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.
पिता रक्षति कौमारे भर्ता रक्षति यौवने। पुत्रस्तु स्थाविरे भावे न स्त्री स्वातन्त्र्यमर्हति ।। 48
A father protects her in childhood, a husband in youth, and a son in old age; a woman is not to act independently.
भीरु भर्तृभयात्पत्न्यो न क्रुध्यन्ति कदाचन। बहुभिश्च परिक्लेशैरवज्ञाताश्च शत्रुभिः । अनन्यभावाः शुद्धाश्च पुण्यलोकं जयन्त्युत ।। 49
Out of fear of their husbands, wives do not become angry; though subjected to many hardships and scorned by enemies, those who are single-minded and pure indeed attain blessed realms.
न क्रोधकालं नियतं पश्यन्ति पतयस्तव। न क्रुद्धान्प्रतियायाद्वै पतींस्ते वृत्रहा अपि। तेन त्वां नाभिधावन्ति गन्धर्वाः कामरूपिणः ।। 50
Your husbands do not see the fixed time for anger; even the slayers of Vritra do not approach their wives in anger. For this reason, the Gandharvas of changing forms do not pursue you.
यदि ते समयः कश्चित्कृतो ह्यायतलोचने। तं स्मरस्व क्षमाशीले क्षमा धर्मो ह्यनुत्तमः ।। 51
If you have made any agreement, O wide-eyed one, remember it, you who are patient by nature; for patience is the highest dharma.
क्षमा धर्मः क्षमा सत्यं क्षमा दानं क्षमा तपः। क्षमावतामयं लोकः परलोकः क्षमावतांम् ।। 52
Patience is dharma, patience is truth, patience is generosity, patience is asceticism; this world belongs to the patient, and so does the next.
द्व्यंशिनो द्वादशाङ्गस्य चतुर्विंशतिपर्वणः। कस्त्रिषष्ठिशतारस्य मासोनस्याक्षमी भवेत्।। 53
Of the twelve-limbed, twenty-four-part, sixty-three-hundred-day year, who could endure it without patience?
गच्छ सैरन्ध्रि गन्धर्वाः करिष्यन्ति तव प्रियम्। व्यपनेष्यन्ति ते दुःखं येन ते विप्रियं कृतम् ।। 54
Go, Sairandhri; the Gandharvas will do what pleases you, and they will remove your sorrow caused by what has been done to you.
इत्येवमुक्ते तिष्ठन्तीं पुनरेवाह धर्मराट्। विघ्नं करोषि वै भद्रे दीव्यतां राजसंसदि ।। 55
When this was said, as she stood there, the king of dharma spoke again: 'You are causing an obstacle, O gentle one, to the game in the royal assembly.'
तस्मात्त्वमपि सुश्रोणि शैलूषीव विभासि नः। एवमुक्ता तु सा भर्त्रा समुद्वीक्ष्याब्रवीदिदम् ।। 56
Therefore, O fair-hipped one, you appear to us like an actress; thus addressed by her husband, she looked up and spoke these words.
सत्यमुक्तं त्वया विद्वञ्शैलूषीं विद्धि मां पुनः। शैलूषकस्य तस्याहं येषां ज्येष्ठोऽक्षकोविदः ।। 57
What you have said is true, O learned one; know me again as an actress, for I belong to that family whose eldest is skilled at dice.