नोपालभे त्वां नृपते विराटं नृपसंसदि। नाहमेतेन युक्ता वै हन्तुं मात्स्य तवान्तिके ।। 8
I do not reproach you, O king, Virata, in the royal assembly; nor am I permitted to slay the Matsya here in your presence.
सभासदस्तु पश्यन्तु कीचकं धर्मलङ्घिनम्। विराटनृपते पश्य मामनाथामनागसम् ।। 9
Let the assembly see Kichaka, who violates righteousness; O king Virata, behold me, innocent and without protector.
न साम फलते दुष्टे दुष्टे दण्डः प्रयुज्यते ।। 10
Conciliation does not succeed with the wicked; punishment is applied to the wicked.
अदण्ड्यान्दण्डयन्राजा दण्ड्यांश्चैवाप्यदण्डयन्। स राजा न भवेल्लोके राजशब्दस्य भाजनम् ।। 11
A king who punishes those who should not be punished, and does not punish those who should be, is not regarded in the world as worthy of the title 'king.'
दीनान्धकृपणाशक्तपङ्गुकुब्जजडादिकान्। अनाथबालवृद्धांश्च पुरुषान्वा स्त्रियोऽपि वा । दुष्टचोराभिभूतांश्च पालयेदवनीपतिः ।। 12
The ruler of the land should protect men and women who are poor, blind, miserable, powerless, lame, hunchbacked, dull-witted, orphaned, children, the elderly, and those overpowered by wicked thieves.
अनाथानां च नाथः स्यादपितॄणां पिता नृपः । माता भवेदमातॄणामगुरूणां गुरुर्भवेत्। अगतीनां गती राजा नृणां राजा परायणम् ।। 13
The king should be the protector of the unprotected, a father to fathers, a mother to mothers, a teacher to teachers; for those without refuge, the king is their refuge, and for people, the king is their ultimate support.
विशेषतः परैर्दुष्टैः परामृष्टं नरोत्तमः। स्त्रियं साध्वीमनाथां च पालयेत्स्वसुतामिव ।। 14
Especially, if a virtuous and unprotected woman is harmed by wicked men, the best of men should protect her as he would his own daughter.
त्वद्गृहावसतिं राजन्नेतावत्कालपर्ययम्। अधिकां त्वत्सुतायाश्च पश्य मां कीचकाहतां ।। 15
The king should grant me, who dwell in your house, at least as much protection as you would give your own daughter; see me now, struck down by Kichaka.
परोक्षं नाभिजानामि विग्रहं युवयोरहम्। अर्थतत्त्वमविज्ञाय किं स्यादकुशलं मम ।। 16
I do not know the true nature of the conflict between you two, nor do I know the facts; what harm could come to me without understanding the real situation?
येषां न वैरी स्वपिति पदा भूमिमुपस्पृशन्। तेषां मां मानिनीं भार्यां सूतपुत्रः पदाऽवधीत् ।। 17
The son of the charioteer struck me, a proud wife, with his foot—me, who belongs to those whose enemies do not sleep, who touch the earth with their feet.
ये च दद्युर्न याचेयुर्ब्रह्मण्याः सत्यवादिनः। येषां दुन्दुभिनिर्घोषो ज्याघोषः श्रूयते भृशम्। तेषां मां दयितां भार्यां सूतपुत्रः पदाऽवधीत् ।। 18
The son of the charioteer struck me, the beloved wife of those who give without being asked, who are devoted to Brahmins and truth, whose drums and bowstrings resound mightily.
तेजस्विनस्तथा क्षान्ता बलवन्तश्च मानिनः। महेष्वासा रणे शूरा गर्विता मानतत्पराः। तेषां मां मानिनीं भार्यां सूतपुत्रः पदाऽवधीत् ।। 19
The son of the charioteer struck me, the proud wife of those who are radiant, patient, strong, proud, great archers, heroes in battle, and devoted to honor.
सर्वलोकमिमं हन्युर्यदि क्रुद्धा महाबलाः। तेषां मां दयितां भार्यां सूतपुत्रः पदाऽवधीत् ।। 20
The son of the charioteer struck me, the beloved wife of those mighty ones who, if enraged, could destroy this entire world.
येषां नास्ति समः कश्चिद्वीर्ये सत्ये बले दमे। तेषां मां दयितां भार्यां सूतपुत्रः पदाऽवधीत् ।। 21
The son of the charioteer struck me, the beloved wife of those for whom no one is equal in valor, truth, strength, or self-control.
येषां न सदृशः कश्चिद्धनाद्यैर्भुवि मानवः। तेषां मां दयितां भार्यां सूतपुत्रः पदाऽवधीत् ।। 22
The son of the charioteer struck me, the beloved wife of those for whom no man on earth is equal in wealth and other qualities.
