she ran to the place where the ladies of Dhritarashtra’s household were.  At this, Dussasana roaring in anger, ran after her and seized the queen by her locks, so long and blue and wavy.  Alas! those locks that had been sprinkled with water sanctified with mantras in the great Rajasuya sacrifice, were now forcibly seized by the son of Dhritarashtra disregarding the prowess of the Pandavas.  And Dussasana dragging Krishna of long long locks unto the presence of the assembly—­as if she were helpless though having powerful protectors—­and pulling at her, made her tremble like the banana plant in a storm.  And dragged by him, with body bent, she faintly cried—­’Wretch! it ill behoveth thee to take me before the assembly.  My season hath come, and I am now clad in one piece of attire.  But Dussasana dragging Draupadi forcibly by her black locks while she was praying piteously unto Krishna and Vishnu who were Narayana and Nara (on earth), said unto her—­’Whether thy season hath come or not, whether thou art attired in one piece of cloth or entirely naked, when thou hast been won at dice and made our slave, thou art to live amongst our serving-women as thou pleasest.”

Vaisampayana continued,—­“With hair dishevelled and half her attire loosened, all the while dragged by Dussasana, the modest Krishna consumed with anger, faintly said—­“In this assembly are persons conversant with all the branches of learning devoted to the performance of sacrifices and other rites, and all equal unto Indra, persons some of whom are really my superiors and others who deserve to be respected as such.  I can not stay before them in this state.  O wretch!  O thou of cruel deeds, drag me not so.  Uncover me not so.  The princes (my lords) will not pardon thee, even if thou hast the gods themselves with Indra as thy allies.  The illustrious son of Dharma is now bound by the obligations of morality.  Morality, however, is subtle.  Those only that are possessed of great clearness of vision can ascertain it.  In speech even I am unwilling to admit an atom of fault in my lord forgetting his virtues.  Thou draggest me who am in my season before these Kuru heroes.  This is truly an unworthy act.  But no one here rebuketh thee.  Assuredly, all these are of the same mind with thee.  O fie!  Truly hath the virtue of the Bharata gone!  Truly also hath the usage of those acquainted with the Kshatriya practice disappeared!  Else these Kurus in this assembly would never have looked silently on this act that transgresseth the limits of their practices.  Oh! both Drona and Bhishma have lost their energy, and so also hath the high-souled Kshatta, and so also this king.  Else, why do these foremost of the Kuru elders look silently on this great crime?”