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.
केनचित्त्वद्य कार्येण त्वर शीघ्रं मम प्रियम्। अहं हि शरणं देवं प्रतिपद्ये वृषध्वजम्। समागमं मे सैरन्ध्र्या मरणं वा दिशेति वै ।। 38
For some reason of yours, quickly do me this favor; for I take refuge in the god with the bull-banner—let me have union with Sairandhri, or let death come to me.
सा तमाह विनिःश्वस्य प्रतिगच्छ स्वकं गृहम्। एषाऽहमपि सैरन्ध्रीं सुरार्थे तूर्णमादिशे ।। 39
She sighed and said to him, 'Go back to your own house; I will at once order Sairandhri to bring the wine.'
एवमुक्तस्तु पापात्मा कीचकस्त्वरितः पुनः । स्वगृहं प्राविशत्तूर्णं सैरन्ध्रीगतमानसः ।। 40
Thus spoken to, the wicked-hearted Kichaka quickly entered his own house, his mind fixed on Sairandhri.
कीचकं तु गतं ज्ञात्वा त्वरमाणं स्वकं गृहम्। सैरन्ध्रीं तत आहूय सदेष्णा वाक्यमब्रवीत् ।। 41
Knowing that Kichaka had gone hurriedly to his house, Sudeṣṇā summoned Sairandhri and spoke to her in the assembly.
गच्छ सैरन्ध्रि मत्प्रीत्यै कीचकस्य निवेशनम् । सुरामानय सुश्रोणि तृषिताऽहं विलासिनि ।। 42
Go, Sairandhri, for my pleasure, to Kichaka's residence; bring wine, O beautiful one, for I am thirsty, O charming woman.
सुदेष्णयैवमुक्ता सा निःश्वसन्ती नृपात्मजा। अब्रवीच्छोकसन्तप्ता नाहं तत्र व्रजामि वैः ।। 43
Thus addressed by Sudeṣṇā, the princess, sighing and afflicted with sorrow, replied, 'I will not go there.'
सूतपुत्रो हि मां भद्रे कामात्मा चाभिमन्यते । न गच्छेयमहं तस्य राजपुत्रि निवेशनम् । त्वमेव भद्रे जानासि यथा स निरपत्रपः ।। 44
O noble lady, the charioteer's son, driven by desire, covets me; I will not go to his residence, princess. You yourself know well how shameless he is.
समयश्च कृतो भद्रे यथा प्रथमसंगमे। तथा निवसमानायां यथाऽहं नान्यचारिणी ।। 45
And, O noble lady, there was an agreement at our first meeting, that while I reside here, I would not act otherwise.
कीचकश्च सुकेशान्ते मूढो मदनगर्वितः । स मामिह गतां दृष्ट्वा व्यवस्यति निराकृतिम्। कथं नु वै तत्र गतां मर्षयेन्मामबान्धवाम् ।। 46
Kichaka, foolish and proud of his beauty, will see me there and decide to dishonor me; how could he bear to see me, a woman without kin, come there?
बह्व्यः सन्ति तव प्रेष्या राजपुत्रि वशानुगाः। अन्यां प्रेषय कैकेयि संरक्ष्याऽहमिह त्वया ।। 47
You have many attendants, princess, who obey your command; send another, O Kaikeyi, and protect me here.