The killing of Kichaka
Kichaka troubles Draupadi
Living in such disguise, those mighty warriors, the sons of Pritha, passed ten months in Matsya's city. Although herself deserving to be waited upon by others, the daughter of Yajnasena passed her days in extreme misery, waiting upon Sudeshna. Residing thus in Sudeshna's apartments, the princess of Panchala pleased that lady as also the other females of the inner apartments. It came to pass that as the year was about to expire, the redoubtable Kichaka, the Commander of Virata's forces, chanced to behold the daughter of Drupada. Beholding that lady endued with the splendour of a daughter of the celestials, treading the earth like a goddess, Kichaka, afflicted with the shafts of Kama, desired to possess her. Burning with desire's flame, Virata's general came to Sudeshna (his sister) and smilingly addressed her in these words,
'This beauteous lady had never before been seen by me in king Virata's abode. This damsel maddens me with her beauty, even as a new wine maddens one with its fragrance. Tell me, who is this graceful and captivating lady possessed of the beauty of a goddess, and whose she is, and whence she has come. Surely, grinding my heart she has reduced me to subjection. It seems to me that (save her) there is no other medicine for my illness. O, this fair hand-maid of yours seems to me to be possessed of the beauty of a goddess. Surely, one like her is ill suited to serve you. Let her rule over me and whatever is mine. O, let her grace my spacious and beautiful palace, decked with various ornaments of gold, full of viands and drinks in profusion, with excellent plates, and containing every kind of plenty, besides elephants and horses and cars in myriads.”
And having consulted with Sudeshna thus, Kichaka went to princess Draupadi, and like a jackal in the forest accosting a lioness, spoke unto Krishna these words in a winning voice,
“Who and whose are you, O beautiful one? And O you of beautiful face, whence has you come to the city of Virata? Tell me all this, O fair lady. Your beauty and gracefulness are of the very first order and the comeliness of your features is unparalleled. With its loveliness your face shines ever like the resplendent moon. O you of fair eye-brows, your eyes are beautiful and large like lotus-petals. Your speech also, O you of beautiful limbs, resembles the notes of the cuckoo. O you of fair hips, never before in this world have I beheld a woman possessed of beauty like yours, O you of faultless features. Are you Lakshmi herself having her abode in the midst of lotuses or, are you, O slender-waisted one, she who is called Bhuti. Or, which amongst these - Hri, Sri, Kirti and Kanti, - are you, O you of beautiful face? Or possessed of beauty like Rati's, are you, she who sports in the embraces of the God of love? O you that possesses the fairest of eye-brows, you shines beautifully even like the lovely light of the moon. Who is there in the whole world that will not succumb to the influence of desire beholding your face? Endued with unrivalled beauty and celestial grace of the most attractive kind, that face of yours is even like the full moon, its celestial effulgence resembling his radiant face, its smile resembling his soft-light, and its eye-lashes looking like the spokes on his disc? Both your bosoms, so beautiful and well-developed and endued with unrivalled gracefulness and deep and well-rounded and without any space between them, are certainly worthy of being decked with garlands of gold. Resembling in shape the beautiful buds of the lotus, these your breast, O you of fair eye-brows, are even as the whips of Kama that are urging me forward, O you of sweet smiles, O damsel of slender waist, beholding that waist of yours marked with four wrinkles and measuring but a span, and slightly stooping forward because of the weight of your breasts, and also looking on those graceful hips of yours broad as the banks of a river, the incurable fever of desire, O beauteous lady, afflicts me sore. The flaming fire of desire, fierce as a forest conflagration, and fanned by the hope my heart cherishes of a union with you is consuming me intensely. O you of exceeding beauty quench you that flaming fire kindled by Manmatha. Union with you is a rain-charged cloud, and the surrender of your person is the shower that the cloud may drop. O you of face resembling the moon, the fierce and maddening shafts of Manmatha whetted and sharpened by the desire of a union with you, piercing this heart of mine in their impetuous course, have penetrated into its core. O black-eyed lady, those impetuous and cruel shafts are maddening me beyond endurance. It befits you to relieve me from this plight by surrendering yourself to me and favouring me with your embraces. Decked in beautiful garlands and robes and adorned with every ornament, sport you, O sweet damsel, with me to your fill. O you of the gait of an elephant in rut, deserving as you are of happiness though deprived of it now, it befits you not to dwell here in misery. Let unrivalled weal be yours. Drinking various kinds of charming and delicious and ambrosial wines, and sporting at your pleasure in the enjoyment of diverse objects of delight, do you, O blessed lady, attain auspicious prosperity. This beauty of yours and this prime of your youth, O sweet lady, are now without their use. For, O beauteous and chaste damsel, endued with such loveliness, you dost not shine, like a graceful garland lying unused and unworn. I will forsake all my old wives. Let them, O you of sweet smiles, become your slaves. And I also, O fair damsel, will stay by you as your slave, ever obedient to you, O you of the most handsome face.”
Hearing these words of his, Draupadi replied,
“In desiring me, a female servant of low extraction, employed in the despicable office of dressing hair, O Suta's son, you desire one that deserves not that honour. Then, again, I am the wife of others. Therefore, good betide you, this conduct of yours is not proper. Do you remember the precept of morality, viz., that persons should take delight only in their wedded wives. You should not, therefore, by any means bend your heart to adultery. Surely abstaining from improper acts is ever the study of those that are good. Overcome by ignorance sinful men under the influence of desire come by either extreme infamy or dreadful calamity.”
Thus addressed by the Sairindhri, the wicked Kichaka losing control over his senses and overcome by lust, although aware of the numerous evils of fornication, evils condemned by everybody and sometimes leading to the destruction of life itself, - then spoke unto Draupadi,
“It befits you not, O beauteous lady, O you of graceful features, thus to disregard me who am, O you of sweet smiles, under the power of Manmatha on your account. If now, O timid one, you disregards me who am under your influence and who speak to you so fair, you will, O black-eyed damsel, have to repent for it afterwards. O you of graceful eye-brows, the real lord of this entire kingdom, O slender-waisted lady, is myself. It is me depending upon whom the people of this realm live. In energy and prowess I am unrivalled on earth. There is no other man on earth who rivals me in beauty of person, in youth, in prosperity, and in the possession of excellent objects of enjoyment. Why it is, O auspicious lady, that having it in your power to enjoy here every object of desire and every luxury and comfort without its equal, you prefers servitude. Becoming the mistress of this kingdom which I shall confer on you, O you of fair face, accept me, and enjoy, O beauteous one, all excellent objects of desire.”
Addressed in these accursed words by Kichaka, that chaste daughter of Drupada answered him thus reprovingly,
“Do not, O son of a Suta, act so foolishly and do not throw away your life. Know that I am protected by my five husbands. You canst not have me. I have Gandharvas for my husbands. Enraged they will slay you. Therefore, do you not bring destruction on yourself. You intends to tread along a path that is incapable of being trod by men. You, O wicked one, are even like a foolish child that standing on one shore of the ocean intends to cross over to the other. Even if you enter into the interior of the earth, or soars into the sky, or rushes to the other shore of the ocean, still you will have no escape from the hands of those sky-ranging offspring of gods, capable of grinding all foes. Why do you today, O Kichaka, solicit me so persistently as a sick person wishes for the night that will put a stop to his existence? Why do you desire me, like an infant lying on its mother's lap wishing to catch the moon? For you that thus solicits their beloved wife, there is no refuge either on earth or in sky. O Kichaka, Don’t you have sense which leads you to seek your good and by which your life may be saved?”
