अन्तर्महीं वा यदि वोर्ध्वमुत्पतेः समुद्रपारं यदि वा प्र तथापि तेषां न विमोक्षमर्हसि प्रमाथिनो देवसुता हि खेचराः
Even if you were to enter the earth or fly up, or cross beyond the ocean, still you would not escape them; for those sons of gods, moving in the sky, are destroyers.
त्वं कालरात्रीमिव कश्चिदातुरः किं मां दृढं पार्थयसेऽद्य किं मातुरङ्के शयितो यथा शिशुश्चन्द्रं जिघृक्षुरिव मन्यस
Why do you so persistently desire me today, as a sick man might long for the night of death, or as a child lying in its mother’s lap wishes to grasp the moon?
तेषां प्रियां प्रार्थयतो न ते भुवि गत्वा दिवं वा शरणं भ न वर्तते कीचक ते दृशा शुभं या तेन संजीवनमर्थयेत सा ।। 2
Kīcaka, for one who seeks the beloved of those men, there is no refuge on earth or in heaven; the one who would seek life by such a deed finds no safety.
प्रत्याख्यातश्च पाञ्चाल्या कीचकः काममोहितः। प्रविश्य राजभवनं भगिन्या अग्रतः स्थितः ।। 1
Rejected by Pāñcālī, Kīcaka, overcome by desire, entered the royal palace and stood before his sister.
सोभिवीक्ष्य सुकेशान्तां सुदेष्णां भगिनीं प्रियाम् । अमर्यादेन कामेन घोरेणाभिपरिप्लुतः ।। 2
Seeing his dear sister Sudeshnā, with her beautiful hair, he was overwhelmed by unrestrained, terrible passion.
स तु मूर्ध्र्यञ्जलिं कृत्वा भगिन्याश्चरणावुभौ । संमोहाभिहतस्तूर्णं वातोद्धृत इवार्णवः ।। 3
He then, with hands joined on his head, touched both feet of his sister, seized by bewilderment, like an ocean stirred by the wind.
स प्रोवाच सुदुःखार्तो भगिनीं निश्वसन्मुहुः । अव्यक्तमृदुना साम्ना शुष्यता च पुनःपुनः ।। 4
He, deeply distressed, spoke to his sister, sighing repeatedly, his words faint, gentle, and often breaking from dryness.
यथा सुदेष्णे सैरन्ध्र्या संगच्छेयं सकामया । तथा शीघ्रं कुरुष्वाद्य माऽहं प्राणान्प्रहासिषम् ।। 5
Arrange quickly today, so that I may meet Sairandhri with her willing consent, O Sudeṣṇā; otherwise, I may lose my very life.
यदीयमनवद्याङ्गी न मामद्यापि काङ्क्षते । चेतसाऽभिप्रसन्नेन गतोस्मि यमसादनम् ।। 6
If this flawless woman does not desire me even now, with a heart truly inclined, then I have already reached the abode of Yama.
तमुवाच परिष्वज्य सुदेष्णा भ्रातरं प्रियम्। भ्रातुर्जीवितरक्षार्थं समाश्वास्यासितेक्षणा ।। 7
Sudeṣṇā, with dark eyes, embraced her dear brother, and to protect his life, comforted him with gentle words.
शरणागतेयं सुश्रोणी मया दत्ताभया च सा। शुभाचारा च भद्रं ते नैनां वक्तुमिहोत्सहे ।। 8
This noble-hipped woman has come to me for refuge, and I have granted her safety; she is of good conduct—may you fare well—I cannot bring myself to speak to her about this.
एषा हि शक्या नान्येन स्प्रष्टुं पापेन चेतसा। गन्धर्वाः किल पञ्चेमां रक्षन्ति रमयन्ति च ।। 9
No one else with evil intent can touch her, for it is said that five Gandharvas guard and cherish her.
एवमेषा ममाचष्टे तथा प्रथमसंगमे। तथैव गजनासोरूः सत्यमाह ममान्तिके। ते हि क्रुद्धा महात्मानो नाशयेयुर्हि जीवितम् ।। 10
She told me this herself at our very first meeting, and the one with elephantine thighs spoke the truth before me; those great souls, if angered, could destroy life itself.
राजा चैव समीक्ष्यैनां संमोहं गतवानिह । मया च सत्यवचनैरनुनीतो महीपतिः ।। 11
Even the king, seeing her, fell into confusion here, and I persuaded the ruler with truthful words.
सोप्येनामनिशं दृष्ट्वा मनसैवाभ्यनन्दत। भयाद्गन्धर्वमुख्यानां जीवितस्योपघातिनाम्। मनसाऽपि ततस्त्वेनां न चिन्तयति पार्थिवः ।। 12
He, too, after seeing her day and night, only rejoiced in his mind, but out of fear of the chief Gandharvas, who threaten life itself, the king does not even think of her in his heart.
