Draupadi said: "The wife of those whose enemy does not sleep while his foot touches the earth — me, their proud wife, the son of the suta struck with his foot. The wife of those who give and never beg, who honor brahmins and speak the truth — me, their proud wife, the son of the suta struck with his foot. The wife of those whose drumbeat and bowstring's twang are heard without pause — me, their proud wife, the son of the suta struck with his foot. The wife of those who are radiant, self-controlled, mighty and full of pride — me, their proud wife, the son of the suta struck with his foot. The wife of those who could destroy this whole world but are bound by the cords of dharma — me, their proud wife, the son of the suta struck with his foot. Where now are those great chariot-warriors who become a refuge for those who seek refuge, who move through the world unseen? How do these strong men of measureless might endure, like eunuchs, that their beloved and faithful wife is beaten by the son of a suta? Where now is their indignation, their valor, their fire, if they do not protect a wife being beaten by an evil man? What can I do here, when Virata lets dharma be defiled — he who watches me, innocent, being beaten, and endures it? O king, toward Kichaka you act in no way as a king should. Your justice is like that of bandits; it brings no honor to an assembly. Neither does Kichaka stand in his own dharma, nor does Matsya stand in his at all; and the members of the assembly, too, know nothing of dharma if they sit and tolerate this. Lord of men, Virata, I do not blame you before this gathering of your people. But I do not deserve to be struck down before your eyes, Matsya. Let the assembly witness Kichaka's transgression."