Chapter 18

“Draupadi said, ‘What grief hath she not who hath Yudhishthira for herhusband? Knowing all my griefs, why dost thou ask me? The Pratikamindragged me to the court in the midst of an assembly of courtiers, callingme a slave. That grief, O Bharata, consumeth me. What other princess,save Draupadi, would live having suffered such intense misery? Who else,save myself, could bear such second insult as the wicked Saindhavaoffered me while residing in the forest? Who else of my position, savemyself, could live, having been kicked by Kichaka in the very sight ofthe wicked king of the Matsyas? Of what value is life, O Bharata, whenthou, O son of Kunti, dost not think me miserable, although I amafflicted with such woes? That vile and wicked wretch, O Bharata, knownby the name of Kichaka, who is the brother-in-law of king Virata and thecommander of his forces, every day, O tiger among men, addresses me whoam residing in the palace as a Sairindhri, saying, ‘Do thou become mywife.’–Thus solicited, O slayer of foes, by that wretch deserving to beslain, my heart is bursting like a fruit ripened in season. Censure thouthat elder brother of thine addicted to execrable dice, through whose actalone I have been afflicted with such woe. Who else, save him that is adesperate gambler, would play, giving up kingdom and everything includingeven myself, in order to lead a life in the woods? If he had gambledmorning and evening for many years together, staking nishkas by thousandand other kinds of substantial wealth, still his silver, and gold, androbes, and vehicles, and teams, and goats, and sheep, and multitudes ofsteeds and mares and mules would not have sustained any diminution. Butnow deprived of prosperity by the rivalry of dice, he sits dumb like afool, reflecting on his own misdeeds. Alas, he who, while sojourning, wasfollowed by ten thousand elephants adorned with golden garlands nowsupports himself by casting dice. That Yudhishthira who at Indraprasthawas adored by kings of incomparable prowess by hundreds of thousands,that mighty monarch in whose kitchen a hundred thousand maid-servants,plate in hand, used every day to feed numerous guests day and night, thatbest of liberal men, who gave (every day) a thousand nishkas, alas, evenhe overwhelmed with woe in consequence of gambling which is the root ofall evil, now supporteth himself by casting dice. Bards and encomiasts bythousands decked with ear-rings set with brilliant gems, and gifted withmelodious voice, used to pay him homage morning and evening. Alas, thatYudhishthira, who was daily waited upon by a thousand sages of asceticmerit, versed in the Vedas and having every desire gratified, as hiscourtiers,–that Yudhishthira who maintained eighty-eight thousands ofdomestic Snatakas with thirty maid-servants assigned unto each, as alsoten thousand yatis not accepting anything in gift and with vital seeddrawn up,–alas, even that mighty king now liveth in such guise. ThatYudhishthira who is without malice, who is full of kindness, and whogiveth every creature his due, who hath all these excellent attributes,alas–even he now liveth in such guise. Possessed of firmness andunbaffled prowess, with heart disposed to give every creature his due,king Yudhishthira, moved by compassion, constantly maintained in hiskingdom the blind, the old, the helpless, the parentless and all othersin his dominions in such distress. Alas, that Yudhishthira becoming adependant and a servant of Matsya, a caster of dice in his court, nowcalls himself Kanka. He unto whom while residing at Indraprastha, all therulers of earth used to pay timely tribute,–alas, even he now begs forsubsistence at another’s hands. He to whom the kings of the earth were insubjection,–alas, even that king having lost his liberty, liveth insubjection to others. Having dazzled the entire earth like the sun by hisenergy, that Yudhishthira, alas, is now a courtier of king Virata. OPandu’s son, that Pandava who was respectfully waited upon in court bykings and sages, behold him now waiting upon another. Alas, beholdingYudhishthira a courtier sitting beside another and breathing adulatoryspeeches to the other, who can help being afflicted with grief? Andbeholding the highly wise and virtuous Yudhishthira, undeserving as he isof serving others, actually serving another for sustenance, who can helpbeing afflicted with grief? And, O hero, that Bharata who was worshippedin court by the entire earth, do thou now behold him worshipping another.Why then, O Bharata, dost thou not regard me as one afflicted withdiverse miseries, like one forlorn and immersed in a sea of sorrow?'”