Rejected thus by the princess, Kichaka, afflicted with maddening lust and forgetting all sense of propriety, addressed Sudeshna saying,
“Do you, Kekaya's daughter, so act that your Sairindhri may come into my arms. Do you, O Sudeshna, adopt the means by which the damsel of the gait of an elephant may accept me; I am dying of absorbing desire.”
Hearing his profuse lamentations, that gentle lady, the intelligent queen of Virata, was touched with pity. Having taken counsel with her own self and reflected on Kichaka's purpose and on the anxiety of Krishna, Sudeshna addressed the Suta's son in these words,
“Do you, on the occasion of some festival, procure viands and wines for me. I shall then send my Sairindhri to you on the pretence of bringing wine. When she will repair thither do you in solitude, free from interruption, humour her as you like. Thus soothed, she may incline her mind to you.”
Thus addressed, he went out of his sister's apartments. He soon procured wines well-filtered and worthy of a king. Employing skilled cooks, he prepared many and various kinds of choice viands and delicious drinks and many and various kinds of meat of different degrees of excellence. When all this had been done, that gentle lady Sudeshna, as previously counselled by Kichaka, desired her Sairindhri to repair to Kichaka's abode, saying,
“Get up, O Sairindhri and repair to Kichaka's abode to bring wine, for, O beauteous lady, I am afflicted with thirst.”
Thereupon the Sairindhri replied,
“O princess, I shall not be able to repair to Kichaka's apartments. You yourself know, O queen, how shameless he is. O you of faultless limbs, O beauteous lady, in your palace I shall not be able to lead a lustful life, becoming faithless to my husbands. You remember, O gentle lady, O beautiful one, the conditions I had set down before entering your house. O you of tresses ending in graceful curls, the foolish Kichaka afflicted by the god of desire, will, on seeing me, offer me insult. Therefore, I will not go to his quarters. You has, O princess, many maids under you. Do you, good betide you, send one of them. For, surely, Kichaka will insult me.”
Sudeshna said,
“Sent by me, from my abode, surely he will not harm you.”
And having said this, she handed over a golden vessel furnished with a cover. Filled with apprehension, and weeping, Draupadi mentally prayed for the protection of the gods, and set out for Kichaka's abode for fetching wine. She said,
“As I do not know another person save my husbands, by virtue of that Truth let Kichaka not be able to overpower me although I may approach his presence.”
That helpless damsel then adored Surya for a moment. And Surya, having considered all that she urged, commanded a Rakshasa to protect her invisibly. From that time the Rakshasa began to attend upon that blameless lady under any circumstances. Beholding Krishna in his presence like a frightened doe, the Suta rose up from his seat, and felt the joy that is felt by a person wishing to cross to the other shore, when he obtains a boat.
Kichaka said,
“O you of tresses ending in beautiful curls, you are welcome. Surely, the night that is gone has brought me an auspicious day, for I have got you today as the mistress of my house. Do what is agreeable to me. Let golden chains, and conchs and bright ear-rings made of gold, manufactured in various countries, and beautiful rubies and gems, and silken robes and deer-skins, be brought for you. I have also an excellent bed prepared for you. Come, sitting upon it do you drink with me the wine prepared from the honey flower.”
Hearing these words, Draupadi said,
“I have been sent to you by the princess for taking away wine. Do you speedily bring me wine, for she told me that she is exceedingly thirsty.”
At this, Kichaka said,
“O gentle lady, others will carry what the princess wants.”
And saying this, the Suta's son caught hold of Draupadi's right arm. At this, Draupadi exclaimed,
“As I have never, from intoxication of the senses, been unfaithful to my husbands even at heart, by that Truth, O wretch, I shall behold you dragged and lying powerless on the ground.”
Seeing that large-eyed lady reproving him in that strain, Kichaka suddenly seized her by the end of her upper garment as she attempted to run away. Seized with violence by Kichaka, the beautiful princess, unable to tolerate it, and with frame trembling with wrath, and breathing quickly, dashed him to the ground. Dashed to the ground thus, the sinful wretch tumbled down like a tree whose roots had been cut. Having thrown Kichaka down on the ground when the latter had seized her, she, trembling all over rushed to the court, where king Yudhishthira was, for protection. While she was running with all her speed, Kichaka (who followed her), seizing her by the hair, and bringing her down on the ground, kicked her in the very presence of the king. Thereupon, the Rakshasa that had been appointed by Surya to protect Draupadi, gave Kichaka a shove with a force mighty as that of the wind. Overpowered by the force of Rakshasa, Kichaka reeled and fell down senseless on the ground, even like an uprooted tree.
And both Yudhishthira and Bhimasena who were seated there, beheld with wrathful eyes that outrage on Krishna by Kichaka. Desirous of compassing the destruction of the wicked Kichaka, the illustrious Bhima gnashed his teeth in rage. His forehead was covered with sweat, and terrible wrinkles appeared thereon. A smoky exhalation shot forth from his eyes, and his eye-lashes stood on end. That slayer of hostile heroes pressed his forehead with his hands. Impelled by rage, he was on the point of starting up with speed.
Thereat king Yudhishthira, apprehensive of discovery, squeezed his thumbs and commanded Bhima to forbear. Bhima who then looked like an infuriate elephant eyeing a large tree, was thus forbidden by his elder brother. The latter said,
“Look you, O cook, for trees for fuel. If you are in need of faggots, then go out and fell trees.”
The weeping Draupadi of fair hips, approaching the entrance of the court, and seeing her melancholy lords, desirous yet of keeping up the disguise duty-bound by their pledge, with eyes burning in fire, spoke these words unto the king of the Matsyas,
“Alas, the son of a Suta has kicked today the proud and beloved wife of those whose foe can never sleep in peace even if four kingdoms intervene between him and them. Alas, the son of a Suta has kicked today the proud and beloved wife of those truthful personages, who are devoted to Brahmanas and who always give away without asking any thing in gift. Alas! the son of a Suta has kicked today the proud and beloved wife of those, the sounds of whose kettle-drums and the twangs of whose bow-strings are ceaselessly heard. Alas, the son of a Suta has kicked today the proud and beloved wife of those who are possessed of abundant energy and might, and who are liberal in gifts and proud of their dignity. Alas, the son of a Suta has kicked today the proud and beloved wife of those who, if they had not been fettered by the ties of duty, could destroy this entire world.
Where, alas, are those mighty warriors today who, though living in disguise, have always granted protection unto those that solicit it? Oh, why do those heroes today, endued as they are with strength and possessed of immeasurable energy, quietly suffer, like eunuchs, their dear and chaste wife to be thus insulted by a Suta's son? Oh, where is that wrath of theirs, that prowess, and that energy, when they quietly bear their wife to be thus insulted by a wicked wretch? What can I (a weak woman) do when Virata, deficient in virtue, coolly suffers my innocent self to be thus wronged by a wretch? You do not, O king, act like a king towards this Kichaka. Your behaviour is like that of a robber, and does not shine in a court. That I should thus be insulted in your very presence, O Matsya, is highly improper. Oh, let all the courtiers here look at this violence of Kichaka. Kichaka is ignorant of duty and morality, and Matsya also is equally so. These courtiers also that wait upon such a king are destitute of virtue.”
With these and other words of the same kind the beautiful Krishna with tearful eyes rebuked the king of the Matsyas. And hearing her, Virata said,
“I do not know what your dispute has been out of our sight. Not knowing the true cause how can I show my discrimination?”
