different degrees of excellence. And when all this had been done, that
gentle lady Sudeshna, as previously counselled by Kichaka, desired her
_Sairindhri_ to repair to Kichaka's abode, saying, 'Get up, O
_Sairindhri_ and repair to Kichaka's abode to bring wine, for, O
beauteous lady, I am afflicted with thirst.' Thereupon the _Sairindhri_
replied, 'O princess, I shall not be able to repair to Kichaka's
apartments. Thou thyself knowest, O queen, how shameless he is. O thou
of faultless limbs, O beauteous lady, in thy palace I shall not be able
to lead a lustful life, becoming faithless to my husbands. Thou
rememberest, O gentle lady, O beautiful one, the conditions I had set
down before entering thy house. O thou of tresses ending in graceful
curls, the foolish Kichaka afflicted by the god of desire, will, on
seeing me, offer me insult. Therefore, I will not go to his quarters.
Thou hast, O princess, many maids under thee. Do thou, good betide thee,
send one of them. For, surely, Kichaka will insult me.' Sudeshna said,
'Sent by me, from my abode, surely he will not harm thee.' And having
said this, she handed over a golden vessel furnished with a cover. And
filled with apprehension, and weeping, Draupadi mentally prayed for the
protection of the gods, and set out for Kichaka's abode for fetching
wine. And she said, 'As I do not know another person save my husbands,
by virtue of that Truth let Kichaka not be able to overpower me although
I may approach his presence.'"

Vaisampayana continued, "And that helpless damsel then adored Surya for
a moment. And Surya, having considered all that she urged, commanded a
_Rakshasa_ to protect her invisibly. And from that time the _Rakshasa_
began to attend upon that blameless lady under any circumstances. And
beholding Krishna in his presence like a frightened doe, the _Suta_ rose
up from his seat, and felt the joy that is felt by a person wishing to
cross to the other shore, when he obtains a boat."