याज्ञसेनी सुदेष्णां तु शुश्रूषन्ती विशांपते । आवसत्परिचारार्हा सुदुःखं जनमेजय ।। 2
Yajnaseni, serving Sudeshna, O lord of men, lived there, worthy of service, enduring great hardship, O Janamejaya.
तथा चरन्ती पाञ्चाली सुदेष्णाया निवेशने। ता देवीं तोपयामास तथा चान्तःपुरस्त्रियः ।। 3
Thus, Panchali, moving about in Sudeshna’s residence, pleased the queen and also the women of the inner chambers.
तस्मिन्वर्षे गतप्राये कीचकस्तु महाबलः। सेनापतिर्विराटस्य ददर्श द्रुपदात्मजाम् ।। 4
As that year was drawing to a close, Kichaka, the mighty commander of Virata, saw the daughter of Drupada.
तां दृष्ट्वा देवगर्भायां चरन्तीं देवतामिव । कीचकः कामयामास कामबाणप्रपीडितः ।। 5
Seeing her, radiant as if born of the gods and moving like a goddess, Kichaka was seized by desire, pierced by the arrows of passion.
स तु कामाग्निसंतप्तः सुदेष्णामभिगम्य वै। प्रहसन्निव सेनानीरिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ।। 6
Burning with the fire of longing, Kichaka approached Sudeshna, and, smiling, the commander spoke these words.
नेयं मया जातु पुरेह दृष्टा राज्ञी विराटस्य निवेशने शुभा। रूपेण चोन्मादयतीव मां भृशं गन्धेन जाता मदिरेव भामिनी ।। 7
Never before in this city or in the palace of King Virata have I seen this beautiful woman; her form stirs me deeply, and her fragrance, like wine, intoxicates me.
का देवरूपा हृदयंगमा शुभे ह्याचक्ष्व मे कस्य कुतोत्र शोभने। चित्तं हि निर्मथ्य करोति मां वशे न चान्यदत्रौपधमस्ति मे मतम् ।। 8
Who is this divine-looking woman, enchanting to the heart? Tell me, O lovely one, whose is she, and from where has she come? She has seized my mind and brought it under her sway; I see no fault in this, in my view.
अहो तवेयं परिचारिका शुभा प्रत्यग्ररूपा प्रतिभाति मामियम्। अयुक्तरूपं हि करोति कर्म ते प्रशास्तु मां यच्च ममास्ति किंचन ।। 9
Ah, this beautiful attendant of yours, so fresh in her appearance, captivates me; she performs tasks unfit for her form. Grant me whatever you possess, let her please me.
प्रभूतनागाश्वरथं महाजनं समृद्धियुक्तं बहुपानयोजनम्। मनोहरं काञ्चनचित्रभूषणं गृहं महच्छोभयतामियं मम ।। 10
Let her grace my great house, adorned with many elephants, horses, chariots, and people, filled with abundance and drink, resplendent with golden ornaments, and delightful to behold.
ततः सुदेष्णामनुमन्त्र्य कीचकस्ततः समभ्येत्य नराधिपात्मजाम्। उवाच कृष्णामभिसान्त्वयंस्तदा मृगेन्द्रकन्यामिव जम्बुको वने ।। 11
Then, after consulting Sudeshna, Kichaka approached the princess, and with soothing words addressed Krishna, as a jackal might approach the daughter of a lion in the forest.
का त्वं कस्यासि कल्याणि कुतो वा त्वं वरानने। प्राप्ता विराटनगरं तत्त्वमाचक्ष्व शोभने ।। 12
Who are you, O auspicious one? Whose are you, and from where do you come, O beautiful-faced woman? Tell me truly how you have come to the city of Virata, O lovely one.
रूपमग्र्यं तथा कान्तिः सौकुमार्यमनुत्तमम्। कान्त्या विभाति वक्रं ते शशाङ्क इव निर्मलं ।। 13
Your beauty is supreme, your radiance and delicacy unmatched; your shining face glows with a gentle curve, pure as the spotless moon.
नेत्रे सुविपुले सुभ्रु पद्मपत्रनिभेशुभे। वाक्यं ते चारुसर्वाङ्गि परपुष्टरुतोपमम् ।। 14
Your eyes are large and lovely, your brows graceful, resembling lotus petals, O beautiful one; your speech, O woman of perfect form, is as sweet as the song of a well-trained bird.
एवंरूपा मया नारी काचिदन्या महीतले। न दृष्टपूर्वा सुश्रोणि यादृशी त्वमनिन्दिते ।। 15
Never before have I seen on earth a woman like you, O fair-hipped and faultless one.
लक्ष्मीः पद्मालया का त्वमथ भूतिः सुमध्यमे। ह्रीः श्रीः कीर्तिरथो कान्तिरासां का त्वं वरानने ।। 16
Are you Lakshmi, dwelling in the lotus? Or are you Bhuti, O slender-waisted one? Are you modesty, fortune, fame, or beauty? Which of these are you, O beautiful-faced woman?