Then the courtiers, having learnt every thing, applauded Krishna, and they all exclaimed, “Well done!” “Well done!” and censured Kichaka. The courtiers said,
“That person who owns this large-eyed lady having every limb of hers endued with beauty for his wife, possesses what is of exceeding value and has no occasion to indulge in any grief. Surely, such a damsel of transcendent beauty and limbs perfectly faultless is rare among men. Indeed, it seems to us that she is a goddess.”
While the courtiers, having beheld Krishna (under such circumstances), were applauding her thus, Yudhishthira's forehead, from ire, became covered with sweat. That bull of the Kuru race then addressed that princess, his beloved spouse, saying,
“Stay not here, O Sairindhri; but retire to the apartments of Sudeshna. The wives of heroes bear affliction for the sake of their husbands, and undergoing toil in ministering unto their lords, they at last attain to region where their husbands may go. Your Gandharva husbands, effulgent as the sun, do not, I imagine, consider this as an occasion for manifesting their wrath, inasmuch as they do not rush to your aid. O Sairindhri, you are ignorant of the timeliness of things, and it is for this that you weeps as an actress, besides interrupting the play of dice in Matsya's court. Retire, O Sairindhri; the Gandharvas will do what is agreeable to you. And they will surely display your woe and take the life of him that has wronged you.”
Hearing these words the Sairindhri replied,
“They of whom I am the wedded wife are, I ween, extremely kind. And as the eldest of them all is addicted to dice, they are liable to be oppressed by all.”
And having said this, the fair-hipped Krishna with dishevelled hair and eyes red in anger, ran towards the apartments of Sudeshna. In consequence of having wept long her face looked beautiful like the lunar disc in the firmament, emerged from the clouds. Beholding her in that condition, Sudeshna asked,
“Who, O beauteous lady, has insulted you? Why, O amiable damsel, do you weep? Who, gentle one, has done you wrong? Whence is this your grief?”
Thus addressed, Draupadi said,
“As I went to bring wine for you, Kichaka struck me in the court in the very presence of the king, as if in the midst of a solitary wood.”
Hearing this, Sudeshna said,
“O you of tresses ending in beautiful curls, as Kichaka, maddened by lust has insulted you that are incapable of being possessed by him, I shall cause him to be slain if you wish it.”
Thereupon Draupadi answered,
“Others will slay him, - they whom he has wronged, I think it is clear that he will have to go to the abode of Yama this very day!”
Draupadi and Bhima lament
Thus insulted by the Suta's son, that illustrious princess, the beautiful Krishna, eagerly wishing for the destruction of Virata's general, went to her quarters. Drupada's daughter of dark hue and slender waist then performed her ablutions. Washing her body and cloths with water Krishna began to ponder weepingly on the means of dispelling her grief. She reflected, saying,
“What am I to do? Whither shall I go? How can my purpose be effected?”
And while she was thinking thus, she remembered Bhima and said to herself,
“There is none else, save Bhima, that can today accomplish the purpose on which my heart is set!”
Afflicted with great grief, the large-eyed and intelligent Krishna possessed of powerful protectors then rose up at night, and leaving her bed speedily proceeded towards the quarters of Bhimasena, desirous of beholding her lord. Possessed of great intelligence, the daughter of Drupada entered her husband's quarters, saying,
“How can you sleep while that wretched commander of Virata's forces, who is my foe, still lives, having perpetrated today that (foul act)?”
Then the chamber where Bhima slept, breathing hard like a lion, being filled with the beauty of Drupada's daughter and of the high-souled Bhima, blazed forth in splendour. Krishna of sweet smiles, finding Bhimasena in the cooking apartments, approached him with the eagerness of a three-year old cow brought up in the woods, approaching a powerful bull, in her first season, or of a she-crane living by the water-side approaching her mate in the pairing season. The Princess of Panchala then embraced the second son of Pandu, even as a creeper embraces a huge and mighty Sala on the banks of the Gomati. Embracing him with her arms, Krishna of faultless features awaked him as a lioness awakes a sleeping lion in a trackless forest. Embracing Bhimasena even as a she-elephant embraces her mighty mate, the faultless Panchali addressed him in voice sweet as the sound of a stringed instrument emitting Gandhara note. She said,
“Arise, arise! Why do you, O Bhimasena, lie down as one dead? Surely, he that is not dead, never suffers a wicked wretch that has disgraced his wife, to live.”
Awakened by the princess, Bhima of mighty arms, then rose up, and sat upon his couch overlaid with a rich bed. He of the Kuru race then addressed the princess - his beloved wife, saying,
“For what purpose has you come here in such a hurry? Your colour is gone and you look lean and pale. Tell me everything in detail. I must know the truth. Whether it be pleasurable or painful, agreeable, or disagreeable, tell me all. Having heard everything, I shall apply the remedy. I alone, O Krishna, am entitled to your confidence in all things, for it is I who deliver you from perils again and again! Tell me quickly what is your wish, and what is the purpose that is in your view, and return you to your bed before others awake.”
Draupadi said,
“What grief has she not who has Yudhishthira for her husband? Knowing all my griefs, why do you ask me? The Pratikamin dragged me to the court in the midst of an assembly of courtiers, calling me a slave. That grief, O Bharata, consumes 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 Saindhava offered me while residing in the forest? Who else of my position, save myself, could live, having been kicked by Kichaka in the very sight of the wicked king of the Matsyas? Of what value is life, O Bharata, when you, O son of Kunti, do not think me miserable, although I am afflicted with such woes? That vile and wicked wretch, O Bharata, known by the name of Kichaka, who is the brother-in-law of king Virata and the commander of his forces, every day, O tiger among men, addresses me who am residing in the palace as a Sairindhri, saying, “You become my wife.” - Thus solicited, O slayer of foes, by that wretch deserving to be slain, my heart is bursting like a fruit ripened in season.
Censure that elder brother of yours addicted to execrable dice, through whose act alone I have been afflicted with such woe. Who else, save him that is a desperate gambler, would play, giving up kingdom and everything including even myself, in order to lead a life in the woods? If he had gambled morning and evening for many years together, staking nishkas by thousand and other kinds of substantial wealth, still his silver, and gold, and robes, and vehicles, and teams, and goats, and sheep, and multitudes of steeds and mares and mules would not have sustained any diminution. But now deprived of prosperity by the rivalry of dice, he sits dumb like a fool, reflecting on his own misdeeds. Alas, he who, while sojourning, was followed by ten thousand elephants adorned with golden garlands now supports himself by casting dice. That Yudhishthira who at Indraprastha was 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, that best of liberal men, who gave (every day) a thousand nishkas, alas, even he overwhelmed with woe in consequence of gambling which is the root of all evil, now supports himself by casting dice. Bards and encomiasts by thousands decked with ear-rings set with brilliant gems, and gifted with melodious voice, used to pay him homage morning and evening. Alas, that Yudhishthira, who was daily waited upon by a thousand sages of ascetic merit, versed in the Vedas and having every desire gratified, as his courtiers, - that Yudhishthira who maintained eighty-eight thousands of domestic Snatakas with thirty maid-servants assigned unto each, as also ten thousand yatis not accepting anything in gift and with vital seed drawn up, - alas, even that mighty king now lives in such guise. That Yudhishthira who is without malice, who is full of kindness, and who giveth every creature his due, who has all these excellent attributes, alas - even he now lives in such guise. Possessed of firmness and unbaffled prowess, with heart disposed to give every creature his due, king Yudhishthira, moved by compassion, constantly maintained in his kingdom the blind, the old, the helpless, the parentless and all others in his dominions in such distress. Alas, that Yudhishthira becoming a dependant and a servant of Matsya, a caster of dice in his court, now calls himself Kanka. He unto whom while residing at Indraprastha, all the rulers of earth used to pay timely tribute,--alas, even he now begs for subsistence at another's hands. He to whom the kings of the earth were in subjection, - alas, even that king having lost his liberty, lives in subjection to others. Having dazzled the entire earth like the sun by his energy, that Yudhishthira, alas, is now a courtier of king Virata. O Pandu's son, that Pandava who was respectfully waited upon in court by kings and sages, behold him now waiting upon another. Alas, beholding Yudhishthira a courtier sitting beside another and breathing adulatory speeches to the other, who can help being afflicted with grief? Beholding the highly wise and virtuous Yudhishthira, undeserving as he is of serving others, actually serving another for sustenance, who can help being afflicted with grief? O hero, that Bharata who was worshipped in court by the entire earth, do you now behold him worshipping another. Why then, O Bharata, do you not regard me as one afflicted with diverse miseries, like one forlorn and immersed in a sea of sorrow?”
