ing
her melancholy lords, desirous yet of keeping up the disguise duty-bound
by their pledge, with eyes burning in fire, spoke these words unto the
king of the Matsyas, 'Alas, the son of a _Suta_ hath kicked today the
proud and beloved wife of those whose foe can never sleep in peace even
if four kingdoms intervene between him and them. Alas, the son of a
_Suta_ hath kicked today the proud and beloved wife of those truthful
personages, who are devoted to Brahmanas and who always give away
without asking any thing in gift. Alas! the son of a _Suta_ hath kicked
today the proud and beloved wife of those, the sounds of whose
kettle-drums and the twangs of whose bow-strings are ceaselessly heard.
Alas, the son of a _Suta_ hath kicked today the proud and beloved wife
of those who are possessed of abundant energy and might, and who are
liberal in gifts and proud of their dignity. Alas, the son of a _Suta_
hath kicked today the proud and beloved wife of those who, if they had
not been fettered by the ties of duty, could destroy this entire world.
Where, alas, are those mighty warriors today who, though living in
disguise, have always granted protection unto those that solicit it? Oh,
why do those heroes today, endued as they are with strength and
possessed of immeasurable energy, quietly suffer, like eunuchs, their
dear and chaste wife to be thus insulted by a _Suta's_ son? Oh, where is
that wrath of theirs, that prowess, and that energy, when they quietly
bear their wife to be thus insulted by a wicked wretch? What can I (a
weak woman) do when Virata, deficient in virtue, coolly suffereth my
innocent self to be thus wronged by a wretch? Thou dost not, O king, act
like a king towards this Kichaka. Thy behaviour is like that of a
robber, and doth not shine in a court. That I should thus be insulted in
thy very presence, O Matsya, is highly improper. Oh, let all the
courtiers here look at this violence of Kichaka. Kichaka is ignorant of
duty and morality, and Matsya also is equally so. These courtiers also
that wait upon such a king are destitute of virtue.'"

Vaisampayana continued, "With these and other words of the same kind the
beautiful Krishna with tearful eyes rebuked the king of the Matsyas. And
hearing her, Virata said, 'I do not know what your dispute has been out
of our sight. Not knowing the true cause how can I show my
discrimination?' Then the courtiers, having learnt every thing,
applauded Krishna, and they all exc