Maha-bharata Part 11

Dragged her in her slipping garments by her long and trailing hair, And like sapling tempest-shaken, wept and shook the trembling fair!

Stooping in her shame and anguish, pale with wrath and woman's fear, Trembling and in stifled accents, thus she spake with streaming tear:

"Leave me, shameless prince Duhsasan! elders, n.o.ble lords are here, Can a modest wedded woman thus in loose attire appear?"

Vain the words and soft entreaty which the weeping princess made, Vainly to the G.o.ds and mortals she in bitter anguish prayed,

For with cruel words of insult still Duhsasan mocked her woo: "Loosely clad or void of clothing,--to the council hall you go,

Slave-wench fairly staked and conquered, wait upon thy masters brave, Live among our household menials, serve us as our willing slave!"

II

Draupadi's Plaint

Loose-attired, with trailing tresses, came Draupadi weak and faint, Stood within the Council Chamber, tearful made her piteous plaint:

"Elders! versed in holy _sastra_, and in every holy rite, Pardon if Draupadi cometh in this sad unseemly plight,

Stay thy sinful deed, Duhsasan, nameless wrongs and insults spare, Touch me not with hands uncleanly, sacred is a woman's hair,

Honoured elders, righteous n.o.bles, have on me protection given, Tremble sinner, seek no mercy from the wrathful G.o.ds in heaven!

Here in glory, son of DHARMA, sits my n.o.ble righteous lord, Sin nor shame nor human frailty stains Yudhishthir's deed or word,

Silent all? and will no chieftain rise to save a woman's life, Not a hand or voice is lifted to defend a virtuous wife?

Lost is Kuru's righteous glory, lost is Bharat's ancient name, Lost is Kshatra's kingly prowess, warlike worth and knightly fame,

Wherefore else do Kuru warriors tamely view this impious scene, Wherefore gleam not righteous weapons to protect an outraged queen?

Bhishma, hath he lost his virtue, Drona, hath he lost his might, Hath the monarch of the Kurus ceased to battle for the right,

Wherefore are ye mute and voiceless, councillors of mighty fame?

Vacant eye and palsied right arm watch this deed of Kuru's shame!"

III

Insult and Vow of Revenge

Spake Draupadi slender-waisted, and her words were stern and high, Anger flamed within her bosom and the tear was in her eye!

And her sparkling, speaking glances fell on Pandu's sons like fire, Stirred in them a mighty pa.s.sion and a thirst for vengeance dire!

Lost their empire, wealth and fortune, little recked they for the fall, But Draupadi's pleading glances like a poniard smote them all!

Darkly frowned the ancient Bhishma, wrathful Drona bit his tongue, Pale Vidura marked with anger insults on Draupadi flung!

Fulsome word nor foul dishonour could their truthful utterance taint, And they cursed Duhsasan's action, when they heard Draupadi's plaint!

But brave Karna, though a warrior,--Arjun's deadly foe was he,-- 'Gainst the humbled sons of Pandu spake his scorn thus bitterly:

"'Tis no fault of thine, fair princess! fallen to this servile state, Wife and son rule not their actions, others rule their hapless fate!

Thy Yudhishthir sold his birthright, sold thee at the impious play, And the wife falls with the husband, and her duty--to obey!

Live thou in this Kuru household, do the Kuru princes' will, Serve them as thy lords and masters, with thy beauty please them still!

Fair One! seek another husband who in foolish reckless game Will not stake a loving woman, will not cast her forth in shame!

For they censure not a woman, when she is a menial slave, If her woman's fancy wanders to the young and to the brave!

For thy lord is not thy husband, as a slave he hath no wife, Thou art free with truer lover to enjoy a wedded life!

They whom at the _swayamvara_, chose ye, fair Panchala's bride, They have lost thee, sweet Draupadi, lost their empire and their pride!"

Bhima heard, and quick and fiercely heaved his bosom in his shame, And his red glance fell on Karna like a tongue of withering flame!

Bound by elder's plighted promise Bhima could not smite in ire, Looked a painted form of Anger flaming with an anguish dire!

"King and elder!" uttered Bhima, and his words were few and brave, "Vain were wrath and righteous pa.s.sion in the sold and bounden slave!

Would that son of chariot-driver fling on us this insult keen, Hadst thou, n.o.ble king and elder, staked nor freedom nor our queen?"

Sad Yudhishthir heard in anguish, bent in shame his lowly head, Proud Duryodhan laughed in triumph, and in scornful accents said:

"Speak, Yudhishthir, for thy brothers own their elder's righteous sway, Speak, for truth in thee abideth, virtue ever marks thy way,

Hast thou lost thy new-built empire, and thy brothers proud and brave?

Hast thou lost thy fair Draupadi, is thy wedded wife our slave?"

Lip nor eye did move Yudhishthir, hateful truth would not deny, Karna laughed, but saintly Bhishma wiped his old and manly eye!

Madness seized the proud Duryodhan, and inflamed by pa.s.sion base, Sought the prince to stain Draupadi with a deep and foul disgrace!

On the proud and peerless woman cast his loving, l.u.s.tful eye, Sought to hold the high-born princess as his slave upon his knee!

Bhima penned his wrath no longer, lightning-like his glance he flung, And the ancient hall of Kurus with his thunder accents rung:

_"May I never reach those mansions where my fathers live on high, May I never meet ancestors in the bright and happy sky,_

_If that knee, by which thou sinnest, Bhima breaks not in his ire, In the battle's red arena with his weapon, deathful, dire!"_

Red fire flamed on Bhima's forehead, sparkled from his angry eye, As from tough and gnarled branches fast the crackling red sparks fly!

IV

Dhrita-rastra's Kindness