Intro
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.
Kichaka said,
‘Come, come to daddy m’lady.
You look ready to have my baby.’
2.
You will wear my gold garland around your neck.
I will fix jewel, gem and diamond to your diadem.
3.
I will make you my conquest bed to breakfast.
I will slide my tongue navel to breast.
I want to glide into your essence.
I feel intoxicated in your presence.
Come I have made a bridal bed covered with presents.Â
Come let us get drunk in our succulents.’
4.
Draupadi said,
‘Pray to God Hari you don’t think I am yours to marry.
You are day-drunk scary.
5.
You may have wifed some other low lifes this way.
Suta son keep your hands away I don’t play.Â
6.
No. Not now. Not tomorrow. Not today. Not ever.
I have never in body, heart nor mind desired another.’
7.
Vaishampayana said,
‘In dark desire Kichaka’s eyes took in a lustful glint.
Kichaka swam in Draupadi’s oceanic eyes.
Kichaka drowned in Draupadi’s scent.
Kichaka seized Draupadi’s garment that he meant to rend.
8.
Draupadi fought back Kichaka’s attack.
Draupadi bent Kichaka down on his back.
9.
With Kichaka on her heels, Draupadi ran to the Sabha.
Draupadi sought protection from Yudhishthira.
10.
There in plain sight of the king, Kichaka grabbed Draupadi’s hair.
Kichaka kicked Draupadi while everyone stopped and stared.
11.
Then Kichaka was blinded by a sun ray.
Draupadi shove sent Kichaka sideways.
12.
Kichaka fell like a tree as Draupadi broke free.
Kichaka passed out in a prostrate posture for prayer.
13.
Bhimasena and Yudhishthira were in sight to witness Draupadi and General Kichaka fight.
14.
The urge to kill the vile Kichaka made Bhima raw.
Bhima ground his teeth and clenched his jaw.Â
15.
Bhima’s ears poured steam.
Bhima’s eyes bulged red.
16.
Bhima rubbed his forehead.
Bhima stood up in rage.
17.
Yudhishthira pressed Bhima with his thumb.
‘Bhima, don’t be dumb!’
18.
Bhimasena’s dark anger flashed to Yudhishthira for a moment.
‘Now is not the time to punish this crime is all I meant.’
19.
‘Chop wood in the forest, not the guest house.’
20.
Draupadi wept in the Sabha door for her husbands to stare.Â
Draupadi begged the king of Matsya for relief loudly for her husband to hear.
21.
‘Drupada’s daughter trembled in wrath.
In desperate shape she seared Dharma’s protectors with a bitter laugh.
22.
‘My husband’s enemies cannot sleep nor stay awake.
I am their respected wife, yet the son of a suta kicks me.’
23.
They advocate for the brahman sake.
Yet the son of a suta kicks me.
24.
War drums beat in their hearts night and day.
Yet the son of a suta kicks me.
25.
They make brave men’s teeth shake.
Yet the son of a suta kicks me.
26.
They could destroy the world if it were their stake.
Yet the son of a suta kicks me.
27.
They resort to making money.
They wander the world acting funny.
28.
Tell them their beloved burns.
Tell them when they kill this wretch to take turns.
29.
Where can they be?
Will their true selves return?’
30.
I will not defile Dharma for your men of Virata to have a good time.
You all witness his depraved crime.Â
31.
Act like a king.
You protect Kichaka like a quisling.
Dharma burns to ash from your silence.
32.Â
In your Sabha, Kichaka perpetrates outrageous acts of violence.
I want to see this piece of trash burn to ash in your presence.
33.
Kichaka and Matsya are Dharma’s delightful defects.
Virata’s Sabha worships da’ light so perfect.
They light puja with upright respect.
Yet not one can serve Dharma’s prefect.’Â
34.
Vaishampayana said,
Krishnaa stuck righteous law in Matsya’s maw.
Not a pin drop, not a guffaw.
35.
Virata said,
‘I cannot take a side when I have no insight into why you young love fight.
Like art and wealth, truth is beheld in the light.’
36.
Vaishampayana said,
After understanding what happened the courtiers in the Sabha praised Draupadi for being virtuous and staid.
The courtiers censured Kichaka for his drunken escapade.
37.
All in the Sabha said,
‘The lucky one who calls her with perfectly formed limbs ‘wife’ should not lament one second on account of doubt.
38.
Her eyes make men fall into the sea.
She is built perfect like Lakshmi.
39.
Vaishampayana said,
Yudhishthira saw red when the Sabha men heaved heavy praise upon Draupadi’s well formed arms and legs.Â
Beads of sweat pooled on Yudhishthira’s forehead like boiled eggs.
40.
Then Kaurava Yudhishthira whispered to the princess.
‘Don’t make a stand now.
Go to Sudeshna’s residence, Sairandhri.
41.
A man’s valor is bound to his wife.
His services rendered to her together through life.
42.
Now is not the time to witness your husband’s wrath.
Your Gandharvas husbands have not yet come running to save you from down the path.
43.
Sairandhri, you interrupted King Matsya throwing dice.
Your calamity is a delay of game.
44.
Sairandhri, go away just the same.Â
Your beloved Gandharvas will keep you from Kichaka’s vise.’
45.
Sairandhri said,
‘For Artha, for dharma, for those whose karma will not spare the harmful!’
46.
Vaishampayana said,
Krishnaa broke down in tearful scorn.
Krishnaa ran to Sudeshna’s residence in disgrace.
Krishnaa’s hair was disheveled and her garment torn.Â
Krishnaa’s look could melt iron.
47.
Teary streaks raced down Krishnaa’s face like a moon etched by a cloudy tendril trace.
48.
Sudeshna said,
‘Who caused this distress?
What pig tore your dress?
Who robbed your happiness?’
49.
Draupadi said,
‘I swear to God Hari, Kichaka pulled my hair and struck me with his feet.
The beast tried to subjugate me in the Sabha like a forest animal in heat.’
50.
Sudeshna said,
‘Kichaka has hurt me by doing you harm.
Lust has taken his mind by swarm.’
51.
Sairandhri said,
‘There are plenty of others with whom Kichaka can get his jollies.
Now is his time to die by me.’
Notes
[1] Kichaka is King Virata's General and brother in law by wife Sudeshna.Â
[4] Hari is Vishnu. Vishnu, the preserver, is one of the three principal deities of Hinduism. Shiva, the destroyer, and Brahma, the creator, are the other two points in the trinity.
[7] Vaishampayana, ibid.
[9] Sabha is a royal court, building. Its like a temple or house of representatives.
[21] Dharma is duty. The duty of a warrior is to protect people - allowing a vaishya to be assaulted in the Sabha is a situation obviously calling for the duty of a warrior. None dare arrest Kichaka for his crimes though.
[22] A suta is charioteer, the driver for a warrior. Suta may also be attendant, flunky, henchman, or crony. Kichaka is a bad guy, so his sutas are on the shady side.
[23] Brahman is holy person, or sage.
[27] The Pandavas are living as Vaishyas in Virata.Â
Vaishyas are in trade or farming - Draupadi is digging Bhima and Yudhishthira for once again witnessing her assault in a Sabha as in Dyuta Parva.
[38] Lakshmi is the Goddess of wealth and beauty.Â
[50] Sairandhri is Draupadi's alias in Virata