Chapter 21

“Bhima said, ‘Fie on the might of my arms and fie on the Gandiva ofFalguni, inasmuch as thy hands, red before, now become covered withcorns. I would have caused a carnage in Virata’s court but for the factthat Kunti’s son eyed me (by way of forbidding it), or like a mightyelephant. I would, without ado, have crushed the head of Kichakaintoxicated with the pride of sovereignty. When, O Krishna, I beheld theekicked by Kichaka, I conceived at that instant a wholesale slaughter ofthe Matsyas. Yudhishthira, however, forbade me by a glance, and, Obeauteous lady, understanding his intention I have kept quiet. That wehave been deprived of our kingdom, that I have not yet slain the Kurus,that I have not yet taken the heads of Suyodhana and Karna, and Suvala’sson Sakuni, and the wicked Duhsasana, these acts and omissions, O lady,are consuming every limb of mine. The thought of those abides in my heartlike a javelin implanted in it. O thou of graceful hips, do not sacrificevirtue, and, O noble-hearted lady, subdue thy wrath. If king Yudhishthirahear from thee such rebukes, he will surely put an end to his life. Ifalso Dhananjaya and the twins hear thee speak thus, even they willrenounce life. And if these, O slender-waisted maiden, give up life. Ialso shall not be able to bear my own. In olden days Sarjati’s daughter,the beautiful Sukanya, followed into the forest Chyavana of Bhrigu’srace, whose mind was under complete control, and over whom, while engagedin ascetic meditation, the ants had built a hill. Thou mayst have heardthat Indrasena also who in beauty was like unto Narayani herself,followed her husband aged a thousand years. Thou mayst have heard thatJanaka’s daughter Sita, the princess of Videha, followed her lord whileliving in dense woods. And that lady of graceful hips, Rama’s belovedwife, afflicted with calamities and persecuted by the Rakshasas, atlength regained the company of Rama. Lopamudra also, O timid one, enduedwith youth and beauty, followed Agastya, renouncing all the objects ofenjoyment unattainable by men. And the intelligent and faultless Savitrialso followed the heroic Satyavan, the son of Dyumatsena, alone into theworld of Yama. Even like these chaste and beautiful ladies that I havenamed, thou, O blessed girl, bloomest with every virtue. Do thou spend ashort while more that is measured by even a half month. And when thethirteenth year is complete, thou wilt (again) become the Queen regnantof a king.’ Hearing these words, Draupadi said, ‘Unable, O Bhima, to bearmy griefs, it is from grief alone that I have shed these tears. I do notcensure Yudhishthira. Nor is there any use in dwelling on the past. OBhima of mighty strength, come quickly forward to the work of the hour. OBhima, Kaikeyi, jealous of my beauty, always pains me by her endeavoursto prevent the king from taking a fancy to me. And understanding thisdisposition of hers, the wicked-souled Kichaka of immoral ways constantlysolicits me himself. Angry with him for this, but then suppressing mywrath I answer that wretch deprived of sense by lust, saying, ‘O Kichaka,protect thyself. I am the beloved queen and wife of five Gandharvas.Those heroes in wrath will slay thee that art so rash.’ Thus addressed,Kichaka of wicked soul replied unto me, saying, ‘I have not the leastfear of the Gandharvas, O Sairindhri of sweet smiles. I will slay hundredthousand Gandharvas, encountering them in battle. Therefore, O timid one,do thou consent.’ Hearing all this, I again addressed the lust-afflictedSuta, saying, ‘Thou art no match for those illustrious Gandharvas. Ofrespectable percentage and good disposition, I ever adhere to virtue andnever wish for the death of any one. It is for this that thou I vest, OKichaka!’ At this, that wight of wicked soul burst out into a loudlaughter. And it came to pass that Kaikeyi previously urged by Kichaka,and moved by affection for her brother, and desirous of doing him a goodturn, despatched me to him, saying ‘Do thou, O Sairindhri, fetch winefrom Kichaka’s quarter’s!’ On beholding me the Suta’s son at firstaddressed me in sweet words, and when that failed, he became exceedinglyenraged, and intended to use violence. Understanding the purpose of thewicked Kichaka, I speedily rushed towards the place where the king was.Felling me on the ground the wretch then kicked me in the very presenceof the king himself and before the eyes of Kanka and many others,including charioteers, and royal favourites, and elephant-riders, andcitizens. I rebuked the king and Kanka again and again. The king,however, neither prevented Kichaka, nor inflicted any chastisement onhim. The principal ally of king Virata in war, the cruel Kichaka reft ofvirtue is loved by both the king and the queen. O exalted one, brave,proud, sinful, adulterous, and engrossed in all objects of enjoyment, heearneth immense wealth (from the king), and robs the possessions ofothers even if they cry in distress. And he never walketh in the path ofvirtue, nor doth he any virtuous act. Of wicked soul, and viciousdisposition, haughty and villainous, and always afflicted by the shaftsof Kama, though repulsed repeatedly, if he sees me again, he will outrageme. I shall then surely renounce my life. Although striving to acquirevirtue (on my death) your highly meritorious acts will come to naught. Yethat are now obeying your pledge, ye will lose your wife. By protecting,one’s wife one’s offspring are protected, and by protecting one’soffspring, one’s own self is protected. And it is because one begetsone’s own self in one’s wife that the wife is called Jaya[15] by thewise. The husband also should be protected by the wife, thinking,–Howelse will he take his birth in my womb?–I have heard it from Brahmanasexpounding the duties of the several orders that a Kshatriya hath noother duty than subduing enemies. Alas, Kichaka kicked me in the verypresence of Yudhishthira the Just, and also of thyself, O Bhimasena ofmighty strength. It was thou, O Bhima, that didst deliver me from theterrible Jatasura. It was thou also that with thy brothers didst vanquishJayadratha. 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 evenlike an earthen pot dashed upon a stone. If, O Bharata, tomorrow’s sunsheds his rays upon him who is the source of many griefs of mine, Ishall, surely, mixing poison (with some drink), drink it up,–for I nevershall yield to Kichaka. Far better it were, O Bhima, that I should diebefore thee.’

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