DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.638#0324
THE GREAT GAMBLING MATCH 243
naked now, thou must follow me. Hast thou not become
a slave, fairly staked and fairly won ? Henceforth thou
wilt serve among the other menials."
Trembling and faint, Draupadi was dragged through
the streets by Duhsasana. When she stood before the
elders and the chieftains in the pavilion she cried: " For-
give me because that I have come hither in this unseemly
plight. ..."
Bhishma and Drona and the other elders who were
there hung their heads in shame.
Unto Duhsasana Draupadi said angrily: "Cease thy
wickedness! Defile me no longer with unclean hands.
A woman's hair is sacred."
Sacred indeed were the locks of the Pandava queen, for
they had been sprinkled with water sanctified by mantras
at the imperial sacrifice.
Weeping, she cried: " Hear and help me, O ye elders.
You have wives and children of your own. Will you
permit this wrong to be continued. Answer me now."
But no man spake a word.
Draupadi wept and said: " Why this silence ? . . .
Will no man among ye protect a sinless woman ? . . .
Lost is the fame of the Kauravas, the ancient glory of
Bharata, and the prowess of the Kshatriyas! . . . Why
will not the sons of Pandu protect their outraged queen ?
• • . And hath Bhishma lost his virtue and Drona his
power? . . . Will Yudhishthira no longer defend one
who is wronged? . . . Why are ye all silent while this
deed of shame is done before you?"
As she spake thus, Draupadi glanced round the sons
or Pandu one by one, and their hearts thirsted for ven-
geance. Bhishma's face was dark, Drona clenched his
teeth, and Vidura, white and angry, gazed upon Duhsasana
With amaze while he tore off" Draupadi's veil and addressed
naked now, thou must follow me. Hast thou not become
a slave, fairly staked and fairly won ? Henceforth thou
wilt serve among the other menials."
Trembling and faint, Draupadi was dragged through
the streets by Duhsasana. When she stood before the
elders and the chieftains in the pavilion she cried: " For-
give me because that I have come hither in this unseemly
plight. ..."
Bhishma and Drona and the other elders who were
there hung their heads in shame.
Unto Duhsasana Draupadi said angrily: "Cease thy
wickedness! Defile me no longer with unclean hands.
A woman's hair is sacred."
Sacred indeed were the locks of the Pandava queen, for
they had been sprinkled with water sanctified by mantras
at the imperial sacrifice.
Weeping, she cried: " Hear and help me, O ye elders.
You have wives and children of your own. Will you
permit this wrong to be continued. Answer me now."
But no man spake a word.
Draupadi wept and said: " Why this silence ? . . .
Will no man among ye protect a sinless woman ? . . .
Lost is the fame of the Kauravas, the ancient glory of
Bharata, and the prowess of the Kshatriyas! . . . Why
will not the sons of Pandu protect their outraged queen ?
• • . And hath Bhishma lost his virtue and Drona his
power? . . . Will Yudhishthira no longer defend one
who is wronged? . . . Why are ye all silent while this
deed of shame is done before you?"
As she spake thus, Draupadi glanced round the sons
or Pandu one by one, and their hearts thirsted for ven-
geance. Bhishma's face was dark, Drona clenched his
teeth, and Vidura, white and angry, gazed upon Duhsasana
With amaze while he tore off" Draupadi's veil and addressed