एवं विराटेन समेत्य पाण्डवो लब्ध्वा च गोबल्लवतां यथेष्टतः। अज्ञातचर्यामवसन्महात्मा यथा रविश्चास्तगिरिं प्रविष्टः ।। 26
Thus, having met with Virata, the Pandava obtained the position of chief herdsman as he wished; the great soul lived in disguise, like the sun entering the mountain.
एवं विराटे न्यवसंश्च पाण्डवा यथा प्रतिज्ञाभिरमोघविक्रमाः । अबुद्धचर्यां चरितुं यथातथं समुद्रनेमीमभिशास्तुमुद्यताः ।। 27
Thus the Pandavas dwelt with Virata, as pledged, with unfailing valor; they lived incognito, striving as if to reach the rim of the ocean.
ततः कृष्णा सुकेशी सा दर्शनीया शुचिस्मिता। वेणीकेशान्समुत्क्षिप्य पीनवृत्तकुचा शुभा । जुगूहे दक्षिणे पार्श्वे मृदूनसितलोचना ।। 1
Then Krishna, with beautiful hair, lovely to behold and pure in smile, lifting her braided hair and full, rounded breasts, concealed herself at her right side, her eyes soft and cool.
वासश्च परिधायैकं कृष्णा सुमलिनं महत्। कृत्वा वेषं च सैरन्ध्र्याः कृष्णा व्यचरदार्तवत् ।। 2
Krishna put on a single, large, soiled garment, adopting the attire of Sairandhri, and wandered about in distress.
प्रविष्टा नगरं भीरूः सैरन्ध्रीवेषसंयुता। तां नराः परिधावन्तः स्त्रियश्च समुपाद्रवन् ।। 3
Entering the city, timid and dressed as Sairandhri, men and women rushed toward her.
अपृच्छंस्ते च तां दृष्ट्वा का त्वं किं च चिकीर्षसि। सा तानुवाच राजेन्द्र सैरन्ध्र्यहमुपागता। कर्म चेच्छामि वै कर्तुं तस्य या मां भरिष्यति ।। 4
Seeing her, they asked, 'Who are you, and what do you wish to do?' She replied to them, 'O king, I have come as Sairandhri; I wish to serve whoever will employ me.'
तस्या रूपेण वेषेण श्लक्ष्णया च गिरा तथा। न श्रद्दधानास्तां देवीमन्नहेतोरुपस्थिताम् ।। 5
Because of her appearance, attire, and gentle speech, they did not believe that the goddess had come seeking food.
विराटस्य तु कैकेयी भार्या परमसंमता। आलोकयन्ती ददृशे प्रासादाद्द्रुपदात्मजाम् ।। 6
Virata's wife, Kaikeyi, highly esteemed, saw her from the palace and recognized the daughter of Drupada.
सा समीक्ष्य तथारूपामनाथामेकवाससम्। स्त्रीभिश्च पुरुषैश्चापि सर्वतः परिवारिताम् ।। 7
She, appearing thus—unprotected and clad in a single garment, surrounded on all sides by women and men—was observed.
विराटभार्या तां देवी कारुण्याज्जातसंभ्रमा। अप्रेषयत्समीपस्थाः स्त्रियो वृद्धाश्च तत्पराः ।। 8
The queen of Virata, that noble lady, moved by compassion and suddenly concerned, sent for the elderly women who were nearby.
अपनीय ततः सर्वा आनयध्वमिहैव ताम्। यदा दृष्टा मया साध्वी कम्पते मे मनस्तदा। तस्माच्छीघ्रमिहानाय दर्शयध्वं यदीच्छथ ।। 9
Remove everyone from here and bring her at once; whenever I see that virtuous woman, my mind is disturbed—so quickly bring her here and present her, if you wish.
तास्तथोक्ता उपागम्य द्रौपदीं परिसंगताः। आनीय सर्वथा त्वेनामब्रुवन्मधुराक्षरम् ।। 10
Thus instructed, those women approached Draupadi, gathered around her, brought her in every way, and addressed her with gentle words.
भद्रे त्वां द्रष्टुमिच्छन्ती सुदेष्णा हर्म्यभूतले। त्वदर्थं प्रैषयच्चास्मान्द्रष्टुं तां त्वं यदीच्छसि। आयाह्यस्माभिरेवाद्य रक्ष्यमाणा यथेष्टतः ।। 11
Good lady, Queen Sudeshna wishes to see you in the palace; she has sent us for your sake. If you desire to meet her, come with us today, protected as you wish.
तच्छ्रुत्वा द्रौपदी तासां वचनं वाक्यकोविदा। ईप्सितर्थातिलाभेन हृष्टाऽऽयाता गृहोत्तमम् ।। 12
Hearing their words, Draupadi—skilled in speech—was delighted at obtaining her desired aim, and went to the splendid palace.
राजवेश्म ह्युपाक्रम्य यत्राग्र्यमहिषी स्थिता। सुदेष्णामगमत्कृष्णा राजभार्यां यशस्विनीम् ।। 13
Entering the royal residence, where the chief queen was present, Krishna approached Sudeshna, the illustrious royal wife.
