Chapter 17

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Thus insulted by the Suta’s son, that illustriousprincess, the beautiful Krishna, eagerly wishing for the destruction ofVirata’s general, went to her quarters. And Drupada’s daughter of darkhue and slender waist then performed her ablutions. And washing her bodyand cloths with water Krishna began to ponder weepingly on the means ofdispelling her grief. And she reflected, saying, ‘What am I to do?Whither shall I go? How can my purpose be effected?’ And while she wasthinking thus, she remembered Bhima and said to herself, ‘There is noneelse, save Bhima, that can today accomplish the purpose on which my heartis set!’ And afflicted with great grief, the large-eyed and intelligentKrishna possessed of powerful protectors then rose up at night, andleaving her bed speedily proceeded towards the quarters of Bhimasena,desirous of beholding her lord. And possessed of great intelligence, thedaughter of Drupada entered her husband’s quarters, saying, ‘How canstthou sleep while that wretched commander of Virata’s forces, who is myfoe, yet liveth, having perpetrated today that (foul act)?’

“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Then the chamber where Bhima slept, breathinghard like a lion, being filled with the beauty of Drupada’s daughter andof the high-souled Bhima, blazed forth in splendour. And Krishna of sweetsmiles, finding Bhimasena in the cooking apartments, approached him withthe eagerness of a three-year old cow brought up in the woods,approaching a powerful bull, in her first season, or of a she-craneliving by the water-side approaching her mate in the pairing season. Andthe Princess of Panchala then embraced the second son of Pandu, even as acreeper embraces a huge and mighty Sala on the banks of the Gomati. Andembracing him with her arms, Krishna of faultless features awaked him asa lioness awaketh a sleeping lion in a trackless forest. And embracingBhimasena even as a she-elephant embraceth her mighty mate, the faultlessPanchali addressed him in voice sweet as the sound of a stringedinstrument emitting Gandhara note. And she said, ‘Arise, arise! Why dostthou, O Bhimasena, lie down as one dead? Surely, he that is not dead,never suffereth a wicked wretch that hath disgraced his wife, to live.’And awakened by the princess, Bhima of mighty arms, then rose up, and satupon his couch overlaid with a rich bed. And he of the Kuru race thenaddressed the princess–his beloved wife, saying, ‘For what purpose hastthou come hither in such a hurry? Thy colour is gone and thou lookestlean and pale. Tell me everything in detail. I must know the truth.Whether it be pleasurable or painful, agreeable, or disagreeable, tell meall. Having heard everything, I shall apply the remedy. I alone, OKrishna, am entitled to thy confidence in all things, for it is I whodeliver thee from perils again and again! Tell me quickly what is thywish, and what is the purpose that is in thy view, and return thou to thybed before others awake.'”