ते हि क्रुद्धा महात्मानो गरुडानिलतेजसः। दहेयुरपि लोकांस्त्रीन्युगान्तेष्विव भास्करः ।। 13
Those great souls, fierce as Garuḍa, wind, and fire, if enraged, could burn up the three worlds, like the sun at the end of an age.
सैनन्ध्र्या ह्येतदाख्यातं मम तेषां महद्बलम्। तव चाहमिदं गुह्यं स्नेहाद्वक्ष्यामि बन्धुवत् ।। 14
Sairandhri herself told me of their great power; out of affection, I reveal this secret to you as to a kinsman.
मा गमिष्यसि वै कृच्छ्रां गतिं परमदुर्गमाम्। बलिनस्ते रुजं कुर्युः कुलस्य च धनस्य च ।। 15
Do not bring upon yourself a terrible and most difficult fate; their strength could bring ruin to your family and your wealth.
तस्मान्नास्यां मनः कर्तुं यदि प्राणा प्रियास्तव। न चिन्तयेथा मागास्त्वं मत्प्रियं च यदीच्छसि ।। 16
Therefore, do not set your heart on her if your life is dear to you; do not think of her, nor approach her, if you value what is dear to me.
एवमुक्तस्तु दुष्टात्मा भगिनीं कीचकोऽब्रवीत्। गन्धर्वाणां शतं वाऽपि सहस्रमयुतानि वा । अहमेको वधिष्यामि गन्धर्वान्पञ्च किं पुनः ।। 17
Thus addressed, the wicked-hearted Kīcaka said to his sister: Even if there are a hundred, a thousand, or ten thousand Gandharvas, I alone will slay them—what then of just five?
न च त्वमभिजानीषे स्त्रीणां गुह्यमनुत्तमम् । पुत्रं वा किल पौत्रं वा भ्रातरं वा मनस्विनम् ।। 18
You do not understand the deepest secrets of women—whether it be a son, a grandson, or a wise brother.
रहसीह नरं दृष्ट्वा नानागन्धविभूषितम्। योनिरुत्स्विद्यते स्त्रीणां सतीनामपि च श्रुतम् ।। 19
It is said that when a woman, even one of virtue, sees a man in private, adorned with various perfumes, her nature is stirred.
मां निरीक्ष्यानुलिप्ताङ्गं सर्वाभरणभूषितम्। वशमेष्यति सैरन्ध्री मन्मथेनाभिपीडिता। सा त्वं दृष्ट्वा ब्रूहि चैनां मम चेञ्जीवितं प्रियं ।। 20
When Sairandhri sees me, anointed and adorned with all ornaments, struck by love, she will come under my sway; so, when you see her, tell her that my life depends on her.
एवमुक्ता सुदेष्णा तु शोकेनाभिप्रपीडिता। अहो दुःखमहो कृच्छ्रमहो पापमिति स्मह ।। 21
Thus addressed, Sudeṣṇā, overwhelmed by grief, thought, 'Alas, what sorrow, what hardship, what sin!'
प्रारुदद्भृशदुःखार्ता विपाकं तस्य वीक्ष्य सा। पातालेषु पतत्येष विलपन्बडवामुखे ।। 22
Seeing his fate, she wept in deep anguish, saying, 'He is falling into the depths, lamenting as he plunges into the mouth of destruction.'
त्वत्कृते विनशिष्यन्ति भ्रातरः सुहृदश्च मे। किंनु शक्यं मया कर्तुं यत्त्वमेवमभिप्लुतः ।। 23
Because of you, my brothers and friends will perish; what can I possibly do when you are so overwhelmed?
न च श्रेयोऽभिजानीषे काममेवानुवर्तसे। ध्रुवं गतायुस्त्वं पाप यदेवं काममोहितः । अकर्तव्ये हि मां पापे नियुनङ्क्षि नराधम ।। 24
You do not recognize what is good; you simply follow your desires. Surely, your life is at its end, O sinner, since you are so deluded by passion. In this wrongful act, you drag me down, wretched man.
अपि चैतत्पुरा प्रोक्तं निपुणैर्मनुजोत्तमैः । एकस्तु कुरुते पापं स्वजातिस्तेन हन्यते ।। 25
Moreover, this has been said before by wise and noble men: when one commits a sin, his whole family is destroyed by it.
गतस्त्वं धर्मराजस्य विषयं नात्र संशयः। अदूषितमिदं सर्वं स्वजनं घातयिष्यसि ।। 26
You have entered the domain of the king of righteousness—there is no doubt of this. You will bring ruin upon your innocent kin.
एतत्तु मे दुःखतरं येनाहं भ्रातृसौहृदात्। विदितार्था करिष्यामि तुष्टो भव कुलक्षये ।। 27
But what pains me most is that, out of loyalty to my brothers, I must act as you wish—be pleased with the destruction of our lineage.