Mahabharata, Epic of the Bharatas
An Abbreviated Translation of the Indian Classic, the Mahabharata by Romesh Chundar Dutt in 2,000 verses
An Abbreviated Translation of the Indian Classic, the Mahabharata by Romesh Chundar Dutt in 2,000 verses
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Book IV. Dyuta (The Fatal Dice) – 37<br />
“Have I heard <strong>the</strong>e, menial, rightly?” questioned she in anguish keen,<br />
“Doth a crownéd king and husband stake his wife and lose his queen,<br />
Did my noble lord and monarch sense and reason lose at dice,<br />
O<strong>the</strong>r stake he did not wager, wedded wife to sacrifice!”<br />
“O<strong>the</strong>r stakes were duly wagered,” so he spake with bitter groan,<br />
“Wealth and empire, every object which Yudhishthir called his own,<br />
Lost himself and all his bro<strong>the</strong>rs, bondsmen are those princes brave,<br />
Then he staked his wife and empress, thou art prince Duryodhan’s slave!”<br />
Rose <strong>the</strong> queen in queenly anger, and with woman’s pride she spake:<br />
“Hie <strong>the</strong>e, menial, to thy master, Queen Draupad’s answer take,<br />
If my lord, himself a bondsman, <strong>the</strong>n hath staked his queen and wife,<br />
False <strong>the</strong> stake, for owns a bondsman nei<strong>the</strong>r wealth nor o<strong>the</strong>r’s life,<br />
Slave can wager wife nor children, and such action is undone,<br />
Take my word to prince Duryodhan, Queen Draupadi is unwon!”<br />
[240] Wrathful was <strong>the</strong> proud Duryodhan when he heard <strong>the</strong> answer bold,<br />
To his younger, wild Duhsasan, thus his angry mandate told:<br />
“Little-minded is <strong>the</strong> menial, and his heart in terror fails,<br />
For <strong>the</strong> fear <strong>of</strong> wrathful Bhima, lo! his coward-bosom quails,<br />
Thou Duhsasan, bid <strong>the</strong> princess as our humble slave appear,<br />
Pandu’s sons are humble bondsmen, and thy heart it owns no fear!”<br />
Fierce Duhsasan heard <strong>the</strong> mandate, blood-shot was his flaming eye,<br />
Forthwith to <strong>the</strong> inner chambers did with eager footsteps hie,<br />
Proudly sat <strong>the</strong> fair Draupadi, monarch’s daughter, monarch’s wife,<br />
Unto her <strong>the</strong> base Duhsasan spake <strong>the</strong> message, insult-rife:<br />
“Lotus-eyed Panchala-princess! fairly staked and won at game,<br />
Come and meet thy lord Duryodhan, chase that mantling blush <strong>of</strong> shame,<br />
Serve us as thy lords and masters, be our beauteous bright-eyed slave,<br />
Come unto <strong>the</strong> Council Chamber, wait upon <strong>the</strong> young and brave!”<br />
Proud Draupadi shakes with tremor at Duhsasan’s hateful sight,<br />
And she shades her eye and forehead, and her bloodless cheeks are white,