and also of thyself, O Bhimasena of mighty strength.  It was thou, O Bhima, that didst deliver me from the terrible Jatasura.  It was thou also that with thy brothers didst vanquish Jayadratha.  Do thou now slay this wretch also who hath insulted me.  Presuming upon his being a favourite of the king, Kichaka, O Bharata, hath enhanced my woe.  Do thou, therefore, smash this lustful wight even like an earthen pot dashed upon a stone.  If, O Bharata, tomorrow’s sun sheds his rays upon him who is the source of many griefs of mine, I shall, surely, mixing poison (with some drink), drink it up,—­for I never shall yield to Kichaka.  Far better it were, O Bhima, that I should die before thee.’

“Vaisampayana Continued, ’Having said this, Krishna, hiding her face in Bhima’s breast began to weep.  And Bhima, embracing her, consoled her to the best of his power.  And having abundantly consoled that slender-waisted daughter of Drupada by means of words fraught with grave reason and sense, he wiped with his hands her face flooded with tears.  And thinking of Kichaka and licking with his tongue the corners of his mouth, Bhima, filled with wrath thus spake to that distressed lady.’”

SECTION XXII

“Bhima said, ’I will, O timid one, do even as thou sayest.  I will presently slay Kichaka with all his friends.  O Yajnaseni of sweet smiles, tomorrow evening, renouncing sorrow and grief, manage to have a meeting with Kichaka.  The dancing-hall that the king of the Matsya hath caused to be erected is used by the girls for dancing during the day.  They repair, however, to their homes at night.  There in that hall, is an excellent and well-placed wooden bed-stead.  Even there I will make him see the spirits of his deceased grandsires.  But, O beautiful one, when thou holdest converse with him, thou must manage it so that others may not espy thee.”

“Vaisampayana continued, ’Having thus conversed with others, and shed tears in grief, they waited for the dawn of that night with painful impatience.  And when the night had passed away, Kichaka, rising in the morning, went to the palace, and accosted Draupadi saying, ’Throwing thee down in the court I kicked thee in the presence of the king.  Attacked by mighty self, thou couldst not obtain protection.  This Virata is in name only the king of the Matsyas.  Commanding the forces of this realm it is I, who am the real lord of the Matsyas.  Do thou, O timid one, accept me cheerfully.  I shall become thy slave.  And, O thou of graceful hips, I will immediately give thee a hundred nishkas, and engage a hundred male and a hundred female servants (to tend thee), and will also bestow on thee cars yoked with she-mules.  O timid lady, let our union take place.’  Draupadi replied, ’O Kichaka, know even this is my condition.  Neither thy friends nor thy brothers should know thy union with me.  I am a terror of detection by those illustrious Gandharvas.