Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c11.94

v2.c11.94

They laid hold of her and dragged her with them to the place of the burning to give her to the flames along with the lover, and so do him a loving service even in death. Loudly she cried out for help, and Bhīma leaped over the wall, and fell on the Sūtas, tearing up a mighty tree, and swinging it as a weapon. In terror the men let the girl go, and fled before the supposed Gandharva. But he killed a hundred and five, “this made with Kīcaka a hundred and six.” Filled with fear and terror they now importuned the king to take all care lest his kingdom should fall a prey to destruction; for the Gandharvas, they said, were so strong, and the waiting-maid too fair; and such a lovely object for the senses attracted men all too strongly to the pleasures of love. Virāṭa now exhorts his wife to send away the waiting-maid, saying he could not tell her for fear of the Gandharvas,¹ while a woman would not come by any harm if she did it. Meanwhile Draupadī came home again, and the girls, who were being taught by Arjuna disguised as a eunuch, came out and congratulated her; but the queen asked the dangerous one to go away. Draupadī begged to be allowed to stop another thirteen days (iv, 14-24).²