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.
तेन गच्छति संसर्गं स्वर्गाय नरकाय वा। सुकृतं दुष्कृतं वाऽपि कृत्वा मोहेन मानवः । पश्चात्तापेन तप्येत स्वबुद्ध्या मरणं गतः ।। 62
By this, a person attains association with heaven or hell, having performed good or bad deeds out of delusion; later, tormented by remorse, he suffers according to his own understanding after reaching death.
एवमुक्त्वा परं वाक्यं विससर्ज शतक्रतुम्। शक्रोप्यापृच्छ्य ब्रह्माणं देवराज्यमपालयत् ।। 63
Having thus spoken these words, he dismissed Shatakratu; and Indra, having taken leave of Brahma, governed the realm of the gods.
यथोक्तं देवराजेन ब्रह्मणा परमेष्ठिना। तथा त्वमपि राजेन्द्र कार्याकार्ये स्थिरो भव ।। 64
As declared by the lord of the gods and by Brahma, the supreme creator, so you too, O king, remain steadfast in discerning duty and non-duty.
एवं विलपमानायां पाञ्चाल्यां मत्स्यपुङ्गवः। अशक्तः कीचकं तत्र शासितुं बलदर्पितम् । विराटराजः मूतं तु सान्त्वेनैव न्यवारयत् ।। 1
While Panchali was lamenting thus, the foremost of the Matsyas, unable to restrain the arrogant Kichaka by force, King Virata, subdued him only with gentle words.
कीचकं मत्स्यराजेन कृतागसमनिन्दिता। नापराधानुरूपेण दण्डेन प्रतिपादितम् ।। 2
Kichaka, though guilty, was not punished by the king of the Matsyas with a penalty appropriate to his offense.
पाञ्चालराजस्य सुता दृष्ट्वा सुरसुतोपमा। धर्मज्ञा व्यवहाराणां कीचके कृतकिल्बिषे । पुनः प्रोवाच राजानं स्मरन्ती धर्ममुत्तमम् ।। 3
The daughter of the king of Panchala, radiant as a celestial maiden, seeing Kichaka guilty of wrongdoing and knowing the law of justice, again addressed the king, recalling the highest righteousness.
संप्रेक्ष्य च वरारोहा सर्वांस्तत्र सभासदः। राजानुवर्तनपरान्कीचकं च कृतागसम्। विराटं चाह पाञ्चाली दुःखेनाविष्टचेतना ।। 4
Beholding the noble lady and all those present in the assembly, who were devoted to the king and to Kichaka despite his offense, Panchali, overwhelmed by sorrow, spoke to Virata.
न राजन्राजवत्किंचित्समाचरसि कीचके। दस्यूनामिव ते धर्मो न सत्सु परिवर्तते।। 5
O king, you do not act as a king should towards Kichaka; your conduct is like that of robbers, and your righteousness does not prevail among the virtuous.
न कीचकः स्वधर्मस्थो न च मत्स्यः कथंचन। सभासदोऽप्यधर्मज्ञा य इमं पर्युपासते।। 6
Neither Kichaka stands in his proper duty, nor does the Matsya king in any way; even the assembly members, ignorant of righteousness, support him.
न धर्मं कीचको वेत्ति राजभृत्यास्तथैव च। न राजा विनयं ब्रूते अमात्याश्च न जानते ।। 7
Kichaka does not know righteousness, nor do the king's servants; the king does not speak of discipline, and his ministers do not understand it.