MAHABHARATA CONDENSED INTO ENGLISH ... - Mandhata Global
MAHABHARATA CONDENSED INTO ENGLISH ... - Mandhata Global
MAHABHARATA CONDENSED INTO ENGLISH ... - Mandhata Global
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For they censure not a woman, when she is a menial slave,<br />
If her woman's fancy wanders to the young and to the brave,<br />
For thy lord is not thy husband, as a slave he hath no wife,<br />
Thou art free with truer lover to enjoy a wedded life,<br />
They whom at the swayamvara, thou had'st chose, Panchala's bride,<br />
They have lost thee, sweet Draupadi, lost their empire and their pride!"<br />
Bhima heard, and quick and fiercely heaved his bosom in his shame,<br />
And his red glance fell on Karna like a tongue of withering flame,<br />
Bound by elder's plighted promise Bhima could not smite in ire,<br />
Looked the painted form of Anger flaming with an anguish dire!<br />
"King and elder! " uttered Bhima, and his words were few and brave,<br />
"Vain were wrath and righteous passion in the sold and bounden slave,<br />
Would that son of chariot-driver fling on us this insult keen,<br />
Hadst thou, noble king and elder, staked nor freedom nor our queen?"<br />
Sad Yudhishthir heard in anguish, bent in shame his lowly head,<br />
Proud Duryodhan laughed in triumph, and in scornful accents said:<br />
Speak, Yudhishthir, for thy brothers own their elder's righteous away,<br />
Speak, for truth in thee abideth, virtue ever marks thy way,<br />
Hast thou lost thy new-built empire, and thy brothers proud and brave,<br />
Hast thou lost thy fair Draupadi, is thy wedded wife our slave?<br />
Lip nor eye did move Yudhishthir, hateful truth might not deny,<br />
Karna laughed, but saintly Bhishma wiped his old and manly eye.<br />
Madness seized the proud Duryodhan, and inflamed by passion base,<br />
Sought the prince to stain Draupadi with a deep and dire disgrace,<br />
On the proud and peerless woman cast his wicked lustful eye,<br />
Sought to hold the high-born princess as his slave upon his knee!<br />
Bhima penned his wrath no longer, lightning-like his glance he flung<br />
And the ancient hall of Kurns with his thunder accents rung:<br />
May I never reach those mansions where my fathers live on high,<br />
May I never meet ancestors in the bright and happy sky,