h[18]
banians and peepals and _Kinsukas_ falling down on the earth lay in
clusters. And beholding that Gandharva approach them like a lion in
fury, all the _Sutas_ trembling with fear and greatly distressed, became
panic-struck. And they addressed each other, saying, 'Lo, the powerful
Gandharva cometh hither, filled with rage, and with an upraised tree in
hand. Let _Sairindhri_, therefore, from whom this danger of ours hath
arisen, be set free.' And beholding the tree that had been uprooted by
Bhimasena, they set Draupadi free and ran breathlessly towards the city.
And seeing them run away, Bhima, that mighty son of the Wind-god,
despatched, O foremost of kings, by means of that tree, a hundred and
five of them unto the abode of Yama, like the wielder of the thunderbolt
slaying the Danavas. And setting Draupadi free from her bonds, he then,
O king, comforted her. And that mighty-armed and irrepressible
Vrikodara, the son of Pandu, then addressed the distressed princess of
Panchala with face bathed in tears, saying, 'Thus, O timid one, are they
slain that wrong thee without cause. Return, O Krishna, to the city.
Thou hast no longer any fear; I myself will go to the Virata's kitchen
by another route.'"

[18] Literature, force of his thighs.

Vaisampayana continued, "It was thus, O Bharata, that a hundred and five
of those Kichakas were slain. And their corpses lay on the ground,
making the place look like a great forest overspread with uprooted trees
after a hurricane. Thus fell those hundred and five Kichakas. And
including Virata's general slain before, the slaughtered Sutas numbered
one hundred and six. And beholding that exceedingly wonderful feat, men
and women that assembled together, were filled with astonishment. And
the power of speech, O Bharata, was suspended in every one."

SECTION XXIV

Vaisampayana said, "And beholding the Sutas slain, the citizens went to
the king, and represented unto him what had happened, saying, 'O king,
those mighty sons of the Sutas have all been slain by the Gandharvas.
Indeed, they lie scattered on the earth like huge peaks of mountains
riven by thunder. _Sairindhri_ also, having been set free, returneth to
thy palace in the city. Alas, O king, if _Sairindhri_ cometh, thy entire
kingdom will be endangered. _Sairindhri_ is endued with great beauty;
the Gandharvas also are exceedingly powerful. Men again, without doubt,
are naturally sexual. Devise, therefore, O king, withou