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.
कीचकस्यालयं देवि न यामि भयकम्पिता। यद्यदन्यच्च मे कर्म करोमि च सुदुष्करम् ।। 48
O queen, I will not go to Kichaka's house, trembling with fear; whatever other difficult tasks you assign, I will do.
एवमुक्ता तु पाञ्चाल्या दैवयोगेन कैकयी । तां विराटस्य माहिषी क्रुद्धा भूयोऽन्वशासत ।। 49
Thus addressed by Panchali, Kaikeyi, by divine influence, again angrily commanded her, the queen of Virata.
कीचकं चैव गच्छ त्वं बलात्कारे चोदिता। नास्ति मेऽन्या त्वया तुल्या सा त्वं शीघ्रतरं व्रज ।। 50
Go to Kichaka, compelled by force; I have no other attendant equal to you, so go quickly.
अवश्यं त्वेव गन्तव्यं किमर्थं मां विवक्षसि। शीघ्रं गच्छ त्वरस्वेति मत्प्रीतिवशमाचर ।। 51
You must go; why do you argue with me? Go swiftly, act according to my pleasure.
न हीदृशो मम भ्राता किं त्वं समभिशङ्कसे। उक्त्वा चैनां बलाच्चैव विनियुज्य प्रभुत्वतः ।। 52
My brother is not like that; why do you suspect me? Having spoken thus, she forcefully ordered her, exercising authority.
भाजनं प्रददौ चास्यै सपिधानं हिरण्मयम्। या सुजाता सुगन्धा च तामानय सुरामिति ।। 53
She gave her a vessel, covered and made of gold, saying, 'Bring the wine that is well-made and fragrant.'
सा शङ्कमाना रुदती वेपन्ती द्रुपदात्मजा। दैवतेभ्यो नमस्कृत्वा श्वशुरेभ्यस्तथाऽब्रवीत् ।। 54
Suspicious, weeping, and trembling, the daughter of Drupada, after bowing to the gods and to her elders, spoke.
यथाऽहमन्यं पार्थेभ्यो नाभिजानापि मानवम्। तेन सत्येन मां दृष्ट्वा कीचको मा वशं नयेत् ।। 55
As I have not known any man other than the Parthas, by that truth, let Kichaka not overpower me upon seeing me.
यथाऽहं पाण्डुपुत्रेभ्यः पञ्चभ्यो नान्यगामिनी। तेन सत्येन मां दृष्ट्वा कीचको मा वशं नयेत् ।। 56
As I have not gone to any other than the five sons of Pandu, by that truth, let Kichaka not overpower me upon seeing me.
अकीर्तयत सुश्रोणी धर्मं शक्रं दिवाकरम्। मारुतं चाश्विनौ देवौ कुबेरं वरुणं यमम् ।। 1
The beautiful one invoked Dharma, Indra, the Sun, the Wind, the Ashvins, Kubera, Varuna, and Yama.
रुद्रमग्निं भगं विष्णुं स्कन्दं पूषणमेव च। सावित्रीसहितं चापि ब्रह्माणं पर्यकीर्तयत् ।। 2
He invoked Rudra, Agni, Bhaga, Vishnu, Skanda, and Pūṣan; and together with Sāvitrī, he also praised Brahmā.
इत्येवं मृगशवाक्षी सुश्रोणी धर्मचारिणी । उपातिष्ठत सा सूर्यं मुहूर्तमबला तदा ।। 3
Thus, the doe-eyed, beautiful-hipped, righteous woman stood before the Sun for a moment, powerless at that time.
तदस्यास्तनुमध्यायाः सर्वं सूर्योऽवबुद्धवान्। अन्तर्हितं ततस्तस्या रक्षो रक्षार्थमादिशत् ।। 4
The Sun perceived everything about her slender-waisted form; then, concealed, he instructed a spirit to protect her.
तच्चैनां नाजहात्तत्र सर्वावस्थास्वनिन्दिताम् ।। 5
That spirit did not abandon her there, keeping her blameless in all situations.
प्रतस्थे सा सुकेशान्ता त्वरमाणा पुनःपुनः । विलम्बमाना विवशा कीचकस्य निवेशनम् ।। 6
She, with lovely hair, hurried repeatedly, yet delayed and helpless, toward Kīcaka's residence.
तां मृगीमिव वित्रस्तां दृष्ट्वा कृष्णां समागताम्। उत्पपातासनात्तूर्णं नावं लब्ध्वेव पारगः ।। 7
Seeing Krishna approach, frightened like a deer, he sprang quickly from his seat, as one who has found a boat to cross over.
श्लक्ष्णं चोवाच वाक्यं स कीचकः काममूर्च्छितः। स्वागतं ते सुकेशान्ते सुव्युष्टा रजनी मम ।। 8
Kīcaka, overwhelmed by desire, spoke gently: 'Welcome, O lovely-haired one; my night has been well spent.'
स्वामिनी त्वमनुप्राप्ता चिरस्य भवनं शुभे। कुरुष्व च मयि प्रीतिं वशं चोपानयस्व माम् ।। 9
'O beautiful lady, you have come to my house after a long time; show me affection and bring me under your sway.'
प्रतिगृह्णीष्व मे भोगांस्त्वदर्थमुपकल्पितान्। सर्वरत्नमयीं मालां कुण्डले च हिरण्मये ।। 10
'Accept the pleasures I have prepared for you: a garland of all jewels, and golden earrings.'
वासांसि चन्दनं माल्यं धूपशुद्धां च वारुणीम्। प्रतिगृह्णीष्व भद्रं ते विहर त्वं यथेच्छसि। प्रीत्या मे कुरु मद्माक्षि प्रसादं प्रियदर्शने ।। 11
'Clothes, sandalwood, garlands, purified incense, and Varuni—accept these, good lady, and enjoy as you wish. Out of affection, grant me your favor, O lovely one.'