कृष्णान्केशान्मृदून्दीर्घान्समुद्ग्रथ्यासितेक्षणा। कुञ्चिताग्रांस्तु सूक्ष्माग्रान्दर्शनीयान्निबध्य च। जुगूहे दक्षिणे पार्श्वे मृदूनायतलोचना ।। 14
Krishna, with soft and long hair, dark-eyed, gathered her curling and fine-tipped tresses, tied them up, and concealed them on her right side—she of gentle, wide eyes.
सा प्रविश्य विराटस्य द्रौपद्यन्तःपुरं शुभा। ह्रीनिषेवान्विता बाला कम्पमाना लतेव सा ।। 15
That noble girl, modest and reserved, entered the inner chambers of King Virata, trembling like a delicate vine.
अभिगम्य च सुश्रोणी सर्वलक्षणसंयुता। ददर्शावस्थितां हैमे पीठे रत्नपरिच्छदे ।। 16
Approaching, that fair-hipped woman, adorned with all auspicious marks, saw Sudeshna seated on a golden throne inlaid with jewels.
रक्तसूक्ष्माम्बरधरां मेघे सौदामिनीमिव । नानावर्णविचित्रां च सर्वाभरणभूषिताम् ।। 17
Clad in fine red garments, adorned with various colors and all kinds of ornaments, she shone like lightning on a cloud.
सुभ्रूं सुकेशीं सुश्रोणीं कुब्जवामनमध्यगाम्। बहुपुष्पोपकीर्णायां भूम्यां वेदिमिवाध्वरे ।। 18
With beautiful brows, lovely hair, and graceful hips, she approached the queen, who was surrounded by many flowers, like an altar in a sacrifice upon the earth.
सुदेष्णां राजमहिषीं सर्वालंकारभूषिताम्। श्रीमतीं राजपुत्रीणां शतेन परिवारिताम् ।। 19
Sudeshna, the royal queen, adorned with every ornament, radiant, was surrounded by a hundred princesses.
ताः सर्वा द्रौपदीं दृष्ट्वा सन्तप्ताः परमाङ्गनाः । परितश्चोपतस्थुस्ताः सहसोत्थाय चासनात् ।। 20
All those noble women, seeing Draupadi, were deeply moved, and immediately rose from their seats and gathered around her.
निरीक्षमाणाः सर्वास्ताः शचीं देवीमिवागताम्। गूढगुल्फां वरारोहां कृष्णां ताम्रायतेक्षणाम्। अतिसर्वानवद्याङ्गीं नतगात्रीं सुमध्यमाम् ।। 21
All of them gazed upon Krishna, her ankles hidden, of noble form, with coppery wide eyes, flawless in every limb, bowed in posture, and slender-waisted—like the goddess Shachi herself had arrived.
न ह्रस्वां नातिमहतीं जातां बहुतृणे वने। ऋश्यरोहीमिवानिन्द्यां सुकेशीं मृगलोचनाम् ।। 22
She was neither short nor too tall, born in a grassy forest, faultless like a female rishyarohi deer, with lovely hair and deer-like eyes.
तां मृगीमिव वित्रस्तां यूथभ्रष्टामिव द्विपाम्। लक्ष्मीमिव विशालाक्षीं विद्यामिव यशस्विनीम् ।। 23
She seemed like a frightened doe, like an elephant cow separated from her herd, with wide eyes like the goddess of fortune, radiant like knowledge itself.
रोहिणीमिव ताराणां दीप्तामग्निशिखामिव। पार्वतीमिव रुद्राणीं वेलामिव महोदधेः ।। 24
She was like Rohini among the stars, like a blazing flame, like Parvati among goddesses, like the shore of the great ocean.
सुलभामिव नागीनां मृगीणामिव किन्नरीम्। गङ्गामिव विशुद्धाङ्गीं शारदीमिव शर्वरीम् ।। 25
Like a serpent maiden easy to approach, like a celestial woman among deer, pure-bodied as the Ganges, radiant as an autumn night.
तामचिन्त्यतमां लोके इलामिव यशस्विनीम् । सावित्रीमिव दुर्धषां ब्राह्म्या लक्ष्म्या समन्वितां ।। 26
Unfathomable in this world, illustrious as Ila, formidable as Savitri, endowed with the splendor of Brahma and Lakshmi.
सीतामिव सतीं शुद्धामरुन्धतीमिव प्रियाम् । सुदेष्णा पर्यपृच्छत्तां विस्मयोत्फुल्ललोचना ।। 27
Like Sita, pure and faithful; like Arundhati, beloved—Sudeṣṇā questioned her, her eyes wide with wonder.
का त्वं सर्वानवद्याङ्गि कुतोसि त्वमिहागता। कस्य वा त्वं विशालाक्षि किं वा ते करवाण्यहम् ।। 28
Who are you, flawless in every limb? From where have you come here? Whose are you, wide-eyed one? What may I do for you?