’Thus, O Krishna, afflicted with numerous griefs, and in great distress, am I living, with Dhaumya at our head, but deprived of the company of the adorable Kunti!  Why do these that are gifted with strength and possessed of the prowess of the lion, sit indifferently, beholding me thus afflicted by enemies so despicable?  Suffering such wrongs at the hands of wicked and evil-doing foes of small strength, am I to burn in grief so long?  Born I was in a great race, coming into the world in an extraordinary way!  I am also the beloved wife of the Pandavas, and the daughter-in-law of the illustrious Pandu!  The foremost of women and devoted to my husbands, even I, O Krishna, was seized by hair, O slayer of Madhu, in the sight of the Pandavas, each of whom is like an Indra himself!

’Saying this the mild-speeched Krishna hid her face with her soft hands like the buds of lotus, and began to weep.  And the tears of Panchali begot of grief washed her deep, plump and graceful breasts crowned with auspicious marks.  And wiping her eyes and sighing frequently she said these words angrily and in a choked voice, ’Husbands, or sons, or friends, or brothers, or father, have I none!  Nor have I thee, O thou slayer of Madhu, for ye all, beholding me treated so cruelly by inferior foes, sit still unmoved!  My grief at Karna’s ridicule is incapable of being assuaged!  On these grounds I deserve to be ever protected by thee, O Kesava, viz., our relationship, thy respect (for me), our friendship, and thy lordship (over me)

“Vaisampayana continued, ’In that assembly of heroes Vasudeva then spake unto the weeping Draupadi as follows, ’O fair lady, the wives of those with whom thou art angry, shall weep even like thee, beholding their husbands dead on the ground, weltering in blood and their bodies covered with the arrows of Vivatsu!  Weep not, lady, for I will exert to the utmost of my powers for the sons of Pandu!  I promise thou shalt (once more) be the queen of kings!  The heavens might fall, or the Himavat might split, the earth might be rent, or the waters of the ocean might dry up, but my words shall never be futile!’ Hearing those words of Achyuta in reply, Draupadi looked obliquely at her third husband (Arjuna).  And, O mighty king, Arjuna said unto Draupadi, ’O thou of beautiful coppery eyes, grieve not!  O illustrious one, it shall be even as the slayer of Madhu hath said!  It can never be otherwise, O beautiful one!’

“Dhrishtadyumna said, ’I will slay Drona, Sikhandin will slay the grandfather.  And Bhimasena will slay Duryodhana, and Dhananjaya will slay Karna.  And, O sister, assisted by Rama and Krishna, we are invincible in battle by even the slayer himself of Vritra—­what are the sons of Dhritarashtra?’

“Vaisampayana continued, ’After these words had been spoken, all the heroes there turned their faces towards Vasudeva, who then in their midst began to speak as follows.’”

SECTION XIII