Draupadi continued,
“This O Bharata, that I am going to tell you is another great grief of mine. You should not blame me, for I tell you this from sadness of heart. Who is there whose grief is not enhanced at sight of you, O bull of the Bharata race, engaged in the ignoble office of a cook, so entirely beneath you and calling yourself as one of Vallava caste? What can be sadder than this, that people should know you as Virata's cook, Vallava by name, and therefore one that is sunk in servitude? Alas, when your work of the kitchen is over, you humbly sits beside Virata, calling yourself as Vallava the cook, then despondency seizes my heart. When the king of kings in joy makes you fight with elephants, and the women of the inner apartments (of the palace) laugh all the while, then I am sorely distressed. When you fight in the inner apartments with lions, tigers, and buffaloes, the princess Kaikeyi looking on, then I almost swoon away. When Kaikeyi and those maidservants, leaving their seats, come to assist me and find that instead of suffering any injury in limbs mine is only a swoon, the princess speaks unto her women, saying,
"Surely, it is from affection and the duty begot of intercourse that this lady of sweet smiles grieves for the exceedingly powerful cook when he fights with the beasts. Sairindhri is possessed of great beauty and Vallava also is eminently handsome. The heart of woman is hard to know, and they, I fancy, are deserving of each other. It is, therefore, likely that the Sairindhri invariably weeps (at such times) on account of her connection with her lover. Then, they both have entered this royal family at the same time.”
Speaking such words she always upbraids me. beholding me wroth at this, she suspects me to be attached to you. When she speaks thus, great is the grief that I feel. Indeed, on beholding you, O Bhima of terrible prowess, afflicted with such calamity, sunk as I already am in grief on account of Yudhishthira. I do not desire to live.
That youth who on a single car had vanquished all celestials and men, is now, alas, the dancing master of king Virata's daughter. That Pritha's son of immeasurable soul, who had gratified Agni in the forest of Khandava, is now living in the inner apartments (of a palace) like fire hid in a well. Alas, the bull among men, Dhananjaya, who was ever the terror of foes, is now living in a guise that is despaired by all. Alas, he whose mace-like arms have been cicatrized in consequence of the strokes of his bow-string, alas that Dhananjaya is passing the days in grief covering his wrists with bracelets of conchs. Alas, that Dhananjaya the twang of whose bow-string and the sound of whose leathern fences made every foe tremble, now entertains only gladdened women with his songs. Oh, that Dhananjaya whose head was formerly decked with a diadem of solar splendour, is now wearing braids ending in unsightly curls. O Bhima, beholding that terrible bowman, Arjuna, now wearing braids and in the midst of women, my heart is stricken with woe. That high-souled hero who is master of all the celestial weapons, and who is the repository of all the sciences, now wears ear-rings (like one of the fair sex). That youth whom kings of incomparable prowess could not overpower in fight, even as the waters of the mighty ocean cannot overleap the continents, is now the dancing-master of king Virata's daughters and waits upon them in disguise. O Bhima, that Arjuna the clatter of whose car-wheels caused the entire earth with her mountains and forests, her mobile and immobile things to tremble, and whose birth dispelled all the sorrows of Kunti, that exalted hero, that younger brother of yours, O Bhimasena, now makes me weep for him. Beholding him coming towards me, decked in golden ear-rings and other ornaments, and wearing on the wrists bracelets of conchs, my heart is afflicted with despondency. And Dhananjaya who has not a bowman equal unto him on earth in prowess, now passes his days in singing, surrounded by women. Beholding that son of Pritha who in virtue, heroism and truth, was the most admired in the world, now living in the guise of a woman, my heart is afflicted with sorrow. When I behold, the godlike Partha in the music-hall like an elephant with rent temples surrounded by she-elephants in the midst of females, waiting before Virata the king of the Matsyas, then I lose all sense of directions. Surely, my mother-in-law does not know Dhananjaya to be afflicted with such extreme distress. Nor does she know that descendant of the Kuru race, Ajatasatru, addicted to disastrous dice, to be sunk in misery.
O Bharata, beholding the youngest of you all, Sahadeva, superintending the kine, in the guise of a cowherd, I grow pale. Always thinking of Sahadeva's plight, I cannot, O Bhimasena, obtain sleep, - what to speak you of the rest? I do not know, O mighty-armed one, what sin Sahadeva may have committed for which that hero of unbaffled prowess suffers such misery. O foremost of the Bharatas, beholding that beloved brother of yours, that bull among men, employed by Matsya in looking after his kine, I am filled with woe. Seeing that hero of proud disposition gratifying Virata, by living at the head of his cowherds, attired in robes dyed in red. I am attacked with fever. My mother-in-law always applauds the heroic Sahadeva as one possessed of nobility, excellent behaviour, and rectitude of conduct. Ardently attached to her sons, the weeping Kunti stood, embracing Sahadeva while he was about to set out (with us) for the great forest. and she addressed me saying,
"Sahadeva is bashful and sweet-speeched, and virtuous. He is also my favourite child. Therefore, O Yajnaseni, tend him in the forest day and night. Delicate and brave, devoted to the king, and always worshipping his elder brother, do you, O Panchali, feed him yourself.”
O Pandava, beholding that foremost of warriors, Sahadeva, engaged in tending kine, and sleeping at night on calf-skins, how can I bear to live?
He again who is crowned with the three attributes of beauty, arms, and intelligence, is now the superintendent of Virata's steeds. Behold the change brought on by time. Granthika (Nakula), at sight of whom hostile hosts fled from the field of battle, now trains horses in the presence of the king, driving them with the speed. Alas, I now see that handsome youth wait upon the gorgeously decked and excellent Virata, the king of the Matsyas, and display horses before him. O son of Pritha, afflicted as I am with all these hundred kinds of misery on account of Yudhishthira, why do you, O chastiser of foes, yet deem me happy? Listen now to me, O son of Kunti, as I tell you of other woes far surpassing these. What can be sadder to me than miseries so various as these should emaciate me while you are alive.”
