speak to one another.  And with eyes enveloped with darkness and pushed by the wind carrying particles of rocks they could not see one another.  And there began to arrive mighty sounds proceeding from the tree, and also from those breaking down incessantly under the force of the wind, and falling to the ground.  And distracted by gusts of the wind, they thought, ’Are the heavens falling down; or the earth and the mountains being rent?’ And afraid of the wind, they felt about with their hands and took shelter under the way-side tree and ant-hills and in caverns.  Then holding his bow and supporting Krishna the mighty Bhimasena stood under a tree.  And Yudhishthira the just with Dhaumya crept into the deep wood.  And Sahadeva carrying the sacred fire with him took shelter in a rock.  And Nakula together with Lomasa and other Brahmanas of great asceticism stood in fright, each under a tree.  Then when the wind had abated and the dust subsided, there came down a shower in torrents.  There also arose a loud rattling noise, like unto the thunder hurled; and quick-flashing lightning began to play gracefully upon the clouds.  And being helped on by the swift wind, showers of rain poured down without intermissions, filling all sides round.  And, O lord of men, all around there began to flow many rivers covered with foam and turbid with mud; and these bearing volumes of water spread over the frothy rafts rushed down with tremendous roar uprooting trees.  And afterwards when that sound had ceased and the air had arisen they (each of them) cautiously came out of their coverts and met together, O descendant of Bharata.  And then the heroes started for the mountain Gandhamadana.”

SECTION CXLIII

Vaisampayana said, “When the high-souled sons of Pandu had proceeded only two miles, Draupadi unaccustomed to travel on foot, sank down.  Weary and afflicted as she was, the poor daughter of Panchala became faint, on account of the hailstorm and also of her extreme delicacy.  And trembling with faintness, the black-eyed one supported herself on her thighs with her plump arms, becoming (her graceful form).  And thus resting for support on her thighs resembling the trunk of an elephant, and which were in contact with each other, she suddenly dropped upon the ground, trembling like a plantain tree.  And finding that the beautiful one was falling down like a twisted creeper, Nakula ran forward and supported, her.  And he said, ’O king, this black-eyed daughter of Panchala, being weary, hath fallen down upon the ground.  Do thou, therefore, tend her, O son of Bharata.  Undeserving as she is of misery, this lady of slow pace hath been subject to great hardships, and she is also worn out with the fatigues of the journey.  O mighty king, do thou therefore, comfort her.’”