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.
गच्छ शीघ्रमितस्त्वं हि स्वमेव भवनं शुभम्। किंचित्कार्यं समुद्दिश्य सुरामन्नं च कारय ।। 28
Go quickly now to your own fine house; make some excuse and have wine and food prepared.
कृते चान्ने सुरायां च प्रेषयिष्यसि मे पुनः । तामहं प्रेषयिष्यामि मध्वन्नार्थं तवान्तिकम् ।। 29
When the food and wine are ready, send word to me again; then I will send her to you for the sake of the honeyed food.
ततः संप्रेषितामेनां विजने निरवग्रहाम्। सान्त्वयेथा यथान्यायं यदि साम सहिष्यति ।। 30
After I send her, alone and without restraint, you should try to persuade her as is proper, if she will endure gentle words.
सद्यः कृतमिदं सर्वं शेषमत्रानुचिन्तय ।। 31
All this will be done at once; consider what remains to be done here.
सुदेष्णयैवमुक्तस्तु कीचकः कालचोदितः। त्वरमाणः प्रचक्राम स्वगृहं राजवेश्मनः ।। 32
Thus addressed by Sudeshna, Kichaka, urged on by fate, hurried from the royal palace to his own house.
आगम्य च गृहं रम्यं सुरामन्नं चकार ह। अजैडकं च सुकृतं बहु चोच्चावचान्मृगान् ।। 33
Arriving at his splendid house, he prepared wine and food, and had much well-cooked meat of various animals, both large and small.
भक्षांश्च विविधाकारान्बहूंश्चोच्चावचांस्तदा। कारयामास कुशलैरन्नपानैः सुसंस्कृतम् ।। 34
He had many kinds of delicacies, both rich and simple, prepared by skilled cooks, with food and drink well arranged.
त्वरावान्कालपाशेन कण्ठे बद्धः पशुर्यथा । नावबुध्यत मूढात्मा मरणं समुपस्थितम् ।। 35
Driven by haste, bound by the noose of fate like a beast with a rope around its neck, his deluded mind did not perceive that death was near.
आनीतायां सुरायां तु कृते चान्ने सुसंस्कृते। कीचकः पुनरागम्य सुदेष्णां वाक्यमब्रवीत् ।। 36
When the wine had been brought and the food well prepared, Kichaka returned again and spoke to Sudeshna.
मधु मांसं च बहुधा भक्ष्याश्च बहुधा कृताः। सुदेष्णे ब्रूहि सैरन्ध्रीं यथा सा मे गृहं व्रजेत् ।। 37
The wine, meat, and many kinds of delicacies are ready; Sudeshna, tell Sairandhri so that she may come to my house.