immense wealth (from the king), and robs the possessions of others even if they cry in distress.  And he never walketh in the path of virtue, nor doth he any virtuous act.  Of wicked soul, and vicious disposition, haughty and villainous, and always afflicted by the shafts of Kama, though repulsed repeatedly, if he sees me again, he will outrage me.  I shall then surely renounce my life.  Although striving to acquire virtue (on my death) your highly meritorious acts will come to naught.  Ye that are now obeying your pledge, ye will lose your wife.  By protecting one’s wife one’s offspring are protected, and by protecting one’s offspring, one’s own self is protected.  And it is because one begets one’s own self in one’s wife that the wife is called Jaya[15] by the wise.  The husband also should be protected by the wife, thinking,—­How else will he take his birth in my womb?—­I have heard it from Brahmanas expounding the duties of the several orders that a Kshatriya hath no other duty than subduing enemies.  Alas, Kichaka kicked me in the very presence of Yudhishthira the Just, and also of thyself, O Bhimasena of mighty strength.  It was thou, O Bhima, that didst deliver me from the terrible Jatasura.  It was thou also that with thy brothers didst vanquish Jayadratha.  Do thou now slay this wretch also who hath insulted me.  Presuming upon his being a favourite of the king, Kichaka, O Bharata, hath enhanced my woe.  Do thou, therefore, smash this lustful wight even like an earthen pot dashed upon a stone.  If, O Bharata, tomorrow’s sun sheds his rays upon him who is the source of many griefs of mine, I shall, surely, mixing poison (with some drink), drink it up,—­for I never shall yield to Kichaka.  Far better it were, O Bhima, that I should die before thee.’”

    [15] Jayate asyas—­i.e., she from whom one is born.

Vaisampayana continued, “Having said this, Krishna, hiding her face in Bhima’s breast began to weep.  And Bhima, embracing her, consoled her to the best of his power.  And having abundantly consoled that slender-waisted daughter of Drupada by means of words fraught with grave reason and sense, he wiped with his hands her face flooded with tears.  And thinking of Kichaka and licking with his tongue the corners of his mouth, Bhima, filled with wrath thus spake to that distressed lady.”

SECTION XXII

“Bhima said, ’I will, O timid one, do even as thou sayest.  I will presently slay Kichaka with all his friends.  O Yajnaseni of sweet smiles, tomorrow evening, renouncing sorrow and grief, manage to have a meeting with Kichaka.  The dancing-hall that the king of the Matsya hath caused to be erected is used by the girls for dancing during the day.  They repair, however, to their homes at night.  There in that hall, is an excellent and well-placed wooden bed-stead.  Even there I will make him see the spirits of his deceased grandsires.  But, O beautiful one, when thou holdest converse with him, thou must manage it so that others may not espy thee.’”