Draupadi continued,
“Alas, on account of that desperate gambler, I am now under Sudeshna's command, living in the palace in the guise of a Sairindhri. O chastiser of foes, behold the plight of poignant woe which I, a princess, am now in. I am living in expectation of the close of this stated period. The extreme of misery, therefore, is mine. Success of purpose, victory, and defeat, as regards mortals, are transitory. It is in this belief that I am living in expectation of the return of prosperity to my husbands. Prosperity and adversity revolve like a wheel. It is in this belief that I am living in expectation of the return of prosperity to my husbands. That cause which bringeth on victory, may bring defeat as well. I live in this hope. Why do you not, O Bhimasena, regard me as one dead? I have heard that persons that give may beg: that they who slay may be slain; and that they who over-throw others may themselves be overthrown by foes. Nothing is difficult for Destiny and none can over-ride Destiny. It is for this that I am awaiting the return of favourable fortune. As a tank once dried, is filled up once again, so hoping for a change for the better, I await the return of prosperity. When one's business that has been well-provided for is seen to be frustrated, a truly wise person should never strive for bringing back good fortune. Plunged as I am an sorrow, asked or unasked by you to explain the purpose of these words spoken by me, I shall tell you everything. Queen of the sons of Pandu and daughter of Drupada, who else, save myself, would wish to live, having fallen into such a plight? O repressor of foes, the misery, therefore, that has overtaken me, has really humiliated the entire Kuru race, the Panchalas, and the sons of Pandu. Surrounded by numerous brothers and father-in-law and sons, what other woman having such cause for joy, save myself, would be afflicted with such woe? Surely, I must, in my childhood, have committed act highly offensive to Dhatri through whose displeasure, O bull of the Bharata race, I have been visited with such consequences. Mark, O son of Pandu, the pallor that has come over my complexion which not even a life in the woods fraught as it was with extreme misery, could bring about. You, O Pritha's son, know what happiness, O Bhima, was formerly mine.
Sorely distressed, I can find no rest. That the mighty-armed and terrible bowman, Dhananjaya the son of Pritha, should now live like a fire that has been put out, makes me think of all this as attributable to Destiny. Surely, O son of Pritha, it is impossible for men to understand the destinies of creatures (in this world). I, therefore, think this downfall of yours as something that could not be averted by forethought. Alas, she who has you all, that resemble Indra himself to attend to her comforts--even she, so chaste and exalted, has now to attend to the comforts of others, that are to her far inferior in rank. Behold, O Pandava, my plight. It is what I do not deserve. You are alive, yet behold this inversion of order that time has brought. She who had the whole Earth to the verge of the sea under her control, is now under the control of Sudeshna and living in fear of her. She who had dependants to walk both before and behind her, alas, now herself walks before and behind Sudeshna. This, O Kaunteya, is another grief of mine that is intolerable. O, listen to it. She who had never, save for Kunti, pounded unguents even for her own use, now, good betide you, pounds sandal (for others). O Kaunteya, behold these hands of mine which were not so before. Saying this she showed him her hands marked with corns. And she continued, she who had never feared Kunti herself nor you and your brothers, now stands in fear before Virata as a slave, anxious of what that king of kings may say unto her regarding the proper preparation of the unguents, for Matsya likes not sandal pounded by others.”
Relating her woes thus, O Bharata, unto Bhimasena, Krishna began to weep silently, casting her eyes on Bhima. And then, with words choked in tears, and sighing repeatedly, she addressed Bhima in these words, powerfully stirring his heart,
“Sure, O Bhima, must have been my offence of old unto the gods, for, unfortunate as I am. I am yet alive, when, O Pandava, I should die.”
Then that slayer of hostile heroes, Vrikodara, covering his face with those delicate hands of his wife marked with corns, began to weep. That mighty son of Kunti, holding the hands of Draupadi in his, shed copious tears. Afflicted with great woe, he spoke these words.
Bhima said,
“Fie on the might of my arms and fie on the Gandiva of Falguni, inasmuch as your hands, red before, now become covered with corns. I would have caused a carnage in Virata's court but for the fact that Kunti's son eyed me (by way of forbidding it), or like a mighty elephant. I would, without ado, have crushed the head of Kichaka intoxicated with the pride of sovereignty. When, O Krishna, I beheld you kicked by Kichaka, I conceived at that instant a wholesale slaughter of the Matsyas. Yudhishthira, however, forbade me by a glance, and, O beauteous lady, understanding his intention I have kept quiet. That we have 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 Subala's son Sakuni, and the wicked Duhsasana, these acts and omissions, O lady, are consuming every limb of mine. The thought of those abides in my heart like a javelin implanted in it.
O you of graceful hips, do not sacrifice virtue, and, O noble-hearted lady, subdue your wrath. If king Yudhishthira hear from you such rebukes, he will surely put an end to his life. If also Dhananjaya and the twins hear you speak thus, even they will renounce life. If these, O slender-waisted maiden, give up life. I also shall not be able to bear my own. In olden days Sharyati's daughter, the beautiful Sukanya, followed into the forest Chyavana of Bhrigu's race, whose mind was under complete control, and over whom, while engaged in ascetic meditation, the ants had built a hill. You may have heard that Indrasena also who in beauty was like unto Narayani herself, followed her husband aged a thousand years. You may have heard that Janaka's daughter Sita, the princess of Videha, followed her lord while living in dense woods. That lady of graceful hips, Rama's beloved wife, afflicted with calamities and persecuted by the Rakshasas, at length regained the company of Rama. Lopamudra also, O timid one, endued with youth and beauty, followed Agastya, renouncing all the objects of enjoyment unattainable by men. The intelligent and faultless Savitri also followed the heroic Satyavan, the son of Dyumatsena, alone into the world of Yama. Like these chaste and beautiful ladies that I have named, you, O blessed girl, bloom with every virtue. Spend a short while more that is measured by even a half month. When the thirteenth year is complete, you will (again) become the queen regent of a king.”
Hearing these words, Draupadi said,
“Unable, O Bhima, to bear my griefs, it is from grief alone that I have shed these tears. I do not censure Yudhishthira. Nor is there any use in dwelling on the past. O Bhima of mighty strength, come quickly forward to the work of the hour. O Bhima, Kaikeyi, jealous of my beauty, always pains me by her endeavours to prevent the king from taking a fancy to me. Understanding this disposition of hers, the wicked-souled Kichaka of immoral ways constantly solicits me himself. Angry with him for this, but then suppressing my wrath I answer that wretch deprived of sense by lust, saying,
“O Kichaka, protect yourself. I am the beloved queen and wife of five Gandharvas. Those heroes in wrath will slay you that are so rash.”
Thus addressed, Kichaka of wicked soul replied unto me, saying,
"I have not the least fear of the Gandharvas, O Sairindhri of sweet smiles. I will slay hundred thousand Gandharvas, encountering them in battle. Therefore, O timid one, do you consent.”
Hearing all this, I again addressed the lust-afflicted Suta, saying,
“You are no match for those illustrious Gandharvas. Of respectable percentage and good disposition, I ever adhere to virtue and never wish for the death of any one. It is for this that you I vest, O Kichaka!”
