The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose: Virata Parva
Religion
The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose: Virata Parva
Epic literature, Sanskrit
maddening shafts of Manmatha whetted and sharpened by the desire of a
union with thee, piercing this heart of mine in their impetuous course,
have penetrated into its core. O black-eyed lady, those impetuous and
cruel shafts are maddening me beyond endurance. It behoveth thee to
relieve me from this plight by surrendering thyself to me and favouring
me with thy embraces. Decked in beautiful garlands and robes and adorned
with every ornament, sport thou, O sweet damsel, with me to thy fill. O
thou of the gait of an elephant in rut, deserving as thou art of
happiness though deprived of it now, it behoveth thee not to dwell here
in misery. Let unrivalled weal be thine. Drinking various kinds of
charming and delicious and ambrosial wines, and sporting at thy pleasure
in the enjoyment of diverse objects of delight, do thou, O blessed lady,
attain auspicious prosperity. This beauty of thine and this prime of thy
youth, O sweet lady, are now without their use. For, O beauteous and
chaste damsel, endued with such loveliness, thou dost not shine, like a
graceful garland lying unused and unworn. I will forsake all my old
wives. Let them, O thou of sweet smiles, become thy slaves. And I also,
O fair damsel, will stay by thee as thy slave, ever obedient to thee, O
thou of the most handsome face.' Hearing these words of his, Draupadi
replied, 'In desiring me, a female servant of low extraction, employed
in the despicable office of dressing hair, O _Suta's_ son, thou desirest
one that deserves not that honour. Then, again, I am the wife of others.
Therefore, good betide thee, this conduct of thine is not proper. Do
thou remember the precept of morality, viz., that persons should take
delight only in their wedded wives. Thou shouldst not, therefore, by any
means bend thy heart to adultery. Surely abstaining from improper acts
is ever the study of those that are good. Overcome by ignorance sinful
men under the influence of desire come by either extreme infamy or
dreadful calamity.'"
[13] _Bhuti, Hri, Sri, Kirti_ and _Kanti_ are respectively the
feminine embodiments of Prosperity, Modesty, Beauty, Fame and
Loveliness.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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