic form) and all Kauravas in the court fell down except all
Mumukshu (noble hearted people). These Mumuksu told Duryodhana to give
whatever Krishna requested to save his own life. Lord Krishna leaves the palace;
Duryodhana and Dussasana wake up and decide to go ahead with the battle.

[Arjuna wants Hanuman to be there and Hanuman appears and tells that he will be
there in the flag of Arjuna to kill the enemies. Then Arjuna and Krishna is going to
the battle field,, and seeing all brothers and relatives in the battle field, Arjuna
fainted. Then Krishna adviced the Great “Gita”. Then Arjuna became strong and
started the battle.]

In the battle field of Kurukshetra, Bhīma filled with anger faces his arch rival battles
Dussasana. With the blessings of Lord Narasimha Bhīma kills Dussasana and ripples
him open and drinks his blood, thus fulfills the vow of Draupadi.
[Then Duryodhana came for the battle, after a long battle, Krishna gives the sign of
killing using the “Gadha” on the thighs of Duryodhana. Bhima did the same and
Duryodhana fell down. Then Bhima told each and every bad thing happened in
Pandava’s life because of Duryodhana and at last Duryodhana passed away. Then
“Vethalams” came there and did some dances to express there joy.]