At this, that fool of wicked soul burst out into a loud laughter. It came to pass that Kaikeyi previously urged by Kichaka, and moved by affection for her brother, and desirous of doing him a good turn, despatched me to him, saying 'Do you, O Sairindhri, fetch wine from Kichaka's quarter's!' On beholding me the Suta's son at first addressed me in sweet words, and when that failed, he became exceedingly enraged, and intended to use violence. Understanding the purpose of the wicked Kichaka, I speedily rushed towards the place where the king was. Felling me on the ground the wretch then kicked me in the very presence of the king himself and before the eyes of Kanka and many others, including charioteers, and royal favourites, and elephant-riders, and citizens. I rebuked the king and Kanka again and again. The king, however, neither prevented Kichaka, nor inflicted any chastisement on him. The principal ally of king Virata in war, the cruel Kichaka rift of virtue is loved by both the king and the queen. O exalted one, brave, proud, sinful, adulterous, and engrossed in all objects of enjoyment, he earns immense wealth (from the king), and robs the possessions of others even if they cry in distress. He never walketh in the path of virtue, nor does he any virtuous act. Of wicked soul, and vicious disposition, haughty and villainous, and always afflicted by the shafts of Kama, though repulsed repeatedly, if he sees me again, he will outrage me. I shall then surely renounce my life. Although striving to acquire virtue (on my death) your highly meritorious acts will come to naught. You that are now obeying your pledge, you will lose your wife. By protecting, one's wife one's offspring are protected, and by protecting one's offspring, one's own self is protected. And it is because one begets one's own self in one's wife that the wife is called Jaya by the wise. The husband also should be protected by the wife, thinking,--How else will he take his birth in my womb? I have heard it from Brahmanas expounding the duties of the several orders that a Kshatriya has no other duty than subduing enemies. Alas, Kichaka kicked me in the very presence of Yudhishthira the Just, and also of yourself, O Bhimasena of mighty strength. It was you, O Bhima, that didst deliver me from the terrible Jatasura. It was you also that with your brothers didst vanquish Jayadratha. Do you now slay this wretch also who has insulted me. Presuming upon his being a favourite of the king, Kichaka, O Bharata, has enhanced my woe. Do you, therefore, smash this lustful wight even like an earthen pot dashed upon a stone. If, O Bharata, tomorrow's sun sheds his rays upon him who is the source of many griefs of mine, I shall, surely, mixing poison (with some drink), drink it up, for I never shall yield to Kichaka. Far better it were, O Bhima, that I should die before you.”
Having said this, Krishna, hiding her face in Bhima's breast began to weep. Bhima, embracing her, consoled her to the best of his power. Having abundantly consoled that slender-waisted daughter of Drupada by means of words fraught with grave reason and sense, he wiped with his hands her face flooded with tears. Thinking of Kichaka and licking with his tongue the corners of his mouth, Bhima, filled with wrath thus spoke to that distressed lady.
Bhima said,
“I will, O timid one, do as you say. I will presently slay Kichaka with all his friends. O Yajnaseni of sweet smiles, tomorrow evening, renouncing sorrow and grief, manage to have a meeting with Kichaka. The dancing-hall that the king of the Matsya has caused to be erected is used by the girls for dancing during the day. They repair, however, to their homes at night. There in that hall, is an excellent and well-placed wooden bed-stead. There I will make him see the spirits of his deceased grandsires. But, O beautiful one, when you hold converse with him, you must manage it so that others may not espy you."
The killing of Kichaka
Having thus conversed with each other, and shed tears in grief, they waited for the dawn of that night with painful impatience. When the night had passed away, Kichaka, rising in the morning, went to the palace, and accosted Draupadi saying,
“Throwing you down in the court I kicked you in the presence of the king. Attacked by mighty self, you could not obtain protection. This Virata is in name only the king of the Matsyas. Commanding the forces of this realm it is I, who am the real lord of the Matsyas. Do you, O timid one, accept me cheerfully. I shall become your slave. O you of graceful hips, I will immediately give you a hundred nishkas, and engage a hundred male and a hundred female servants (to tend you), and will also bestow on you cars yoked with she-mules. O timid lady, let our union take place.”
Draupadi replied,
“O Kichaka, know that this is my condition. Neither your friends nor your brothers should know your union with me. I am a terror of detection by those illustrious Gandharvas. Promise me this, and I yield to you.”
Hearing this Kichaka said,
“I will, O you of graceful hips, do as you say. Afflicted by the god of love, I will, O beauteous damsel, alone repair to your abode for union with you, O you of thighs round and tapering like the trunks of the plantain, so that those Gandharvas, effulgent as the sun, may not come to know of this act of yours.”
Draupadi said,
“Do you, when it is dark, go to the dancing-hall erected by the king of the Matsyas where the girls dance during the day, repairing to their respective homes at night. The Gandharvas do not know that place. We shall then without doubt, escape all censure.”
Reflecting on the subject of her conversation with Kichaka, that half a day seemed to Krishna as long as a whole month. The stupid Kichaka also, not knowing that it was Death that had assumed the form of a Sairindhri, returning home experienced the greatest delight. Deprived of sense by lust, Kichaka became speedily engaged in embellishing his person with unguents and garlands and ornaments. While he was doing all this, thinking of that damsel of large eyes, the day seemed to him to be without an end. The beauty of Kichaka, who was about to forsake his beauty for ever, seemed to heighten, like the wick of a burning lamp about to expire. Reposing the fullest confidence in Draupadi, Kichaka, deprived of his senses by lust and absorbed in the contemplation of expected meeting, did not even perceive that the day had departed.
Meanwhile, the beautiful Draupadi approaching her husband Bhima of the Kuru race, stood before him in the kitchen. That lady with tresses ending in beautiful curls then spoke unto him, saying,
“O chastiser of foes, as you had directed, I have given Kichaka to understand that our meeting will take place in the dancing-hall. Alone will he come at night to the empty hall. Slay him there, O you of mighty arms. Do you, O son of Kunti, repair to that dancing-hall, and take the life, O Pandava, of Kichaka, that son of a Suta intoxicated with vanity. From vanity alone, that son of a Suta slights the Gandharvas. O best of smiters, lift him up from the earth even as Krishna had lifted up the Naga (Kaliya) from the Yamuna. O Pandava, afflicted as I am with grief, wipe you my tears, and blessed be you, protect your own honour and that of your race.”
Bhima said,
“Welcome! Except the glad tidings you bring me, I need no other aid whatever. The delight that I feel on hearing from you about my coming encounter with Kichaka, is equal to what I felt in slaying Hidimba. I swear unto you by Truth, by my brothers, and by morality, that I will slay Kichaka as the lord of the celestials slew Vritra. Whether secretly or openly, I will crush Kichaka, and if the Matsyas fight for him, then I will slay them too. Slaying Duryodhana afterwards, I shall win back the earth. Let Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, continue to pay homage unto the king of Matsya.”
Hearing these words of Bhima, Draupadi said,
“In order that you may not have to renounce the truth already pledged to me, do you slay Kichaka in secret.”
Bhima assuring her said,
“Today I shall slay Kichaka together with his friends unknown to others during the darkness of the night. I shall crush, as an elephant crushes a vela fruit, the head of the wicked Kichaka who wishes for what is unattainable by him!”
Repairing first to the place of assignation at night, Bhima sat down, disguising himself. He waited there in expectation of Kichaka, like a lion lying in wait for a deer. Kichaka, having embellished his person as he chose, came to the dancing-hall at the appointed time in the hope of meeting Panchali. Thinking of the assignation, he entered the chamber. Having entered that hall enveloped in deep gloom, that wretch of wicked soul came upon Bhima of incomparable prowess, who had come a little before and who was waiting in a corner. As an insect approaches towards a flaming fire, or a puny animal towards a lion, Kichaka approached Bhima, lying down in a bed and burning in anger at the thought of the insult offered to Krishna, as if he were the Suta's Death. Having approached Bhima, Kichaka possessed by lust, and his heart and soul filled with ecstasy smilingly said,
“O you of pencilled eye-brows, to you I have already given many and various kinds of wealth from the stores earned by me, as well as hundred maids and many fine robes, and also a mansion with an inner apartment adorned with beauteous and lovely and youthful maid servants and embellished by every kind of sports and amusements. Having set all those apart for you, I have speedily come here. All on a sudden, women have begun to praise me, saying, “There is not in this world any other person like unto you in beauty and dress!”
