“Virata said, ’My female slaves and kine, my gold and whatsoever other wealth I have, nothing of all this shall thou be able to protect today even if I do not gamble.’  Kanka said in reply, ’O monarch, O bestower of honours, what business hast thou with gamble which is attended with numerous evils?  Gambling is fraught with many evils; it should, therefore, be shunned.  Thou mayst have seen or at least heard of Yudhishthira, the son of Pandu.  He lost his extensive and prosperous kingdom and his god-like brothers at dice.  For this, I am averse to gambling.  But if thou likest, O king, I will play.’”

Vaisampayana continued, “While the play was going on, Matsya said unto the son of Pandu, ’Lo, the Kauravas that are so formidable have been vanquished in battle by my son.’  Upon this, the illustrious king Yudhishthira said, ’Why should not he conquer that hath Vrihannala for his charioteer?’

“Thus addressed, King Matsya became angry and said unto Pandu’s son, ’Thou wretch of a Brahmana, dost thou compare one of the neuter sex with my son!  Hast thou no knowledge of what is proper and what improper for one to say?  Without doubt, thou disregardest me.  Why should not my son vanquish all those with Bhishma and Drona as their leaders?  O Brahmana, for friendship only I pardon thee this thy offence.  Thou must not, however, say so again if thou wishest to live.’

“Yudhishthira said, ’There where Bhishma and Drona and Drona’s son and the son of Vikartana and Kripa and king Duryodhana and other royal and mighty car-warriors are assembled or there where Indra himself is surrounded by the Maruts, what other person than Vrihannala can fight, encountering them all!  None hath been, none will be, his equal in strength of arms!  Indeed, it is Vrihannala only whose heart is filled with joy at sight of a terrible conflict.  It is he who had vanquished the celestials and the Asuras and human beings fighting together.  With such a one for his ally, why should not thy son conquer the foe?’ Virata said, ’Repeatedly forbidden by me, thou dost not yet restrain thy tongue.  If there is none to punish, no one would practise virtue.’”

Vaisampayana continued, “Saying this, the king inflamed with anger forcibly struck Yudhishthira in the face with a dice, and reproached him angrily, saying, ‘Let it not occur again!’ And having been violently struck, blood began to flow from his nose.  But the son of Pritha held it in his hands before it fell on the ground.  And the virtuous Yudhishthira then glanced at Draupadi who was standing by his side.  Ever obedient to the wishes of her lord, the faultless Draupadi, understanding his meaning, and bringing a golden vessel filled with water, received the blood that flowed from his nose.  Meanwhile, Uttara, entertained with sweet perfumes of diverse kinds and decked with floral chaplets, slowly entered the city, received with respect by the citizens, the women, and the people of the provinces.  And approaching