wine.  Do thou 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.  And 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 thee dragged and lying powerless on the ground.’”

Vaisampayana continued, “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.  And 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.  And dashed to the ground thus, the sinful wretch tumbled down like a tree whose roots had been cut.  And 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.  And 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, O Bharata, the Rakshasa that had been appointed by Surya to protect Draupadi, gave Kichaka a shove with a force mighty as that of the wind.  And 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.  And desirous of compassing the destruction of the wicked Kichaka, the illustrious Bhima gnashed his teeth in rage.  And his forehead was covered with sweat, and terrible wrinkles appeared thereon.  And a smoky exhalation shot forth from his eyes, and his eye-lashes stood on end.  And that slayer of hostile heroes pressed his forehead with his hands.  And 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.  And Bhima who then looked like an infuriate elephant eyeing a large tree, was thus forbidden by his elder brother.  And the latter said, ’Lookest thou, O cook, for trees for fuel.  If thou art in need of faggots, then go out and fell trees.’  And 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 hath 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 hath kicked today the proud and beloved wife of those truthful personages, who are devoted to Brahmanas and who always