Hearing this, Bhima said,
“It is well that you are handsome, and it is well you praises yourself. I think, however, that you had never before this such pleasurable touch! You have an acute touch, and know the ways of gallantry. Skilled in the art of love-making, you are a favourite with women. There is none like you in this world!”
Saying this, that son of Kunti, the mighty-armed Bhima of terrible prowess, suddenly rose up, and laughingly said,
“Your sister, O wretch, shall today behold you dragged by me to the ground, like a mighty elephant, huge as a mountain, dragged to the ground by a lion. Yourself slain Sairindhri will live in peace, and we, her husbands, will also live in peace.”
Saying this, the mighty Bhima seized Kichaka by the hairs of his head, which were adorned with garlands. Thus seized with force by the hair, that foremost of mighty persons, Kichaka, quickly freed his hair and grasped the arms of Bhima. Then between those lions among men, fired with wrath, between that chief of the Kichaka clan, and that best of men, there ensued a hand-to-hand encounter, like that between two powerful elephants for a female elephant in the season of spring, or like that which happened in days of yore between those lions among monkeys, the brothers Vali and Sugriva. Both equally infuriate and both eager for victory, both those combatants raised their arms resembling snakes furnished with five hoods, and attacked each other with their nails and teeth, wrought up to frenzy of wrath. Impetuously assailed by the powerful Kichaka in that encounter, the resolute Bhima did not waver a single step. Locked in each other's embraces and dragging each other, they fought on like two mighty bulls. Having nails and teeth for their weapons, the encounter between them was fierce and terrible like that of two furious tigers. Felling each other in fury, they encountered each other like a couple of elephants with rent temples.
The mighty Bhima then seized Kichaka, and Kichaka, that foremost of strong persons threw Bhima down with violence. As those mighty combatants fought on, the crash of their arms produced a loud noise that resembled the clatter of splitting bamboos. Then Vrikodara throwing Kichaka down by main force within the room, began to toss him about furiously even as a hurricane tosses a tree. Attacked thus in battle by the powerful Bhima, Kichaka grew weak and began to tremble. For all that, however, he tugged at the Pandava to the best of his power. Attacking Bhima, and making him wave a little, the mighty Kichaka struck him with his knees and brought him down to the ground. Overthrown by the powerful Kichaka, Bhima quickly rose up like Yama himself with mace in hand. Thus that powerful Suta and the Pandava, intoxicated with strength and challenging each other, grappled with each other at midnight in that solitary place. As they roared at each other in wrath, that excellent and strong edifice began to shake every moment. Slapped on the chest by the mighty Bhima, Kichaka fired with wrath moved not a single pace. Bearing for a moment only that onslaught incapable of being born on earth, the Suta, overpowered by Bhima's might, became enfeebled.
And seeing him waning weak, Bhima endued with great strength forcibly drew Kichaka towards his breast, and began to press hard. Breathing hard again and again in wrath, that best of victors, Vrikodara, forcibly seized Kichaka by the hair. Having seized Kichaka, the mighty Bhima began to roar like a hungry tiger that has killed a large animal. Finding him exceedingly exhausted, Vrikodara bound him fast with his arms, as one binds a beast with a cord. Then Bhima began for a long while, to whirl the senseless Kichaka, who began to roar frightfully like a broken trumpet. In order to pacify Krishna's wrath Vrikodara grasped Kichaka's throat with his arms and began to squeeze it. Assailing with his knees the waist of that worst of the Kichakas, all the limbs of whose body had been broken into fragments and whose eye-lids were closed, Vrikodara slew him, as one would slay a beast.
Beholding Kichaka entirely motionless, the son of Pandu began to roll him about on the ground. Bhima then said,
“Slaying this wretch who intended to violate our wife, this thorn in the side of Sairindhri, I am freed from the debt I owed to my brothers, and have attained perfect peace.”
Having said this, that foremost of men, with eyes red in wrath, relinquished his hold of Kichaka, whose dress and ornaments had been thrown off his person, whose eyes were rolling, and whose body was yet trembling. That foremost of mighty persons, squeezing his own hands, and biting his lips in rage, again attacked his adversary and thrust his arms and legs and neck and head into his body like the wielder of the Pinaka reducing into shapeless mass the deer, which form sacrifice had assumed in order to escape his ire. Having crushed all his limbs, and reduced him into a ball of flesh, the mighty Bhimasena showed him unto Krishna. Endued with mighty energy that hero then addressed Draupadi, that foremost of all women, saying,
“Come princess of Panchala, and see what has become of that lustful wretch!”
Saying this, Bhima of terrible prowess began to press with his feet the body of that wicked fool. Lighting a torch then and showing Draupadi the body of Kichaka, that hero addressed her, saying,
“O you of tresses ending in beautiful curls, those that solicit you, endued as you are with an excellent disposition and every virtue, will be slain by me even as this Kichaka has been, O timid one.”
And having accomplished that difficult task so highly agreeable to Krishna, having indeed slain Kichaka and thereby pacified his wrath, Bhima bade farewell to Krishna, the daughter of Drupada, and quickly went back to the kitchen. Draupadi also, that best of women, having caused Kichaka to be slain had her grief removed and experienced the greatest delight. Addressing the keepers of the dancing-hall, she said,
“Come you and behold Kichaka who had violated after other people's wives lies down here, slain by my Gandharva husbands.”
Hearing these words the guards of the dancing hall soon came by thousands to that spot, torches in hand. Repairing to that room, they beheld the lifeless Kichaka thrown on the ground, drenched with blood. Beholding him without arms and legs, they were filled with grief. As they gazed at Kichaka, they were struck with amazement. Seeing that superhuman act, viz., the overthrow of Kichaka, they said,
“Where is his neck, and where are his legs?”
Beholding him in this plight they all concluded that he had been killed by a Gandharva.
Bhima slaughters the Upa-Kichakas
Then all the relatives of Kichaka, arriving at that place, beheld him there and began to wail aloud, surrounding him on all sides. Beholding Kichaka with every limb mangled, and lying like a tortoise dragged to dry ground from the water, all of them were overcome with exceeding fright, and the bristles of their bodies stood on end. Seeing him crushed all over by Bhima, like a Danava by Indra, they proceeded to take him outside, for performing his funeral obsequies. Then those persons of the Suta clan thus assembled together spied Krishna of faultless limbs near by, who stood reclining on a pillar. All the Kichakas assembled there, exclaimed,
“Let this unchaste woman be slain for whom Kichaka has himself lost his life. Or, without slaying her here, let us cremate her with him that had lusted after her, for it befits us to accomplish in every way what is agreeable to that deceased son of Suta.”
Then they addressed Virata, saying,
“It is for her sake that Kichaka has lost his life. Let him, therefore, be cremated along with her. It befits you to grant this permission.”
