Chapter 24

“Vaisampayana said, ‘And beholding the Sutas slain, the citizens went tothe king, and represented unto him what had happened, saying, ‘O king,those mighty sons of the Sutas have all been slain by the Gandharvas.Indeed, they lie scattered on the earth like huge peaks of mountainsriven by thunder. Sairindhri also, having been set free, returneth to thypalace in the city. Alas, O king, if Sairindhri cometh, thy entirekingdom will be endangered. Sairindhri is endued with great beauty; theGandharvas also here exceedingly powerful. Men again, without doubt, arenaturally sexual. Devise, therefore, O king, without delay, such meansthat in consequence of wrongs done to Sairindhri, thy kingdom may notmeet with destruction.’ Hearing those words of theirs, Virata, that lordof hosts, said unto them, ‘Do ye perform the last rites of the Sutas. Letall the Kichakas be burnt, in one blazing pyre with gems and fragrantunguents in profusion.’ And filled with fear, the king then addressed hisqueen Sudeshna, saying, ‘When Sairindhri comes back, do thou tell herthese words from me, ‘Blessed be thou, O fair-faced Sairindhri. Go thouwhithersoever thou likest. The king hath been alarmed, O thou of gracefulhips, at the defeat already experienced at the hands of the Gandharvas.Protected as thou art by the Gandharvas, I dare not personally say allthis to thee. A woman, however, cannot offend, and it is for this that Itell thee all this through a woman.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Thus delivered by Bhimasena after the slaughterof the Sutas, the intelligent and youthful Krishna relieved from all herfears, washed her limbs and clothes in water, and proceeded towards thecity, like a doe frightened by a tiger. And beholding her, the citizens,O king, afflicted with the fear of the Gandharvas fled in all directions.And some of them went so far as to shut their eyes. And then, O king atthe gate of the kitchen, the princess of Panchala saw Bhimasena staying,like an infuriate elephant of gigantic proportions. And looking upon himwith wonder-expanded eyes, Draupadi, by means of words intelligible tothem alone, said, ‘I bow unto that prince of the Gandharvas, who hathrescued me.’ At these words of her, Bhima said, ‘Hearing these words ofhers in obedience to whom those persons were hitherto living in the city,they will henceforth range here, regarding themselves as freed from thedebt.'[19]

“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Then she beheld the mighty-armed Dhananjaya, inthe dancing-hall instructing king Virata’s daughters in dancing. Andissuing with Arjuna from the dancing-hall, all those damsels came toKrishna who had arrived there, and who had been persecuted so sorely, allinnocent though she was. And they said, ‘By good luck also it is, OSairindhri, that thou hast been delivered from thy dangers. By good luckit is that thou hast returned safe. And by good luck also it is thatthose Sutas have been slain that had wronged thee, innocent though thouart.’ Hearing this, Virhannala said, ‘How hast thou, O Sairindhri, beendelivered? And how have those sinful wretches been slain? I wish to learnall this from thee exactly as it occurred.’ Sairindhri replied, ‘Oblessed Vrihannala, always passing thy days happily in the apartments ofthe girls, what concern hast thou with Sairindhri’s fate to say? Thouhast no grief to bear that Sairindhri hath to bear! It is for this, thatthou askest me thus, distressed as I am in ridicule.’ Thereat Vrihannalasaid, ‘O blessed one, Vrihannala also hath unparalleled sorrows of herown. She hath become as low as a brute. Thou dost not, O girl, understandthis. I have lived with thee, and thou, too hast lived with us. When,therefore, thou art afflicted with misery, who is it that will not, Othou of beautiful hips, feel it? But no one can completely read another’sheart. Therefore it is, O amiable one, that thou knowest not my heart!’

“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Then Draupadi, accompanied by those girlsentered the royal abode, desirous of appearing before Sudeshna. And whenshe came before the queen, Virata’s wife addressed her at the command ofthe king, saying, ‘Do thou, O Sairindhri, speedily go whithersoever thoulikest. The king, good betide thee, hath been filled with fear at thisdiscomfiture at the hands of the Gandharvas. Thou art, O thou of gracefuleye-brows, young and unparalleled on earth in beauty. Thou art, besides,an object of desire with men. The Gandharvas again, are exceedinglywrathful.’ Thereat Sairindhri said, ‘O beauteous lady, let the kingsuffer me to live here for only thirteen days more. Without doubt, theGandharvas also will be highly obliged at this. They will then convey mehence and do what would be agreeable to Virata. Without doubt, the king,by doing this, with his friends, will reap great benefit.'”