कीचक-वध पर्व — भीम और द्रौपदी का संवाद

Bhima said Fie to the strength of my arms and fie to the Gandiva of Phalguni, since these your hands red before have now become marked with scars.

I would have caused a great havoc in the court of Virata but the son of Kunti looked at me (by way of forbidding); that was the reason of my forbearance.

Or like a mighty elephant I would have easily crushed with a single kick the head of Kichaka intoxicated with the pride of wealth.

O Krishna, when I saw you kicked by Kichaka, I intended the very moment to bring about a great devastation of the whole of the Matsya's.

But the lord of justice forbade me by a glance, O beautiful one; knowing his intention I desisted from the purpose and kept quiet.

That we have been expelled from our kingdom, that I have not yet killed the Kurus, and that I have not yet taken the heads of Suyodhana, Karna, Shakuni the son of Subala the sinful Duryodhana, have been scorching every limb of mine and causing pain to my heart as if a peg is thrust into it.

O you beautiful, do not give up virtue; O noble minded lady, renounce your wrath. O auspicious one, if king Yudhishthira hears from you such rebukes, he is sure to give up his life.

O slender-waisted lady of beautiful hips, if Dhananjaya or the twins hear you speak thus, they will surely put an end to their lives; and they having given up life I shall not be able to keep up my own.

In days of yore, the body of sage Chyavana had turned into a termite like feature due to incessant and long term penance. It seemed that the camp of his life will shortly cease illumine, yet his wife Sukanya did not show any way negligence towards him and kept on serving

In olden days, perhaps you may have heard that Indrasena, who resembled Narayani in beauty, followed her old husband or a thousand years of age.

You may have heard that Janaka's daughter Sita, the princess of Videha, went in the wake of her lord while he was dwelling in a great dreary forest.

That lady of beautiful hips, the beloved queen of Rama, although she received a great calamity at the hands of the Rakshasas and was afflicted with woe, was at length reunited with Rama.

O excellent one, Lopamudra also, endued with youth and beauty, followed her lord Agastya, renouncing all objects of enjoyments hardly to be attained by men.

The noble-minded lady of spotless beauty, Savitri, followed the heroic Satyavana, the son of Dyumatsena, alone into the reign of death.

As these beautiful and chaste ladies are described by me, so also, by you, O auspicious one, appear endued with every virtue.

Wait a short whole more that is measured by a half month, when the thirteenth year is full and you shall become the empress.

Draupadi said O Bhima, I am unable to endure my griefs; it is out of sheer grief, I have shed these tears, I do not rebuke the king (Yudhishthira).

O Bhimsena, what is the use of dwelling on what is passed. Be ready for the present.

O Bhima, Kaikeyi, fearing that the king might take a fancy for me for my beauty, tries how to send me away from this place.

Understanding her intention, that wickedsouled Kichaka of sinful conduct, always solicits me himself.

O Bhima, getting enraged with him and then again suppressing my anger I said to Kichaka, rendered senseless by lust in the following words)-0Kichaka save yourself; I am the dear queen and wife of five Gandharvas; those heroes if enraged will kill you who are going to act so rashly.”

Thus addressed, the wicked-souled Kichaka answered, saying “O Sairandhri of beautiful smile, I am never afraid of the Gandharvas.

I will do away with a hundred thousand Gandharvas in battle, O timid one, give me your consent."

Thus replied to, I addressed again that lust stricken Suta saying, "you are no rival to those illustrious Gandharvas.

Born of a noble family and endued with good disposition, do I even regard virtue as my stay and never wish for the death of any one. O Kichaka, therefore you live still.

Thus addressed, that wicked-souled Kichaka burst out into a loud laughter. Then Kaikeyi, out of affection for her brother, and previously urged by him and having a mind to do good to him, sent me to Kichaka saying, “O auspicious one, bring wine from Kichaka's house."

Beholding me, the Suta's son began to court me in sweet words; when his court failed, he became enraged and attempted to use violence on me.

Having understood the intention of that wicked-souled Kichaka, I ran with speed to the royal protection.

In the presence of the king, I was thrown down on the ground and kicked by the Suta's son of wicked soul.

This scene was witnessed by Virata, Kanka and many others, namely the charioteers, royal favorites, elephant riders, and merchants. Then he was neither prevented nor any punishment was inflicted on him by the king.

This very Kichaka is the principal ruler of the king Virata. He is devoid of virtue, cruel, favoured by the king and liked by women at large.

That wicked-souled Kichaka is war-like, proud, outrager of female modesty and engrossed in all objects of pleasure; O blessed one, he acquires plenty of money (from the king).

He extorts money from others, even if they cry in woe; he never stays in paths of rectitude nor does he even feel inclined to virtue.

He is wicked-souled, of sinful disposition, impudent, villaneous and afflicted by Cupid's shaft. Although I have repeatedly rejected him, he will, I am sure, outrage me, whenever he happens to see me, and then I shall surely give up my life; although you are striving to acquire that virtue but on my death, surely you will lose that great one.

You, who are trying to keep your pledge, will lose your wife; wife being protected, one's offspring will be protected.

Offspring being protected, soul is saved. In a wife one's own self is begotten and it is therefore the wife is called Jaya by the wise.

The wife should also protect the husband, thinking "How then can he take his birth in my womb?" I have heard it from Brahmanas, who are expert in expounding the duties of all orders.

There is no other duty of Kshatriyas but the repressing of their foes. Taking no notice of the presence of Dharmaraja, as well as of yours, O mighty Bhimasena, Kichaka kicked me.

It was you that rescued me from that terrible Jatasura, it was you only, who also with the help of your brothers, defeated Jayadratha. I entreat you to kill this wretch who has insulted me.

O Bharata, Kichaka, out of confidence that he is a favourite of the king, causes woe to me. I solicit you to crush this beloved one maddened with lust, even as an earthen pot dashed against a stone.

If, O Bharata, the men make him rise up again in the morning living, who is the root of all these griefs of mine, I shall mix poison with some drink and swallow it up, but never shall I yield myself to the power of Kichaka. O Bhimasena, certainly death is preferable to me in the very sight of you.

Vaishampayana said Having said this, Krishna, lying on the breast of Bhima, began to weep. Having clasped her, Bhima also afforded her a great consolation.

Having consoled that greatly afflicted lady of slender waist in various ways, and having wiped with his hands her face flooded with tears, Bhima filled with ire, began to think of Kichaka in his mind, licking repeatedly the corners of his mouth with his tongue; and he addressed the daughter of Drupada afflicted with woe with words replete with reason.