Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c11.78

v2.c11.78

Then she ran for protection into the sabhā,¹ where Yudhishṭhira was. Kīcaka ran after her, caught hold of her by the hair, threw her down, and kicked her. But then a Rākshasa, whom the sun god had sent Draupadī, after her prayer, to stand by her unseen, headlong as the wind took him off, and flung him to the ground. Yudhishṭhira and Bhīma saw what happened; over Bhīma’s eyes there passed a misty shadow, the sweat broke out from the dreadful wrinkles on his forehead; hand to hand he pressed, and ground his teeth in fury. His eyes were fastened on a tree standing near. But Yudhishṭhira was anxious lest it should be found out who they really were, made him a sign, and said: “O cook, an thou need wood, then go outside (beyond the city), and bring down trees for thyself.”² Draupadī controlled her countenance, but threw dreadful, almost burning glances at her husbands, and bitterly bewailed the fact that this son of a Sūta dared kick her, the wife of such mighty heroes, with his foot, and that, coward-like, they stood not by her; King Virāṭa, too, she felt, and his counsellors were shamelessly neglecting law and justice; they were calmly looking on at the crime against an innocent woman, they were acting like thieves and robbers. But