him, I shall
cause him to be slain if thou wishest it.' Thereupon Draupadi answered,
'Even others will slay him,--even they whom he hath wronged. I think it
is clear that he will have to go to the abode of Yama this very day!'"

SECTION XVII

Vaisampayana said, "Thus insulted by the _Suta's_ son, that illustrious
princess, the beautiful Krishna, eagerly wishing for the destruction of
Virata's general, went to her quarters. And Drupada's daughter of dark
hue and slender waist then performed her ablutions. And washing her body
and cloths with water Krishna began to ponder weepingly on the means of
dispelling her grief. And she reflected, saying, 'What am I to do?
Whither shall I go? How can my purpose be effected?' And while she was
thinking thus, she remembered Bhima and said to herself, 'There is none
else, save Bhima, that can today accomplish the purpose on which my
heart is set!' And afflicted with great grief, the large-eyed and
intelligent Krishna possessed of powerful protectors then rose up at
night, and leaving her bed speedily proceeded towards the quarters of
Bhimasena, desirous of beholding her lord. And possessed of great
intelligence, the daughter of Drupada entered her husband's quarters,
saying, 'How canst thou sleep while that wretched commander of Virata's
forces, who is my foe, yet liveth, having perpetrated today _that_ (foul
act)?'"

Vaisampayana continued, "Then the chamber where Bhima slept, breathing
hard like a lion, being filled with the beauty of Drupada's daughter and
of the high-souled Bhima, blazed forth in splendour. And Krishna of
sweet smiles, finding Bhimasena in the cooking apartments, approached
him with the eagerness of a three-year old cow brought up in the woods,
approaching a powerful bull, in her first season, or of a she-crane
living by the water-side approaching her mate in the pairing season. And
the Princess of Panchala then embraced the second son of Pandu, even as
a creeper embraces a huge and mighty _Sala_ on the banks of the Gomati.
And embracing him with her arms, Krishna of faultless features awaked
him as a lioness awaketh a sleeping lion in a trackless forest. And
embracing Bhimasena even as a she-elephant embraceth her mighty mate,
the faultless Panchali addressed him in voice sweet as the sound of a
stringed instrument emitting _Gandhara_ note. And she said, 'Arise,
arise! Why dost thou, O Bhimasena, lie down as one dead? Surely, he that
is not dead, never suffe