Virata parva is the story of the Pandavas thirteenth year in exile from their kingdom.
https://crackpot.substack.com/t/virata
As It Rhymes
1-17 [abridged].
Bhimasena said,
‘If you can hold out for one and a half more moons, you will be queen again before winter monsoon.’
18.
Draupadi said,
‘My trouble has a name.
O’ Bhimasena! The misery I have obtained is without restraint.
19.
O’ Bhimasena! Let the past be the past and the present be the present.
Now is the time to put in work.
20.
Kaikeyi wants me to go away no doubt.
If Kichaka claims me she figures I’ll be out.
21.
Kichaka knows Sudeshna’s intent to matchmake.
Kichaka is dangerous to forsake.
22.Â
O’ Bhima! I am so pissed off my head could spin.
Kichaka tells me he wants to lick my skin.
23.Â
I am a wife to five musicians.
They will kill you for your proposition.
24.
Kichaka lewdly beckons.
‘Sairandhri I am not afraid of your husbands, send them my way’, Kichaka says.
25.
Kichaka reckons he has killed hundreds and thousands in battle.
‘I will kill your fearsome husbands in seconds.’
26.Â
I told Kichaka many times to give up his game.
Instead he insults my husbands’ fame.
27.
My dharma is my chastity.
Either Kichaka or I will die before I blasphemy.
28.
This wicked person has me in a caged pit.
Kaikeyi looks for Kichaka’s benefit.Â
29.
Sudeshna intends to send me to Kichaka until I submit.
Or until Kichaka makes me bear it.
30.
That son of a suta thinks he is on the come.
I intend to bury him.
31.
When Kichaka realized I was not game.
Kichaka became engulfed in flame.
32.
The son of a suta went beyond the pale, when the evil one kicked my tail.
33.
 My shame was seen by a crowd.
Kanka and King Virata saw my assault.
Warriors as witnesses saw not one fault.
34.
Kanka and kings again and again watch me get beaten.
Not one brave soul in Virata’s kingdom would intervene.
35.
Kichaka is King Virata’s foremost general.
Kichaka abandons dharma to chase tail.
36.
Kichaka is as skilled a warrior to be found.
Uses his mighty arms to drag women to ground.
37.
Kichaka robs and extorts.
Kichaka brags and exhorts.
38.
Lust drives Kichaka to act.
The famous Kichaka lives in ignorance.
39.
If Kichaka conquers me I will end my life.
My dharma will be destroyed if Kichaka makes me his wife.
40-42.
You protect loyalty and royal tea.
When we unite we become one and three.
Now It’s time to protect yourself - me.
43.
Kshatriyas have no greater dharma than to defeat their enemy.
Dharmaraja saw Kichaka’s foot strike me.
44.
Bhimasena, your strength is my refuge.
You smashed Jatasura to ghastly refuse.
45.
You shaved Jayadratha too.
To think who may have me in chains if not for you.
46-47.
Kichaka is the King’s right to left hand go get it done vice.
We need a plan to put Kichaka on ice.
48.
Bhimasena, I need your help in this hour of crisis.
Bhimasena, will you kill Kichaka?’
49.
Vaishampayana said,
 ‘Krishnaa prayed to Rudra.
Bhima consoled Krishnaa while his mind turned on her words like a cobra.
50.
Bhima held Krishnaa in his arms tight and whispered assurances that it would all be right.
51.
Bhima rubbed his hands in wrath as his mind did the math.
Bhima thought of a plan to bring Kichaka to rough justice.
Bhima assured Draupadi he would remove the blockage from her path with prejudice.Â
Notes
[1] Bhima asks Draupadi if she can wait a little longer until the Pandavas period of exile expires.
The Pandavas arrived in the spring. This is month ten - fall or winter monsoon season.
[20] Kaikeyi is Sudeshna. Sudeshna is King Virata's wife and General Kichaka's sister.
[24] Sairandhri is Draupadi's alias in Virata.
[30] A suta is a charioteer.
[33] Kanka is Yudhishthira's alias in Virata. Bhima and Yudhishthira witnessed Kichaka assault Draupadi in the Sabha.
[43] There are four varnas; Brahman (priests), Kshatriya (warrior), Vaishya (merchants and farmors) and Shudra (labor)
[44] The story of Jatasura is told in a previous chapter https://crackpot.substack.com/p/annihilation-of-jatasura
[45] The story of Jayadratha's abduction of Draupadi is told in another chapter.
[49] Krishnaa is Draupadi.
Vaishampayana
Notebook Collage
