Kichaka-Vadha Parva — Dialogue between Draupadi and Bhima

Draupadi said Whence can there be a freedom of grief to her who has Yudhishthira for her husband? Knowing all my griefs do you ask me?

The grief, when Pratikami dragged me in the court in the midst of the courtiers calling me a slave, burns me still, C Bharata,

What other princess like me, would live enduring such a hard misery?

Who else except me has so much energy as to suffer the insult offered by the wicked prince of Sindhu during our stay in the forest?

Who else like me, can live having been kicked by Kichaka in the very presence of the wicked king of the Matsya's?

O Bharata, of what use is the life to me, when you, O son of Kunti, do not think of me, who have been afflicted with various woes like these?

O Bharata, the most wicked-minded one of vile nature, known by the name Kichaka, who is the leader of his forces, addresses we, everyday, O best men, while living in the royal palace in the guise of a Sairandhri, saying "do you become my wife."

O slayer of foes, thus addressed by him deserving destruction, my heart is bursting like a fruit ripened in due time.

You should pass censure on your eldest brother who is sorely addicted to the despicable game of dice, through whose act alone I have received this endless woe.

Who else, except him, addicted sore to gambling, would play, renouncing kingdom and every thing including his self, in order to lead a life in the forest?

If he had played morning and evening for many years together pawning Nishkas by thousands and other treasures of value, still his silver and gold robes and cars, teams and goats, and sheep and horses and mules would have hardly suffered any diminution.

But deprived of fortune by rivalry of dice he now holds silence like a fool meditating over his own misdeeds.

It is he, who while going out, was followed by ten thousand elephants, adorned with golden garlands, and he now supports himself by gambling at dice.

That great king, Yudhishthira, the best of the charitable, whom the kings by hundreds of thousands endowed with unparalleled power worshipped at the city of Indraprastha, at whose kitchen a hundred thousand maids, with plate in hand used to feed every day, day and night, numbers of guests, and who used to give away in charity a thousand nishkas, is also overpowered by great calamity caused by gambling.

Many bards and eulogists gifted with musical voice, and decked with bright ear-rings beset with gems, worshipped him morning and evening.

That Yudhishthira, who had a number of sages versed in the Vedas, gifted with ascetic merit, and having all their wishes complied with, as his daily courtiers, and who maintained eighty-eight thousands of wedded snatakas, to each of whom there were assigned maids thirty in number, as well as ten thousand yatis abstaining from accepting any thing in shape of gift and having their vital seed totally drawn up, that lord of men lives in such a plight.

That lord of men, who is free from cruelty, full of compassion and used to give every one his legitimate due, is, inspite of all these excellent attributes, destined to live in such a guise.

That very monarch Yudhishthira, who is forbearing, of unfailing prowess, and having a mind bent on giving every one his legitimate due, and in consequence of his not indulging in to a harmful feeling, maintained daily, in his kingdom, the blind, the old, the helpless, the orphans of various kinds and many others in such distress. That Yudhishthira, NOW becoming a servant of the king of the Matsya's, and a gambler in his court, and calling himself by the name Kanka, has surely attained the misery of hell.

Alas! even he begs for his subsistence at another's hands whom residing at Indraprastha, all the kings of earth used to pay tributes.

Alas! even that king, who had all the kings of earth in subjection, has lost his liberty and lives in subjection to others.

Having dazzled, like the sun, the whole of this earth with his power, even that king Yudhishthira remains as a courtier of king Virata.

O Pritha's son, behold that Pandava today waiting upon another, who was waited upon in court by the kings with sages.

Beholding Yudhishthira as a courtier sitting beside another and uttering eulogistic speeches, who is there that is not positively afflicted with grief.

Beholding that virtuous Yudhishthira of great wisdom, undeserving of such a plight and serving another for maintenance who is there that is not overtaken by grief.

0 Bharata, behold that Bharata, who was worshipped by all the heroes of earth in court, even he is now serving another for subsistence.

O Bhima, why do you not look at me who am stationed in the midst of the sea of sorrow and afflicted like a helpless one, with various woes.