been partaken of, and he that hath afforded shelter, should never be injured.  Thou hast lived in our place happily, being duly honoured.  And, O evil-minded one, having partaken of our food, how canst thou carry us off?  And as thy acts are so improper and as thou hast grown in age without deriving any benefit and as thy propensities are evil, so thou deservest to die for nothing, and for nothing wilt thou die to-day.  And if thou beest really evil-disposed and devoid of all virtue, do thou render us back our weapons and ravish Draupadi after fight.  But if through stupidity thou must do this deed, then in the world thou wilt only reap demerit and infamy.  O Rakshasa, by doing violence to this female of the human race, thou hast drunk poison, after having shaken the vessel.’  Thereupon, Yudhishthira made himself ponderous to the Rakshasa.  And being oppressed with the weight, he could not proceed rapidly as before.  Then addressing Draupadi, Nakula and Sahadeva, Yudhishthira said, ’Do ye not entertain any fear of this wretched Rakshasa, I have checked his speed.  The mighty-armed son of the Wind-god may not be far away; and on Bhima coming up at the next moment, the Rakshasa will not live.’  O king, staring at the Rakshasa bereft of sense, Sahadeva addressed Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, saying, ’What can be more meritorious for a Kshatriya than to fall in fight, or defeat a foe?  O repressor of foes, we will fight and either this one will slay us, or we shall slay him, O mighty-armed one.  Verily this is the place and time, O king.  And, O thou of unfailing prowess, the time hath come for the display of our Kshatriya virtue.  It behoveth us to attain heaven either by gaining victory or being slain.  If the sun sets to-day, the Rakshasa living yet, O Bharata, I will not any more say that I am a Kshatriya.  Ho!  Ho!  Rakshasa, say!  I am Pandu’s son, Sahadeva.  Either, after having killed me, carry off this lady, or being slain, lie senseless here.’

“Madri’s son, Sahadeva, was speaking thus, when Bhimasena made his appearance, with a mace in his hand, like unto Vasava himself wielding the thunder-bolt.  And here he saw his two brothers and the noble-minded Draupadi (on the shoulders of the demon), and Sahadeva on the ground rebuking the Rakshasa and also that stupid Rakshasa himself deprived of sense by Fate, going round in different directions through bewilderment caused by Destiny.  And finding his brothers and Draupadi being carried off, Bhima of mighty strength was fired with wrath, and addressed the Rakshasa, saying, ’I had ere this found thee out for a wicked wight from thy scrutiny of our weapons; but as I had no apprehension of thee, so I had not slain thee at that time.  Thou wert in the disguise of a Brahmana—­nor didst thou say anything harsh unto us.  And thou didst take delight in pleasing us.  And thou also didst not do us wrong.  And, furthermore, thou wert our guest.  How could I, therefore, slay thee, who wert thus innocent of