our religious and ascetic merits, the lord of even our lives.  If he regardeth himself as won, we too have all been won.  If this were not so, who is there amongst creatures touching the earth with their feet and mortal, that would escape from me with his life after having touched those locks of the princess of Panchala?  Behold these mighty, well-formed arms of mine, even like maces of iron.  Having once come within them, even he of a hundred sacrifices is incapable of effecting an escape.  Bound by the ties of virtue and the reverence that is due to our eldest brother, and repeatedly urged by Arjuna to remain silent, I am not doing anything terrible.  If however, I am once commanded by king Yudhishthira the just, I would slay these wretched sons of Dhritarashtra, making slaps do the work of swords, like a lion slaying a number of little animals.”

Vaisampayana continued,—­“Unto Bhima who had spoken these words Bhishma and Drona and Vidura said, ’Forbear, O Bhima.  Everything is possible with thee.’”

SECTION LXX

“Karna said,—­’Of all the persons in the assembly, three, viz., Bhishma, Vidura, and the preceptor of the Kurus (Drona) appear to be independent; for they always speak of their master as wicked, always censure him, and never wish for his prosperity.  O excellent one, the slave, the son, and the wife are always dependent.  They cannot earn wealth, for whatever they earn belongeth to their master.  Thou art the wife of a slave incapable of possessing anything on his own account.  Repair now to the inner apartments of king Dhritarashtra and serve the king’s relatives.  We direct that that is now thy proper business.  And, O princess, all the sons of Dhritarashtra and not the sons of Pritha are now thy masters.  O handsome one, select thou another husband now,—­one who will not make thee a slave by gambling.  It is well-known that women, especially that are slaves, are not censurable if they proceed with freedom in electing husbands.  Therefore let it be done by thee.  Nakula hath been won, as also Bhimasena, and Yudhishthira also, and Sahadeva, and Arjuna.  And, O Yajnaseni, thou art now a slave.  Thy husbands that are slaves cannot continue to be thy lords any longer.  Alas, doth not the son of Pritha regards life, prowess and manhood as of no use that he offereth this daughter of Drupada, the king of Panchala, in the presence of all this assembly, as a stake at dice?’”

Vaisampayana continued,—­“Hearing these words, the wrathful Bhima breathed hard, a very picture of woe.  Obedient to the king and bound by the tie of virtue and duty, burning everything with his eyes inflamed by anger, he said,—­’O king, I cannot be angry at these words of this son of a Suta, for we have truly entered the state of servitude.  But O king, could our enemies have said so unto me, it thou hadst not played staking this princess?’”