[14] What Draupadi means is that instead of passing her days in joy and happiness, instead of being able to wish time to be stationary with her, she is obliged in consequence of her misery, to wish time to pass off quickly.

Vaisampayana continued, “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, ’Signal, 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.’”

Vaisampayana continued, “Then that slayer of hostile heroes, Vrikodara, covering his face with those delicate hands of his wife marked with corns, began to weep.  And that mighty son of Kunti, holding the hands of Draupadi in his, shed copious tears.  And afflicted with great woe, he spoke these words.”

SECTION XXI

“Bhima said, ’Fie on the might of my arms and fie on the Gandiva of Phalguna, inasmuch as thy 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 thee 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 Suvala’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 thou of graceful hips, do not sacrifice virtue, and, O noble-hearted lady, subdue thy wrath.  If king Yudhishthira hear from thee such rebukes, he will surely put an end to his life.  If also Dhananjaya and the twins hear thee speak thus, even they will renounce life.  And if these, O slender-waisted maiden, give up life, I also shall not be able to bear my own.  In olden days Sarjati’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.  Thou mayst have heard that Indrasena also who in beauty was like unto Narayani herself, followed her husband aged a thousand years.  Thou mayst have heard that Janaka’s daughter Sita, the princess of Videha, followed her lord while living in dense woods.  And that lady of graceful hips, Rama’s beloved wife, afflicted with calamities and persecuted by the Rakshasas, at length regained