leading domestic lives, those employed in ascetic devotions and those that are of great learning.  Alas! the son of Dhritarashtra knoweth not that dishonesty is one of the frightful doors of hell.  Alas! many of the Kurus with Dussasana amongst them have followed him in the path of dishonesty in the matter of this play at dice.  Even gourds may sink and stones may float, and boats also may always sink in water, still this foolish king, the son of Dhritarashtra, listeneth not to my words that are even as regimen unto him.  Without doubt, he will be the cause of the destruction of the Kurus.  When the words of wisdom spoken by friends and which are even as fit regimen are not listened to, but on the other hand temptation is on the increase, a frightful and universal destruction is sure to overtake all the Kurus.”

SECTION LXVI

Vaisampayana said,—­“Intoxicated with pride, the son of Dhritarashtra spake,—­’Fie on Kshatta! and casting his eyes upon the Pratikamin in attendance, commanded him, in the midst of all those reverend seniors, saying,—­’Go Pratikamin, and bring thou Draupadi hither.  Thou hast no fear from the sons of Pandu.  It is Vidura alone that raveth in fear.  Besides, he never wisheth our prosperity!’”

Vaisampayana continued,—­“Thus commanded, the Pratikamin, who was of the Suta caste, hearing the words of the king, proceeded with haste, and entering the abode of the Pandavas, like a dog in a lion’s den, approached the queen of the sons of Pandu.  And he said,—­’Yudhishthira having been intoxicated with dice, Duryodhana, O Draupadi, hath won thee.  Come now, therefore, to the abode of Dhritarashtra.  I will take thee, O Yajnaseni, and put thee in some menial work.’

Draupadi said,—­’Why, O Pratikamin, dost thou say so?  What prince is there who playeth staking his wife?  The king was certainly intoxicated with dice.  Else, could he not find any other object to stake?’

“The Pratikamin said,—­’When he had nothing else to stake, it was then that Ajatasatru, the son of Pandu, staked thee.  The king had first staked his brothers, then himself, and then thee, O princess.’

“Draupadi said,—­’O son of the Suta race, go, and ask that gambler present in the assembly, whom he hath lost first, himself, or me.  Ascertaining this, come hither, and then take me with thee, O son of the Suta race.’

Vaisampayana continued,—­“The messenger coming back to the assembly told all present the words of Draupadi.  And he spoke unto Yudhishthira sitting in the midst of the kings, these words,—­Draupadi hath asked thee, Whose lord wert thou at the time thou lost me in play?  Didst thou lose thyself first or me?  Yudhishthira, however sat there like one demented and deprived of reason and gave no answer good or ill to the Suta.

“Duryodhana then said,—­’Let the princess of Panchala come hither and put her question.  Let every one hear in this assembly the words that pass between her and Yudhishthira.’