तां कीचकः प्रधावन्तीं केशपक्षे परामृशत्। पातयित्वा तु तां भूमौ सूतपुत्रः पदाऽवधीत् ।। 22
Kichaka seized her by the hair as she ran; after throwing her to the ground, the charioteer's son struck her with his foot.
सभायां पश्यतो राज्ञो विराटस्य महात्मनः। ब्राह्मणानां च वृद्धानां क्षत्रियाणां च पश्यतां ।। 23
In the assembly, before the eyes of the great-souled King Virata, and as the elders among the Brahmins and the Kshatriyas looked on,
तस्याः पादाभितप्ताया मुखाद्रुधिरमास्रवत् ।। 24
Blood flowed from her mouth as her feet throbbed with pain.
ततो दिवाकरेणाशु राक्षसः संनियोजितः। स कीचकमपोवाह वातवेगेन भारत ।। 25
Then, swiftly, a demon sent by the sun carried Kichaka away, O Bharata, with the force of the wind.
स पपात तदा भूमौ रक्षोबलसमीरितः । विघूर्णमानो निश्चेष्टश्छिन्नमूल इव द्रुमः ।। 26
He fell to the ground, driven by the strength of the demon; spinning about, lifeless, like a tree whose roots have been severed.
तां दृष्ट्वा तत्र ते सभ्या हाहाभूताः समन्ततः। न युक्तं सूतपुत्रेति कीचकेति च तेऽवदन्। किमियं वध्यते बाला कृपणा चाप्यबान्धवा ।। 27
Seeing her there, the members of the assembly cried out in distress all around; 'It is not right, son of the charioteer!' and 'Kichaka!' they said. 'Why is this young, helpless girl being struck, who has no kin?'
तस्यामासन्हि ते पार्थाः सभायां भ्रातरस्तथा । अमृष्यमाणाः कृष्णायाः कीचकेन पदा वधं ।। 28
There, in the assembly, her brothers, the Parthas, were present, unable to endure the blow dealt to Krishna by Kichaka's foot.
तां दृष्ट्वा भीमसेनस्य क्रोधादास्रमवर्तत। धूमोच्छ्वासः समभवन्नेत्रे चोच्छ्रितपक्ष्मणी । सस्वेदा भ्रुकुटी चोग्रा ललाटे समवर्तत ।। 29
Seeing her, Bhimasena's anger brought tears to his eyes; his breath became smoky, his eyes wide and lashes raised, sweat broke out, and a fierce frown formed on his brow.
तस्य भीमो वधप्रेप्सुः कीचकस्य दुरात्मनः। दन्तैर्दन्तांस्तदा रोपान्निष्पिपेष महामनाः ।। 30
Desiring to kill the wicked Kichaka, mighty Bhima ground his teeth together in rage.
भूयः संचरितः क्रुद्धः सहसोत्थाय चासनात्। निरैक्षत द्रुमं दीर्घं राजानं चाप्यवैक्षत।। 31
Again, filled with wrath, he rose suddenly from his seat, looked around for a long tree, and also glanced at the king.
वधमाकाङ्क्षमाणं तं कीचकस्य दुरात्मनः। आकारेणैव भीमं स प्रत्यपेधद्युधिष्ठिरः ।। 32
Desiring the death of wicked Kichaka, Bhima's very appearance caused Yudhishthira to tremble.
तस्य राजा शनैः संज्ञां कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। चकार भीमसेनस्य रोषाविष्टस्य धीमतः ।। 33
Then, slowly, the son of Kunti, Yudhishthira, restored Bhimasena's composure, though he was filled with anger and wisdom.
प्रत्याख्यानं तदा चाह कङ्को नाम युधिष्ठिरः ।। 34
At that moment, Yudhishthira, called Kanka, spoke words of refusal.
सूद मा साहसं कार्षीः फलितोऽयं वनस्पतिः। नात्र शुष्काणि काष्ठानि सन्ति यानि च कानि च।। 35
O cook, do not act rashly; this tree has already borne fruit. There are no dry sticks here, nor any of any kind.
यदि ते दारुकृत्यं स्यान्निष्क्रम्य नगराद्बहिः। समूलं शातयेर्वृक्षं श्रमस्ते न भविष्यति।। 36
If you have work to do with wood, go outside the city; uproot a tree, and you will not be fatigued.
