of Krishna and the daughter of Satrajit, then asked Draupadi in private, saying, ’By what behaviour is it, O daughter of Drupada, that thou art able to rule the sons of Pandu—­those heroes endued with strength and beauty and like unto the Lokapalas themselves?  Beautiful lady, how is it that they are so obedient to thee and are never angry with thee?  Without doubt the sons of Pandu, O thou of lovely features, are ever submissive to thee and watchful to do thy bidding!  Tell me, O lady, the reason of this.  Is it practice of vows, or asceticism, or incantation or drug at the time of the bath (in season) or the efficacy of science, or the influence of youthful appearance, or the recitation of particular formulae, or Homa, or collyrium and other medicaments?  Tell me now, O princess of Panchala, of that blessed and auspicious thing by which, O Krishna, Krishna may ever be obedient to me.”

“When the celebrated Satyabhama, having said this, ceased, the chaste and blessed daughter of Drupada answered her, saying, ’Thou askedest me, O Satyabhama, of the practices of women that are wicked.  How can I answer thee, O lady, about the cause that is pursued by wicked females?  It doth not become thee, lady, to pursue the questions, or doubt me, after this, for thou art endued with intelligence and art the favourite wife of Krishna.  When the husband learns that his wife is addicted to incantations and drugs, from that hour he beginneth to dread her like a serpent ensconced in his sleeping chamber.  And can a man that is troubled with fear have peace, and how can one that hath no peace have happiness?  A husband can never be made obedient by his wife’s incantations.  We hear of painful diseases being transmitted by enemies.  Indeed, they that desire to slay others, send poison in the shape of customary gifts, so that the man that taketh the powders so sent, by tongue or skin, is, without doubt, speedily deprived of life.  Women have sometimes caused dropsy and leprosy, decrepitude and impotence and idiocy and blindness and deafness in men.  These wicked women, ever treading in the path of sin, do sometimes (by these means) injure their husbands.  But the wife should never do the least injury to her lord.  Hear now, O illustrious lady, of the behaviour I adopt towards the high-souled sons of Pandu.  Keeping aside vanity, and controlling desire and wrath, I always serve with devotion the sons of Pandu with their wives.  Restraining jealousy, with deep devotion of heart, without a sense of degradation at the services I perform, I wait upon my husbands.  Ever fearing to utter what is evil or false, or to look or sit or walk with impropriety, or cast glances indicative of the feelings of the heart, do I serve the sons of Pritha—­those mighty warriors blazing like the sun or fire, and handsome as the moon, those endued with fierce energy and prowess, and capable of slaying their foes by a glance of the eye.  Celestial, or man, or Gandharva, young or decked with ornaments, wealthy or comely of person,