Arjuna replied: "Revered brother, I shall hide myself in the guise of a eunuch and serve the ladies of the court. I shall hide under a jacket the scars on my arms made by the constant chafing of the bowstring.

When I rejected Urvasi's amorous overtures on the ground that she was like a mother unto me, she cursed me with loss of manhood; but through Indra's grace the curse would hold good only for a year, and the time would be mine to choose.

I shall serve out that year of loss of man hood now. Wearing bangles made of white conchs, braiding my hair like a woman, and clothing myself in female attire, I shall engage myself in menial work in the inner apartments of Virata's queen.

I shall teach the women singing and danc- ing. And I shall seek service saying that I used to serve Draupadi in Yudhishthira's court." Saying this, Arjuna turned to Draupadi and smiled.