यस्य चार्द्रस्य वृक्षस्य शीतच्छायां समाश्रयेत्। न तस्य पर्णे द्रुह्येत पूर्ववृत्तमनुस्मरन् ।। 37
One who seeks the cool shade of a moist tree should not harm its leaves, remembering its former kindness.
न क्रोधकालसमयः सूद मा चापलं कृथाः। अपूर्णोऽयं द्विपक्षोनो नेदं बलवतां बहु ।। 38
This is not the time for anger, cook, nor should you act rashly; the fortnight is not yet complete, and these are not the mighty in strength.
अथाङ्गुष्ठेनावमृद्गादङ्गुष्ठं तत्र धर्मराट्। प्रबोधनभयाद्राज्ञो भीमं तं प्रत्यषेधयत् ।। 39
Then King Yudhishthira pressed Bhima's toe with his own, restraining him out of fear of awakening the king.
भीमसेनस्तु तद्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा परपुरञ्जयः। सहसोत्पतितं क्रोधं न्ययच्छद्धृतिमान्बलात् । इङ्गितज्ञः स तु भ्रातुस्तूष्णीमासीद्वृकोदरः ।। 40
Hearing these words, Bhimasena, conqueror of enemy cities, forcefully suppressed his sudden surge of anger, understanding his brother's signal, and remained silent.
भीमस्य च समारम्भं दृष्ट्वा राज्ञोऽस्य चेष्टितम्। द्रौपदी चाधिकं क्रोधात्प्रारुदत्सा पुनःपुनः ।। 41
Seeing Bhima's agitation and the king's actions, Draupadi, overcome with anger, wept again and again.
कीचकेनानुगमनात्कृष्णा ताम्रायतेक्षणा । सभाद्वारमुपगम्य रुदन्ती वाक्यमब्रवीत् ।। 42
Followed by Kichaka, Krishna of coppery wide eyes approached the assembly hall's door, weeping, and spoke these words.
अवेक्षमाणा सुश्रोणी पतींस्तान्दीनचेतसः। आकारं परिरक्षन्ती प्रतिज्ञां धर्मसंयुताम्। दह्यमानेव रौद्रेण चक्षुषा द्रुपदात्मजा ।। 43
Glancing at her husbands, those dejected in spirit, the noble-hipped daughter of Drupada, preserving their disguise and sacred vow, seemed to burn with fierce gaze.
प्रजारक्षणशीलानां राज्ञां ह्यमिततेजसाम्। कार्याऽनुपालनं नित्यं धर्मे सत्ये च तिष्ठताम् ।। 44
For kings devoted to protecting their people and possessing immeasurable energy, it is always their duty to uphold justice and truth.
स्वप्रजायां प्रजायां च विशेषं नाधिगच्छताम्। प्रियेष्वपि च वध्येषु समत्वं ये समाश्रिताः ।। 45
Those who show no partiality between their own people and others, who remain impartial even toward loved ones and those deserving punishment, are truly just.
विवादेषु प्रवृत्तेषु समं कार्यानुदर्शिना। राज्ञा धर्मासनस्थेन जितौ लोकावुभावपि ।। 46
When disputes arise, a king who judges impartially from the seat of justice conquers both worlds.
राजन्धर्मासनस्थो हि रक्ष मां त्वमनागसम् ।। 47
O King, seated upon the throne of justice, protect me, who am without fault.
अहं त्वनपराध्यन्ती कीचकेन दुरात्मना । पश्यतस्ते महाराज हता पादेन दासिवात् ।। 48
I, though innocent, have been struck down by the wicked Kichaka, O great king, and am treated like a slave before your eyes.
त्वत्समक्षं नृपश्रेष्ठ निष्पिष्टा वसुधातले । अनागसं कृपार्हां मां स्त्रियं त्वं परिपालय ।। 49
O foremost of kings, I have been crushed on the ground before you; protect me, an innocent woman worthy of compassion.
रक्ष मां कीचकाद्भीतां धर्मं रक्ष नरेश्वर । मत्स्याधिप प्रजा रक्ष पिता पुत्रानिवौरसान् ।। 50
Protect me from Kichaka, for I am afraid; uphold righteousness, O lord of men. O king of the Matsyas, guard your people as a father guards his own sons.
यस्त्वधर्मेण कार्याणि मोहात्मा कुरुते नृपः। अचिरात्तं दुरात्मानं वशे कुर्वन्ति शत्रवः ।। 51
A king who, out of delusion, acts unrighteously soon falls under the control of his enemies.