तवाग्रतो विशेषेण प्रजानां च हितैषिणः। पश्यतो निहता राजंस्तेनेह जगतीपते ।। 23
Here, in your presence especially, O king, and as you look on, desiring the welfare of your people, I have been struck down by that man, O lord of the earth.
शरणं ये प्रपन्नानां भवन्ति शरणार्थिनाम्। चरन्ति लोके प्रच्छन्नाः क्वनु तेऽद्य महाबलाः ।। 24
Those who are the refuge of those seeking shelter, who protect those who seek protection, where are those mighty ones today, who now wander the world in hiding?
कथं ते सूतपुत्रेण वध्यमानां प्रियां सतीम्। मर्षयन्ति यथा क्लीबा बलवन्तोऽतितेजसः ।। 25
How do those powerful and exceedingly radiant men, though not weak, tolerate their beloved and virtuous wife being assaulted by the son of the charioteer?
क्वनु तेषाममर्षश्च वीर्यं तेषां च तद्बलम्। न परीप्सन्ति ये भार्यां वध्यमानां दुरात्माना ।। 26
Where is their indignation, where is their strength, those who do not seek to protect their wife when she is assaulted by a wicked man?
मयाऽपि शक्यं किं कर्तुं विराटे धर्मदूषणे। मां मर्षंयति यः पश्यन्वध्यमानामनागसम् ।। 27
What could I, too, do in Virata's kingdom, where righteousness is violated, when he, seeing me, innocent and being assaulted, tolerates it?
धर्मो विद्धो ह्यधर्मेण सभां यत्रोपतिष्ठति। न चेद्विशल्यः क्रियते सर्वे विद्धाः सभासदः ।। 28
When righteousness is pierced by unrighteousness and enters the assembly, if it is not freed from its wound, then all the members of the assembly are pierced as well.
यत्र धर्मो ह्यधर्मेम सत्यं यत्रानृतेन च। हन्यते प्रेक्षमाणानां हतास्तत्र सभासदः ।। 29
Where righteousness is struck by unrighteousness and truth is destroyed by falsehood before witnesses, there the members of the assembly are slain.
तस्यास्तत्कृपणं श्रुत्वा सैरन्ध्र्याः परिदेवितम्। ततः सभ्यास्तु ते सर्वे भूयः कृष्णामपूजयन्। साधुसाध्विति चाप्याहुः कीचकं चाप्यगर्हयन् ।। 30
Hearing the pitiful lament of Sairandhri, all those members of the assembly again honored Krishna, praised her, and condemned Kichaka.
केचित्कृष्णां प्रशंसन्ति केचिन्निन्दन्ति कीचकम्। केचिन्निन्दन्ति राजानं केचिद्देवीं च तां नराः ।। 31
Some praised Krishna, some censured Kichaka, some blamed the king, and some men criticized the queen.
यस्येयं चारुसर्वाङ्गी भार्या स्यादायतेक्षणा। परो लाभश्च तस्य स्यान्न स शोचेत्कदाचन ।। 32
He who has this woman, beautiful in every limb and with wide eyes, as his wife, has gained a great fortune and should never grieve.
यस्या गात्रं शुभं पीनं मुखं जयति पङ्कजम्। गतिर्हंसं स्मितं कुन्दं सौषा नार्हति पद्वधम् ।। 33
She whose body is lovely and full, whose face surpasses the lotus, whose gait is like a swan, whose smile is like jasmine—she does not deserve to be struck by the foot.
द्वात्रिंशद्दशना यस्याः श्वेता मांसनिबन्धनाः। स्निग्धाश्च मृदवः केशाः सैषा नार्हति पद्वधम् ।। 34
She who has thirty-two teeth, white and set in flesh, whose hair is soft and glossy—she does not deserve to be struck by the foot.
पद्मं चक्रं ध्वजं शङ्खं प्रासादो मकरस्तथा। यस्याः पाणितले सन्ति सैषा नार्हति पद्वधम् ।। 35
She whose palms bear the marks of the lotus, discus, banner, conch, palace, and makara—she does not deserve to be struck by the foot.
आवर्ताः खलु चत्वारः सर्वे चैव प्रदक्षिणाः । समं गात्रं शुभं स्निग्धं यस्या नार्हति पद्वधम् ।। 36
She who has four whorls, all turning to the right, whose body is symmetrical, lovely, and smooth—she does not deserve to be struck by the foot.
अच्छिद्रहस्तपादा च अच्छिद्रदशना च या। कन्या कमलपत्राक्षी कथमर्हति पद्वधम् ।। 37
The maiden whose hands and feet are unblemished, whose teeth are flawless, whose eyes are like lotus petals—how could she deserve to be struck by the foot?