The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose: Sabha Parva
Religion
The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose: Sabha Parva
Epic literature, Sanskrit
Vaisampayana continued,--"When the attire of Draupadi was being thus
dragged, the thought of Hari, (And she herself cried aloud, saying), 'O
Govinda, O thou who dwellest in Dwaraka, O Krishna, O thou who art fond
of cow-herdesses (of Vrindavana). O Kesava, seest thou not that the
Kauravas are humiliating me. O Lord, O husband of Lakshmi, O Lord of
Vraja (Vrindavana), O destroyer of all afflictions, O Janarddana,
rescue me who am sinking in the Kaurava Ocean. O Krishna, O Krishna, O
thou great yogin, thou soul of the universe, Thou creator of all
things, O Govinda, save me who am distressed,--who am losing my senses
in the midst of the Kurus.' Thus did that afflicted lady resplendent
still in her beauty, O king covering her face cried aloud, thinking of
Krishna, of Hari, of the lord of the three worlds. Hearing the words of
Draupadi, Krishna was deeply moved. And leaving his seat, the
benevolent one from compassion, arrived there on foot. And while
Yajnaseni was crying aloud to Krishna, also called Vishnu and Hari and
Nara for protection, the illustrious Dharma, remaining unseen, covered
her with excellent clothes of many hues. And, O monarch as the attire
of Draupadi was being dragged, after one was taken off, another of the
same kind, appeared covering her. And thus did it continue till many
clothes were seen. And, O exalted one, owing to the protection of
Dharma, hundreds upon hundreds of robes of many hues came off
Draupadi's person. And there arose then a deep uproar of many many
voices. And the kings present in that assembly beholding that most
extraordinary of all sights in the world, began to applaud Draupadi and
censure the son of Dhritarashtra. And Bhima then, squeezing his hands,
with lips quivering in rage, swore in the midst of all those kings a
terrible oath in a loud voice.
"And Bhima said,--'Hear these words of mine, ye Kshatriyas of the
world. Words such as these were never before uttered by other men, nor
will anybody in the future ever utter them. Ye lords of earth, if
having spoken these words I do not accomplish them hereafter, let me
not obtain the region of my deceased ancestors. Tearing open in battle,
by sheer force, the breast of this wretch, this wicked-minded scoundrel
of the Bharata race, if I do not drink his life-blood, let me not
obtain the region of my ancestors.'"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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