अतीव रूपिणी किं त्वमनङ्गविहारिणी। अतीव भ्राजसे सुभ्रु प्रभेवेन्दोरनुत्तमा ।। 17
You are exceedingly beautiful—do you sport with the god of love? You shine, O lovely-browed one, with a brilliance surpassing even the moon.
अपि चेक्षणपक्ष्माणां स्थितज्योत्स्नोपमं शुभम्। दिव्यांशुरश्मिभिर्वृत्तं दिव्यकान्तिमनोरमम् ।। 18
Indeed, the beauty of your eyelashes is like the steady light of the moon; your face, encircled by divine rays, is enchanting and radiant.
निरीक्ष्य वक्रचन्द्रं ते लक्ष्म्याऽनुपमया युतम्। कृत्स्ने जगति को नेह कामस्य वशगो भवेत् ।। 19
Beholding your curved, moon-like face, endowed with incomparable grace, who in all the world would not fall under the sway of desire?
हारालंकारयोग्यौ तु स्तनौ चोभौ शुभोभनौ । सुजातौ सहितौ लक्ष्म्या पीनौ वृत्तौ निरन्तरौ ।। 20
Your two breasts, fit for garlands and ornaments, are beautiful, well-formed, full, rounded, and close together, endowed with grace.
कुड्मलाम्बुरुहाकारौ तव सुभ्रु पयोधरौ। कामप्रतोदाविव मां तुदतश्चारुहासिनि ।। 21
Your breasts, O lovely-browed one, are shaped like unopened lotus buds; O woman of charming smile, they strike me like the goads of desire.
वलीविभङ्गचतुरं स्तनभारविनामितम्। कराग्रसंमितं मध्यं तवेदं तनुमध्यमे ।। 22
Your waist, slender one, is skillfully marked with folds, bent by the weight of your breasts, and fits within the span of my hands.
दृष्ट्वैव चारुजघनं सरित्पुलिनसंनिभम्। कामव्याधिरसाध्यो मामप्याक्रामति भामिनि ।। 23
Just seeing your lovely hips, resembling the sandbanks of a river, O beautiful one, the incurable disease of desire seizes me as well.
जज्वाल चाग्निमदनो दावाग्निरिव निर्दयः । त्वत्सङ्गमाभिसंकल्पविवृद्धो मां दहत्ययम् ।। 24
The fire of love blazes within me, relentless as a forest fire, growing ever stronger with thoughts of union with you, and it burns me.
आत्मप्रदानवर्षेण संगमाम्भोधरेण च। शमयस्व वरारोहे ज्वलन्तं मन्मथानलम् ।। 25
Quench this burning fire of love, O fair-hipped one, with a shower of your self-giving and the cloud of your union.
मच्चित्तोन्मादनकरा मन्मथस्य शरोत्कराः। त्वत्सङ्गमाशानिशितास्तीव्राः शशिनिभानने । मह्यं विदार्य हृदयमिदं निर्दयवेगिताः ।। 26
The sharp arrows of Kāma, which drive me mad with longing for you, O moon-faced one, pierce my heart with merciless speed, sharpened by the hope of union with you.
प्रविष्टा ह्यसितापाङ्गि प्रचण्डाश्चण्डदारुणाः। अत्युन्मादसमारम्भाः प्रीत्युन्मादकरा मम। आत्मप्रदानसंभोगैर्मामुद्धर्तुमिहार्हसि ।। 27
O dark-eyed one, these fierce, intense arrows have entered me, causing wild madness and overwhelming passion; you ought to rescue me here with the enjoyment of your self-giving.
चित्रमाल्याम्बरधरा सर्वाभरणभूषिता। कामं प्रकामं सेव त्वं मया सह विलासिनि ।। 28
Adorned with wondrous garlands and garments, decked in every ornament, indulge freely in pleasure with me, O playful one.
नार्हसीहासुखं वस्तुं सुखार्हा सुखवर्जिता। प्राप्नुह्यनुत्तमं सौख्यं मत्तस्त्वं मत्तगामिनि ।। 29
You should not remain deprived of happiness, you who are worthy of joy; come, obtain supreme delight from me, O one with the gait of an intoxicated elephant.
स्वादून्यमृतकल्पानि पेयानि विविधानि च। पिबमाना मनोज्ञानि रममाणा यथासुखम् ।। 30
Drink various sweet and nectar-like beverages, charming one, and enjoy yourself as you please.
भोगोपचारान्विविधान्सौभाग्यं चाप्यनुत्तमम्। पानं पिब महाभागे भोगैश्चानुत्तमैः शुभैः ।। 31
O highly fortunate one, enjoy the finest pleasures and delights, and drink the best of wines with auspicious enjoyments.