ORIENTAL SERIES.

96
DRA UPADI.
ing that she was guarded by five Gandharvas, who would prevent
any improper advances. She lived a quiet life for a while, hut
her heauty excited the passions of Kichaka, the queen's "brother,
who was commander-in-chief, and the leading man in the kingdom.
His importunities and insults greatly annoyed her, hut
she met with no protection from the queen, and was rebuked for
her complaints and petulance by Yndhi-sh/hira. Her spirit of
revenge was roused, and she appealed as usual to Bhima, whose
fiery passions she well knew how to kindle. She complained of
her menial position, of the insults she had received, of the in-
difference of her husbands, and of the base offices they were
content to occupy. Bhima promised revenge. An assignation
was made with Kichaka which Bhima kept, and he so mangled
the unfortunate gallant that all his flesh and bones were rolled
into a ball, and no one could discover the manner of his death.
The murder was attributed to Draupaclfs Gandharvas, and she
was condemned to be burnt on Klchaka's funeral pile. Then
Bhima disguised himself, and tearing up a tree for a club, went
to her rescue. He was supposed to be the Gandharva, and
every one fled before him. He released Draupadi, and they
returned to the city by different ways. After the term of exile
was over, and the Pawdavas and she were at liberty to return,
she was more ambitious than her husbands, and complained to
K?ishna of the humility and want of resolution shown by
Yudhi-shtfhira. She had five sons, one by each husband
Prati-vindhya, son of Yudhi-shtfhira ; Sruta-soma, son of Bhima ;
Snita-kirtti, son of Arjuna; fiatanlka, son of Nakula; and
$ruta-karman, son of Saha-deva. She with these five sons was
present in camp on the eighteenth and last night of the great
battle, while her victorious husbands were in the camp of the
defeated enemy. Aswatthaman with two companions entered the
camp of the PamZavas, cut down these five youths, and all whom
they found Draupadi called for vengeance upon Aswatthaman,
Yudhi-shfliira endeavoured to moderate her anger, but she appealed
to Bhima, Arjuna pursued Aswatthaman, and overtook him, but
he spared his life after taking from him a celebrated jewel which
he wore as an amulet. Arjuna gave this jewel
to Bhima for
presentation to Draupadi On receiving it she was consoled,
and presented the jewel to Yudhi-shftiira as the head of the
family. When her husbands retired from the world and went