"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?'"
Vaisampayana continued,--"Hearing these words of Bhimasena king
Duryodhana addressed Yudhishthira who was silent and deprived of his
senses, saying,--'O king, both Bhima and Arjuna, and the twins also,
are under thy sway. Answer thou the question (that hath been asked by
Draupadi). Say, whether thou regardest Krishna as unwon.' And having
spoken thus unto the son of Kunti, Duryodhana desirous of encouraging
the son of Radha and insulting Bhima, quickly uncovered his left thigh
that was like unto the stem of a plantain tree or the trunk of an
elephant and which was graced with every auspicious sign and endued
with the strength of thunder, and showed it to Draupadi in her very
sight. And beholding this, Bhimasena expanding his red eyes, said unto
Duryodhana in the midst of all those kings and as if piercing them
(with his dart-like words),--'Let not Vrikodara attain to the regions,
obtained by his ancestors, if he doth not break that thigh of thine in
the great conflict.' And sparkles of fire began to be emitted from
every organ of sense of Bhima filled with wrath, like those that come
out of every crack and orifice in the body of a blazing tree.
"Vidura then, addressing everybody, said,--'Ye kings of Pratipa's race,
behold the great danger that ariseth from Bhimasena. Know ye for
certain that this great calamity that threatens to overtake the
Bharatas hath been sent by Destiny itself. The sons of Dhritarashtra
have, indeed, gambled disregarding every proper consideration. They are
even now disputing in this assembly about a lady (of the royal
household). The prosperity of our kingdom is at an end. Alas, the
Kauravas are even now engaged in sinful consultations. Ye Kauravas,
take to your heart this high precept that I declare. If virtue is
persecuted, the whole assembly becometh polluted. If Yudhishthira had
staked her before he was himself won, he would certainly have been
regarded as her master. If, however a person staketh anything at a time
when he himself is incapable of holding any wealth, to win it is very
like obtaining wealth in a dream. Listening to the words of the king of
Gandhara, fall ye not off from this undoubted truth.'
"Duryodhana, hearing Vidura thus speak, said,--'I am willing to abide
by the words of Bhima, of Arjuna and of the twins. Let them say that
Yudhishthira is not their master. Yajnaseni will then be freed from her
state of bondage.'
"Arjuna at this, said,--'This illustrious son of Kunti, king
Yudhishthira the just, was certainly our master before he began to
play. But having lost himself, let all the Kauravas judge whose master
he could be after that.'"
Vaisampayana continued,--"Just then, a jackal began to cry loudly in
the homa-chamber of king Dhritarashtra's palace. And, O king, unto the
jackal that howled so, the asses began to bray responsively. And
terrible birds also, from all sides, began to answer with their cries.
And Vidura conversant with everything and the daughter of Suvala, both
understood the meaning of those terrible sounds. And Bhishma and Drona
and the learned Gautama loudly cried,--Swashti! Swashti! [Footnote 1]
Then Gandhari and the learned Vidura beholding that frightful omen,
represented everything, in great affliction, unto the king. And the
king (Dhritarashtra) thereupon said,--
[Footnote 1. A word of benediction, similar to 'Amen.']
"'Thou wicked-minded Duryodhana, thou wretch, destruction hath all
ready overtaken thee when thou insultest in language such as this the
wife of these bulls among the Kurus, especially their wedded wife
Draupadi.' And having spoken those words, the wise Dhritarashtra endued
with knowledge, reflecting with the aid of his wisdom and desirous of
saving his relatives and friends from destruction, began to console
Krishna, the princess of Panchala, and addressing her, the monarch
said,--'Ask of me any boon, O princess of Panchala, that thou desirest.
Chaste and devoted to virtue, thou art the first of all my
daughters-in-law.'
"Draupadi said,--'O bull of the Bharata race, if thou will grant me a
boon, I ask the handsome Yudhishthira, obedient to every duty, be freed
from slavery. Let not unthinking children call my child Prativindhya
endued with great energy of mind as the son of a slave. Having been a
prince, so superior to all men, and nurtured by kings it is not proper
that he should be called the child of a slave.'
"Dhritarashtra said unto her,--'O auspicious one, let it be as thou
sayest. O excellent one, ask thou another boon, for I will give it. My
heart inclineth to give thee a second boon. Thou dost not deserve only
one boon.'
"Draupadi said,--'I ask, O king, that Bhimasena and Dhananjaya and the
twins also, with their cars and bows, freed from bondage, regain their
liberty.'
"Dhritarashtra said,--'O blessed daughter, let it be as thou desirest.
Ask thou a third boon, for thou hast not been sufficiently honoured
with two boons. Virtuous in thy behaviour, thou art the foremost of all
my daughters-in-law.'
"Draupadi said,--'O best of kings, O illustrious one, covetousness
always bringeth about loss of virtue. I do not deserve a third boon.
Therefore I dare not ask any. O king of kings, it hath been said that a
Vaisya may ask one boon; a Kshatriya lady, two boons; a Kshatriya male,
three, and a Brahmana, a hundred. O king, these my husbands freed from
the wretched state of bondage, will be able to achieve prosperity by
their own virtuous acts!'