Living on _vighasa_, we serve the gods and others to the best of our
power. And we are ever intent upon bowing down to our superiors and
Brahmanas. A friend, and one confiding, and he whose food hath been
partaken of, and he that hath afforded shelter, should never be injured.
Thou hast lived in our place happily, being duly honoured. And, O
evil-minded one, having partaken of our food, how canst thou carry us
off? And as thy acts are so improper and as thou hast grown in age
without deriving any benefit and as thy propensities are evil, so thou
deservest to die for nothing, and for nothing wilt thou die to-day. And
if thou beest really evil-disposed and devoid of all virtue, do thou
render us back our weapons and ravish Draupadi after fight. But if
through stupidity thou must do this deed, then in the world thou wilt
only reap demerit and infamy. O Rakshasa, by doing violence to this
female of the human race, thou hast drunk poison, after having shaken
the vessel.' Thereupon, Yudhishthira made himself ponderous to the
Rakshasa. And being oppressed with the weight, he could not proceed
rapidly as before. Then addressing Draupadi, Nakula and Sahadeva,
Yudhishthira said, 'Do ye not entertain any fear of this wretched
Rakshasa, I have checked his speed. The mighty-armed son of the Wind-god
may not be far away; and on Bhima coming up at the next moment, the
Rakshasa will not live.' O king, staring at the Rakshasa bereft of
sense, Sahadeva addressed Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, saying, 'What
can be more meritorious for a Kshatriya than to fall in fight, or defeat
a foe? O repressor of foes, we will fight and either this one will slay
us, or we shall slay him, O mighty-armed one. Verily this is the place
and time, O king. And, O thou of unfailing prowess, the time hath come
for the display of our Kshatriya virtue. It behoveth us to attain heaven
either by gaining victory or being slain. If the sun sets to-day, the
Rakshasa living yet, O Bharata, I will not any more say that I am a
Kshatriya. Ho! Ho! Rakshasa, say! I am Pandu's son, Sahadeva. Either,