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.
मत्स्यानां कुलजस्त्वं हि तेषां सत्यं परायणम्। त्वं किलैवंविधो जातः कुले धर्मपरायणे ।। 52
You are born of the noble line of the Matsyas, devoted to truth; indeed, you are famed for such righteousness in your lineage.
अतस्त्वाहमभिक्रन्दे शरणार्थं नराधिप। त्राहि मामद्य राजेन्द्र कीचकात्पापपूरुषात् ।। 53
Therefore, I cry out to you for refuge, O lord of men; save me today, O king, from the sinful Kichaka.
अनाथामिह मां ज्ञात्वा कीचकः पुरुषाधमः। प्रहरत्येव नीचात्मा न तु धर्ममवेक्षते ।। 54
Knowing me to be helpless here, Kichaka, that lowest of men, attacks me, disregarding righteousness.
अकार्याणामनारम्भात्कार्याणामनुपालनात्। प्रजासु ये सुवृत्तास्ते स्वर्गमायान्ति भूमिपाः ।। 55
Kings who refrain from wrongful acts and uphold their duties toward their people attain heaven.
कार्याकार्यविशेषज्ञाः कामकारेण पार्थिवाः। प्रजासु किल्बिषं कृत्वा नरकं यान्त्यधोमुखाः ।। 56
Kings who know the distinction between what should and should not be done, yet act according to their desires, commit sin against their subjects and descend headlong into hell.
नैव यज्ञैर्न वा दानैर्न गुरोरुपसेवनात्। प्राप्नुवन्ति तथा धर्मं यथा कार्यानुपालनात् ।। 57
Neither by sacrifices, nor by gifts, nor by service to elders do they attain righteousness as much as by adherence to duty.
अपि चेदं पुरा ब्रह्मा प्रोवाचेन्द्राय पृच्छते। द्वन्द्वं कार्यमकार्यं च लोके चासीत्परं यथा ।। 58
Indeed, long ago, Brahma spoke this to Indra when he asked: the duality of duty and non-duty existed in the world as the highest principle.
धर्माधर्मौ पुनर्द्वन्द्वं विनियुक्तमथापि वा। क्रियाणामक्रियाणां च प्रापणे पुण्यपापयोः ।। 59
Again, the duality of righteousness and unrighteousness is established, as well as the duality of action and inaction, in the attainment of merit and sin.
प्रजायां सृज्यमानायां पुरा ह्येतदुदाहृतम्। एतद्वो मानुषाः सम्यक्कार्यं द्वन्द्वत्रयं भुवि ।। 60
When creation was being brought forth, this was declared: you humans, observe well the threefold duality of duty in the world.
अस्मिन्सुनीते दुर्नीते लभते कर्मजं फलम्। कल्याणकारी कल्याणं पापकारी च पापकम् ।। 61
In this good or bad conduct, one receives the fruit born of action: the doer of good obtains good, and the doer of evil obtains evil.