wine. Do thou speedily bring me wine, for she
told me that she is exceedingly thirsty.’
At this, Kichaka said, ’O gentle lady, others
will carry what the princess wants.’ And
saying this, the
Suta’s son caught hold
of Draupadi’s right arm. And at this, Draupadi
exclaimed, ’As I have never, from intoxication
of the senses, been unfaithful to my husbands even
at heart, by that Truth, O wretch, I shall behold thee
dragged and lying powerless on the ground.’”
Vaisampayana continued, “Seeing that large-eyed
lady reproving him in that strain, Kichaka suddenly
seized her by the end of her upper garment as she
attempted to run away. And seized with violence
by Kichaka, the beautiful princess, unable to tolerate
it, and with frame trembling with wrath, and breathing
quickly, dashed him to the ground. And dashed
to the ground thus, the sinful wretch tumbled down
like a tree whose roots had been cut. And having
thrown Kichaka down on the ground when the latter
had seized her, she, trembling all over rushed to the
court, where king Yudhishthira was, for protection.
And while she was running with all her speed, Kichaka
(who followed her), seizing her by the hair, and bringing
her down on the ground, kicked her in the very presence
of the king. Thereupon, O Bharata, the Rakshasa
that had been appointed by Surya to protect Draupadi,
gave Kichaka a shove with a force mighty as that of
the wind. And overpowered by the force of Rakshasa,
Kichaka reeled and fell down senseless on the ground,
even like an uprooted tree. And both Yudhishthira
and Bhimasena who were seated there, beheld with wrathful
eyes that outrage on Krishna by Kichaka. And desirous
of compassing the destruction of the wicked Kichaka,
the illustrious Bhima gnashed his teeth in rage.
And his forehead was covered with sweat, and terrible
wrinkles appeared thereon. And a smoky exhalation
shot forth from his eyes, and his eye-lashes stood
on end. And that slayer of hostile heroes pressed
his forehead with his hands. And impelled by
rage, he was on the point of starting up with speed.
Thereat king Yudhishthira, apprehensive of discovery,
squeezed his thumbs and commanded Bhima to forbear.
And Bhima who then looked like an infuriate elephant
eyeing a large tree, was thus forbidden by his elder
brother. And the latter said, ’Lookest
thou, O cook, for trees for fuel. If thou art
in need of faggots, then go out and fell trees.’
And the weeping Draupadi of fair hips, approaching
the entrance of the court, and seeing her melancholy
lords, desirous yet of keeping up the disguise duty-bound
by their pledge, with eyes burning in fire, spoke these
words unto the king of the Matsyas, ’Alas, the
son of a Suta hath kicked today the proud and
beloved wife of those whose foe can never sleep in
peace even if four kingdoms intervene between him
and them. Alas, the son of a Suta hath
kicked today the proud and beloved wife of those truthful
personages, who are devoted to Brahmanas and who always
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