Thus addressed by them, king Virata, knowing fully well the prowess of the Suta gave his assent to Sairindhri being burnt along with the Suta's son. At this, the Kichakas approaching the frightened and stupefied Krishna of lotus-like eyes, seized her with violence. Binding that damsel of slender-waist and placing her upon the bier, they set out with great energy towards the cemetery. While thus forcibly carried towards the cemetery by those sons of the Suta tribe, the blameless and chaste Krishna living under the protections of her lords, then wailed aloud for the help of her husbands, saying,
“Oh, let Jaya, and Jayanta, and Vijaya and Jayatsena, and Jayadbala listen to my words. The Sutas are taking me away. Let those illustrious Gandharvas endued with speed of hand, the clatter of whose cars is loud and the twang of whose bowstrings in the midst of the mighty conflict are heard like the roar of thunder, listen to my words, the Sutas are taking me away!”
Hearing those sorrowful words and lamentations of Krishna, Bhima, without a moment's reflection started up from his bed and said,
“I have heard, O Sairindhri the words you has spoken. You have, therefore, no more fear at the hands of the Sutas.”
Having said this, the mighty-armed Bhima desirous of slaying the Kichakas, began to swell his body. Carefully changing his attire, he went out of the palace by a wrong egress. Climbing over a wall by the aid of a tree, he proceeded towards the cemetery where the Kichakas had gone. Having leapt over the wall, and gone out of the excellent city, Bhima impetuously rushed to where the Sutas were. Proceeding towards the funeral pyre he beheld a large tree, tall as palmyra-palm, with gigantic shoulders and withered top. That slayer of foes grasping with his arms that tree measuring ten Vyamas, uprooted it, even like an elephant, and placed it upon his shoulders. Taking up that tree with trunk and branches and measuring ten Vyamas, that mighty hero rushed towards the Sutas, like Yama himself, mace in hand. By the impetus of his rush banians and peepals and Kinsukas falling down on the earth lay in clusters. Beholding that Gandharva approach them like a lion in fury, all the Sutas trembling with fear and greatly distressed, became panic-struck. They addressed each other, saying,
“Lo, the powerful Gandharva cometh here, filled with rage, and with an upraised tree in hand. Let Sairindhri, therefore, from whom this danger of ours has arisen, be set free.”
And beholding the tree that had been uprooted by Bhimasena, they set Draupadi free and ran breathlessly towards the city. Seeing them run away, Bhima, that mighty son of the Wind-god, despatched by means of that tree, a hundred and five of them unto the abode of Yama, like the wielder of the thunderbolt slaying the Danavas. Setting Draupadi free from her bonds, he then, comforted her. That mighty-armed and irrepressible Vrikodara, the son of Pandu, then addressed the distressed princess of Panchala with face bathed in tears, saying,
“Thus, O timid one, are they slain that wrong you without cause. Return to the city. You have no longer any fear; I myself will go to the Virata's kitchen by another route.”
It was thus, that a hundred and five of those Kichakas were slain. Their corpses lay on the ground, making the place look like a great forest overspread with uprooted trees after a hurricane. Thus fell those hundred and five Kichakas. Including Virata's general slain before, the slaughtered Sutas numbered one hundred and six. Beholding that exceedingly wonderful feat, men and women that assembled together, were filled with astonishment. The power of speech was suspended in every one. Beholding the Sutas slain, the citizens went to the 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 mountains riven by thunder. Sairindhri also, having been set free, returns to your palace in the city. Alas, O king, if Sairindhri comes, your entire kingdom will be endangered. Sairindhri is endued with great beauty; the Gandharvas also here exceedingly powerful. Men again, without doubt, are naturally sexual. Devise, therefore, O king, without delay, such means that in consequence of wrongs done to Sairindhri, your kingdom may not meet with destruction.”
Hearing those words of theirs, Virata, that lord of hosts, said unto them,
“Do you perform the last rites of the Sutas. Let all the Kichakas be burnt, in one blazing pyre with gems and fragrant unguents in profusion.”
And filled with fear, the king then addressed his queen Sudeshna, saying,
“When Sairindhri comes back, do you tell her these words from me, “Blessed be you, O fair-faced Sairindhri. Go you whithersoever you like. The king has been alarmed at the defeat already experienced at the hands of the Gandharvas. Protected as you are by the Gandharvas, I dare not personally say all this to you. A woman, however, cannot offend, and it is for this that I tell you all this through a woman.””
Thus delivered by Bhimasena after the slaughter of the Sutas, the intelligent and youthful Krishna relieved from all her fears, washed her limbs and clothes in water, and proceeded towards the city, like a doe frightened by a tiger. Beholding her, the citizens afflicted with the fear of the Gandharvas fled in all directions. Some of them went so far as to shut their eyes. Then, at the gate of the kitchen, the princess of Panchala saw Bhimasena staying, like an infuriate elephant of gigantic proportions. Looking upon him with wonder-expanded eyes, Draupadi, by means of words intelligible to them alone, said, “I bow unto that prince of the Gandharvas, who has rescued me.”
At these words of her, Bhima said,
“Hearing these words of hers in obedience to whom those persons were hitherto living in the city, they will henceforth range here, regarding themselves as freed from the debt.”
Then she beheld the mighty-armed Dhananjaya, in the dancing-hall instructing king Virata's daughters in dancing. Issuing with Arjuna from the dancing-hall, all those damsels came to Krishna who had arrived there, and who had been persecuted so sorely, all innocent though she was. They said,
“By good luck also it is, O Sairindhri, that you have been delivered from your dangers. By good luck it is that you has returned safe. By good luck also it is that those Sutas have been slain that had wronged you, innocent though you are.”
Hearing this, Brihannala said,
“How have you, O Sairindhri, been delivered? How have those sinful wretches been slain? I wish to learn all this from you exactly as it occurred.”
Sairindhri replied,
“O blessed Brihannala, always passing your days happily in the apartments of the girls, what concern have you with Sairindhri's fate to say? You have no grief to bear that Sairindhri has to bear! It is for this, that you ask me thus, distressed as I am in ridicule.”
Thereat Brihannala said,
“O blessed one, Brihannala also has unparalleled sorrows of her own. She has become as low as a brute. You do not, O girl, understand this. I have lived with you, and you too have lived with us. When, therefore, you are afflicted with misery, who is it that will not feel it? But no one can completely read another's heart. Therefore it is that you know not my heart!”
Then Draupadi, accompanied by those girls entered the royal abode, desirous of appearing before Sudeshna. When she came before the queen, Virata's wife addressed her at the command of the king, saying,
“Do you, O Sairindhri, speedily go wheresoever you like. The king, good betide you, has been filled with fear at this discomfiture at the hands of the Gandharvas. You are young and unparalleled on earth in beauty. You are, besides, an object of desire with men. The Gandharvas again, are exceedingly wrathful.”
Thereat Sairindhri said,
“O beauteous lady, let the king suffer me to live here for only thirteen days more. Without doubt, the Gandharvas also will be highly obliged at this. They will then convey me hence and do what would be agreeable to Virata. Without doubt, the king, by doing this, with his friends, will reap great benefit."
At the slaughter of Kichaka and brothers, people, thinking of this terrible feat, were filled with surprise. In the city and the provinces there was a talk about the bravery of the king's Vallava and Kichaka’s death. The wicked Kichaka, however, had been an oppressor of men and a dishonourer of other people's wives. It was for this that wicked of sinful soul had been slain by the Gandharvas. It was thus, that people began to speak, from province to province of the invincible Kichaka, that slayer of hostile ranks.