by good luck also it is
that those Sutas have been slain that had wronged thee, innocent though
thou art.' Hearing this, Vrihannala said, 'How hast thou, O
_Sairindhri_, been delivered? And how have those sinful wretches been
slain? I wish to learn all this from thee exactly as it occurred.'
_Sairindhri_ replied, 'O blessed Vrihannala, always passing thy days
happily in the apartments of the girls, what concern hast thou with
_Sairindhri's_ fate to say? Thou hast no grief to bear that _Sairindhri_
hath to bear! It is for this, that thou askest me thus, distressed as I
am in ridicule.' Thereat Vrihannala said, 'O blessed one, Vrihannala
also hath unparalleled sorrows of her own. She hath become as low as a
brute. Thou dost not, O girl, understand this. I have lived with thee,
and thou too hast lived with us. When, therefore, thou art afflicted
with misery, who is it that will not, O thou of beautiful hips, feel it?
But no one can completely read another's heart. Therefore it is, O
amiable one, that thou knowest not my heart!'"

Vaisampayana continued, "Then Draupadi, accompanied by those girls
entered the royal abode, desirous of appearing before Sudeshna. And when
she came before the queen, Virata's wife addressed her at the command of
the king, saying, 'Do thou, O _Sairindhri_, speedily go whithersoever
thou likest. The king, good betide thee, hath been filled with fear at
this discomfiture at the hands of the Gandharvas. Thou art, O thou of
graceful eye-brows, young and unparalleled on earth in beauty. Thou art,
besides, an object of desire with men. The Gandharvas again, are
exceedingly wrathful.' Thereat _Sairindhri_ said, 'O beauteous lady, let
the king suffer me to live here for only thirteen days more. Without
doubt, the Gandharvas also will be highly obliged at this. They will
then convey me hence and do what would be agreeable to Virata. Without
doubt, the king, by doing this, with his friends, will reap great
benefit.'"

SECTION XXV

Vaisampayana said, "At the slaughter of Kichaka and brothers, people, O
king, thinking of this terrible feat, were filled with surprise. And in
the city and the provinces it was generally bruited about that for
bravery the king's Vallava and Kichaka were both mighty warriors. The
wicked Kichaka, however, had been an oppressor of men and a dishonourer
of other people's wives. And it was for this that wicked of sinful soul
had been slain by the Gandharvas. And it was thus, O k