Virata Parva is the story of the Pandavas thirteenth year in exile.
https://crackpot.substack.com/t/virata
As It Rhymes
1.
Vaishampayana said,
Kichakas’ bros assembled to cry.
They surrounded Kichaka’s crushed corpse from all sides.
2.
Kichaka’s turtled pose made a hair-raising sight.
The bros felt equal in measure rage and fright.
3.
Bhimasena struck Kichaka like a lightning bolt hits a stack of hay.
Pressed into a ball like sculptor clay.Â
4.
Kichaka’s sons saw Krishnaa watching the funeral from a hillside temple.
Krishnaa leaned against a pillar and munched an apple.
5.
The ravaging Kichakas blamed Krishnaa’s ravishing desires for what transpired.
The rabid Kichakas aspired to throw Krishnaa in the fire.Â
6.
The Sutas chanted,
‘Let her burn!’
‘It’s her turn!’
7.
Virata gave the Kichakas a green-lit wave.
Virata gas lit believed Sairandhri put his top General in his grave.
8.
King Virata was wary of the riled up Kichakas.
The Kichakas were renowned for valor by vaishyas.
9.
The cretin assembly outnumbered Lotus eyed Krishnaa.
The Kichakas chase made Draupadi faint.
10.
The mad men seized Draupadi then.
They pulled their beards thirsting for revenge.
11.
The Suta’s sons vilified Krishnaa for Kichaka’s deadly turn.
The mob sentenced Krishnaa to burn.
12.
Krishnaa screamed,
‘Jaya!’
‘Jayanta!’
‘Vijaya!’
‘Jayatsena!’
‘Jayadbala!’
‘Protect me from Sati!’
13.
‘Help! I am being dragged into the dark!
The Suta’s sons want to burn me in the park!’
14.
Help me!
The suta’s wretches have me in their clutches!’
15.
Vaishampayana said,
Draupadi’s scream roused Bhimasena from his dream.
16.
Bhimasena said,
‘I heard Sairandhri call out fearfully.
The Suta’s sons will be light work for me.’
17.
Bhima stretched, yawned, sneezed and wiped away sleep.Â
Bhima ran the wrong way.
18.
Bhima crashed a door to egress the keep.
Bhimasena swam a river then climbed a tree to peep.
19.
Bhima scouted the Kichakas’ direction.
Bhima scaled the city wall without detection.
20.
Bhima wrapped a wet towel around his head.
Bhima saw the Sutas at the forest funeral pyre.Â
21.
Bhima used his shoulder to uproot a betel tree.
Bhima fashioned a club stripping leaves.
22.
Bhima’s club measured ten human wingspans.
In Bhima’s hand the log was a deathly polearm lance.
23.
Whirling staff in hand Bhima descended upon the bonfire dance.
Bhima’s thighs raced to dispense rough hewn justice.Â
24.
Bhima’s leonine arms bent like hooks.Â
When the morose Sutas saw Bhima’s pole they were shook.
25.
Sutas took flight when they saw Bhima’s desire to fight.
Sutas cut Sairandhri free as she mumbled incoherently.
26.
Sutas panicked and fled toward the city light.
Sutas offered Draupadi to Bhimasena to save their skin.
27.
But Bhimasena ran like the wind.
Bhima became Yama with his sticks.
Bhima became Indra, sparking danavas lightning quick.Â
28.
Bhima sent Kichakas gentlemen to Yama’s land.
Then Bhima led Krishnaa gently by the hand.
29.
Vrikodara spoke to Panchali Draupadi.
Tears rolled down Draupadi’s cheeks.
30.
‘Your binds are cut, I’ve chopped up the snakes laying in the weeds.
You will be safe in Virata for the remaining weeks.’
31.
Vaishampayana said,
O’ Bharata!
They counted one hundred five fallen in that night’s brutality.
32.
With the army general that’s one hundred and six by fatality.
33.
O’ Bharata! The next day men and women were struck in wonder by the inhumanity.
Who but a God they thought would have wrought this calamity on Kichaka’s dynasty.
Notes
[1] Vaishampayana, Janamejaya ibid.
[3] Indra is the lord of Gods. Indra throws the vajra, or lightning bolt, and kills many demons - danavas.
[4] The Suta is Kichaka. Suta means charioteer.
[7] Sairandhri is Draupadi's alias in Virata.
[8] There are four varnas; Brahman (priests), Kshatriya (warrior), Vaishya (merchants and farmers) and Shudra (labor)
[9] Krishnaa is Draupadi.
[12] These are aliases for all five Pandavas. Yudhishthira gave these aliases to the Pandavas before entering Virata for emergency calls.
Sati is the practice of burning someone - women - alive.
[27] Yama is the God of death.
Indra, ibid.
[29] Panchali is Draupadi.
Vrikodara is Bhima.