with all her speed, Kichaka (who followed her), seizing her by the hair,
and bringing her down on the ground, kicked her in the very presence of
the king. Thereupon, O Bharata, the _Rakshasa_ that had been appointed
by Surya to protect Draupadi, gave Kichaka a shove with a force mighty
as that of the wind. And overpowered by the force of _Rakshasa_, Kichaka
reeled and fell down senseless on the ground, even like an uprooted
tree. And both Yudhishthira and Bhimasena who were seated there, beheld
with wrathful eyes that outrage on Krishna by Kichaka. And desirous of
compassing the destruction of the wicked Kichaka, the illustrious Bhima
gnashed his teeth in rage. And his forehead was covered with sweat, and
terrible wrinkles appeared thereon. And a smoky exhalation shot forth
from his eyes, and his eye-lashes stood on end. And that slayer of
hostile heroes pressed his forehead with his hands. And impelled by
rage, he was on the point of starting up with speed. Thereat king
Yudhishthira, apprehensive of discovery, squeezed his thumbs and
commanded Bhima to forbear. And Bhima who then looked like an infuriate
elephant eyeing a large tree, was thus forbidden by his elder brother.
And the latter said, 'Lookest thou, O cook, for trees for fuel. If thou
art in need of faggots, then go out and fell trees.' And the weeping
Draupadi of fair hips, approaching the entrance of the court, and seeing
her melancholy lords, desirous yet of keeping up the disguise duty-bound
by their pledge, with eyes burning in fire, spoke these words unto the
king of the Matsyas, 'Alas, the son of a _Suta_ hath kicked today the
proud and beloved wife of those whose foe can never sleep in peace even
if four kingdoms intervene between him and them. Alas, the son of a
_Suta_ hath kicked today the proud and beloved wife of those truthful
personages, who are devoted to Brahmanas and who always give away
without asking any thing in gift. Alas! the son of a _Suta_ hath kicked
today the proud and beloved wife of those, the sounds of whose
kettle-drums and the twangs of whose bow-strings are ceaselessly heard.