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.
एवमुक्त्वा वरारोहा परिमृज्याननं शुभम्। केशान्विमुक्तान्संयम्य रुधिरेण समुक्षितान् ।। 58
Having spoken thus, the lovely-limbed woman wiped her beautiful face, gathered her loosened hair stained with blood.
पांसुकुण्ठितसर्वाङ्गी गजराजवधूरिव। प्रतस्थे नागनासोरूर्भर्तुराज्ञाय शासनम् ।। 59
Her whole body covered with dust, she moved like the queen of elephants, her thighs shaped like elephant trunks, obeying her husband's command.
विमुक्ता मृगशावाक्षी निरन्तरपयोधरा। प्रभा नक्षत्रराजस्य कालमेघैरिवावृता ।। 60
With fawn-like eyes and bare breasts, she shone like the light of the lord of stars veiled by dark clouds.
यस्यार्थे पाण्डवेयास्तु त्यजेयुरपि जीवितम्। तां ते दृष्ट्वा तथा कृष्णां क्षमिणो धर्मचारिणः। समयं नातिवर्तन्ते वेलामिव महोदधिः ।। 61
For whose sake the sons of Pandu would even give up their lives—seeing Krishna in such a state, those patient followers of dharma do not transgress their vow, like the ocean does not cross its shore.
सा प्रविश्य प्रवेपन्ती सुदेष्णाया निवेशनम्। रुदन्ती चारुसर्वाङ्गी तस्यास्तस्थावथाग्रतः ।। 62
Entering Sudeṣṇā's residence, trembling and weeping, the beautiful-limbed woman stood before her.
तामुवाच विराटस्य महिषी शाठ्यमास्थिता। किमिदं पद्मसंकाशं सुदन्तोष्ठाक्षिनासिकम् ।। 63
The queen of Virata, assuming a harsh tone, spoke to her: 'What is this, O one whose lips, eyes, and nose resemble a lotus?'
रुदन्त्या अवमृष्टास्रं पूर्णेन्दुसमवर्चसम्। बिम्बोष्ठं कृष्णताराभ्यामत्यन्तरुचिरप्रभम्। नयनाभ्यामजिह्याभ्यां मुखं ते मुञ्चते जलम् ।। 64
As you weep, tears fall from your eyes, shining like a full moon; your lips are red as a bimba fruit, your eyes dark as black stars, and from your mouth, water flows, making your face radiant.
कस्त्वाऽवधीद्वरारोहे कस्माद्रोदिषि शोभने। को विप्रयुज्यते दारैः सपुत्रैः सहबान्धवैः ।। 65
Who has harmed you, O beautiful one? Why do you cry, lovely lady? Who has been separated from wife, children, and kin?
कस्याद्य राजा कुपितो वधमाज्ञापयिष्यति। ब्रूहि किं ते प्रियं कर्म कं त्यजे घातयामि वा ।। 66
Whose anger will the king command to be punished today? Tell me, what do you desire? Whom should I abandon or slay for you?
तां निःश्वस्याब्रवीत्कृष्णा जानन्ती नाम पृच्छसि। भ्रातुस्त्वं मामनुप्रेष्य किमेवं हि विकत्थसे ।। 67
Krishna sighed and replied, 'You ask my name though you know it. You sent me by my brother, so why do you boast in this way?'