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?
सेयं लक्षणसंपन्ना पूर्णचन्द्रनिभानना। सुरूपिणी सुवदना नेयं योग्या पदा वधम् ।। 38
She is endowed with auspicious marks, her face like the full moon, beautiful and fair—she is not fit for punishment by the foot.
देवदेवीव सुभगा शक्रदेवीव शोभना। अप्सरा इव सारूप्यान्नेयं योग्या पदा वधम् ।। 39
She is charming like the goddess of the gods, radiant like Shakra's queen, and beautiful as an apsara—she is not fit for punishment by the foot.
इति स्मापूजसंस्तत्र कृष्णां प्रेक्ष्य सभासदः ।। 40
Thus, seeing Krishna, the members of the assembly honored her there.
सा विनिःश्वस्य सुश्रोणी भूमावन्तर्मुखी स्थिता। तूष्णीमासीत्तदा दृष्ट्वा विवक्षन्तं युधिष्ठिरम् ।। 41
She, with lovely hips, sighed and sat on the ground with her face turned inward, silent, seeing Yudhishthira wishing to speak.
युधिष्ठिरस्य कोपात्तु ललाटे स्वेद आस्रवत्। अब्रवीद्धर्मपुत्रोऽथ सैरन्ध्रीं महिषीं प्रियाम् । कृष्णां तत्र नृपाभ्याशे परिव्राजकरूपधृत् ।। 42
From Yudhishthira's anger, sweat flowed from his forehead; then the son of Dharma spoke to Sairandhri, his beloved queen Krishna, there near the king, disguised as a mendicant.
गच्छ सैरन्ध्रि मा भैस्त्वं सुदेष्णाया निवेशनम् । राजा ह्ययं धर्मशीलो विराटः परलोकभीः । यतस्त्वां न परित्राति सत्ये धर्मपथे स्थितः ।। 43
Go, Sairandhri, do not fear, to the palace of Sudeshna. This king Virata is righteous and fears the next world; since he does not protect you, he remains on the path of truth and righteousness.
भर्तारमनुरुन्धन्त्यः क्लिश्यन्ते वीरपत्नयः। शुश्रूषया क्लिश्यमानाः पतिलोकं जयन्त्युत ।। 44
Wives who serve their husbands endure suffering; by their devoted service, they conquer the world of their husbands.
मन्ये न कालः क्रोधस्य पश्यन्ति पतयस्तव। तेन त्वां नाभिधावन्ति गन्धर्वाः सूर्यवर्चसः ।। 45
I think it is not the time for anger; your husbands see you, and therefore the Gandharvas, radiant as the sun, do not rush to you.
श्रूयन्तां ते सुकेशान्ते मोक्षधर्माश्रयाः कथाः। यथा धर्मः कुलस्त्रीणां दृष्टो धर्मानुरोधनात् ।। 46
Listen now, O one with beautiful hair, to stories rooted in the teachings of liberation, describing the righteous conduct observed for noble women, in accordance with dharma.
नास्ति यज्ञः स्त्रियाः कश्चिन्न श्राद्धं नाप्युपोषणम्। या तु भर्तारि शुश्रूषा सा स्वर्गायाभिजायते ।। 47
For women, there is no sacrifice, no ancestral offering, nor fasting; but devoted service to the husband leads her to heaven.