न दैवस्यातिभारोस्ति न चैवास्यातिवर्तनम्। इति चाप्यागमं भूयो दैवस्य प्रतिपालये ।। 7
There is no burden too great for fate, nor can anyone surpass it; thus, I again reflect on the authority of destiny.
स्थितं पूर्वं जलं यत्र न पुनस्तत्र तिष्ठति । इति पर्यायमिच्छन्ति प्रतीक्षाम्युदयं पुनः ।। 8
Water that once stood in a place does not remain there again; so, by turns, things change—I wait for prosperity to return.
दैवेन किल यस्यार्थः सुनीतोपि विपद्यते। सदा दैवागमे यत्नस्तेन कार्यो विजानता ।। 9
Indeed, by fate, even well-guided endeavors fail; therefore, one who understands should always act with effort, mindful of fate.
किंनु मे वचनस्याद्य कथितस्य प्रयोजनम् । पृच्छ मां दुःखितामेनामपृष्टाऽपि ब्रवीमि ते ।। 10
What use is there now in my words, in what I have said? Ask me, though I am afflicted with sorrow—I will speak to you even unasked.
महिषी पाण्डुपुत्राणां दुहिता द्रुपदस्य च । इमामवस्थां संप्राप्ता मदन्या का जिजीविषेत् ।। 11
I am the chief queen of the sons of Pandu, and daughter of Drupada; who else but I, having reached this state, would wish to live?
कुरून्परिहरन्सर्वान्पाञ्चालानपि भारत। पाण्डवेयांश्च संप्राप्तो मम शोको ह्यरिन्दम ।। 12
Having lost all the Kurus, and even the Panchalas, O Bharata, and the sons of Pandu as well, grief has come upon me, O subduer of foes.
भ्रातृभिः श्वशुरैः पुत्रैर्बहुभिः परिवारिता। एवं समुदिता नारी कान्वेयं दुःखभागिनी ।। 13
Surrounded by brothers, fathers-in-law, and sons, by many, such a woman, though so supported, has become a sharer in sorrow, O descendant of Kanva.
नूनं बालतया धातुर्मया वै विप्रियं कृतम्। तस्य प्रभावाद्दुर्नीतं प्राप्ताऽस्मि भरतर्षभ ।। 14
Surely, through childishness, I have done something displeasing to the Creator; by his power, I have come to this misfortune, O bull among the Bharatas.
वर्णं विकारमपि मे पश्य पाण्डव यादृशम् । ईदृशो मे न तत्रासीद्दुःखे परमके पुरा ।। 15
See, O Pandava, even the change in my complexion; such suffering as this was never mine before, even in the greatest distress.
त्वमेव भीम जानीषे यन्मे पार्थ सुखं पुरा। साऽहं दासीत्वमापन्ना न शान्तिं मनसा लभे।। 16
You alone, Bhima, know the happiness I once had, O Partha; now I have fallen into servitude and find no peace in my mind.
तद्दैविकमिदं मन्ये यत्र पार्थो धनञ्जयः। भीमधन्वा महारङ्गे चास्ते शान्त इवानलः ।। 17
I consider this to be the work of fate, where Dhananjaya the Partha and Bhima of mighty arms sit in the great hall, subdued like fire at rest.
अशक्या वेदितुं पार्थ प्राणिनां वै गतिर्नरैः । विनिपातमिमं पश्य युष्माकमविचिन्तितम् ।। 18
The course of living beings cannot be known by men, O Partha; see this unexpected downfall that has come upon you.
यस्या मम मुखप्रेक्षा यूयमिन्द्रसमाः सदा। सा प्रेक्ष्य मुखमन्यासामवराणां वरा सती ।। 19
She whose face you, always equal to Indra, used to behold—she, being the foremost among women, now looks upon the faces of others.
पश्य पाण्डव मेऽवस्थां यथा नार्हामि वै तथा । युष्मासु ध्रियमाणेषु पाञ्चालेषु च मानद ।। 20
See, O Pandava, my condition—how unworthy it is for me, while you and the Panchalas, O bestower of honor, are still alive.
यस्याः सागरपर्यन्ता पृथिवी वशवर्तिनी। आसीत्साऽद्य सुदेष्णायाः पाञ्चाली वशवर्तिनी ।। 21
She for whom this earth, bounded by the ocean, was once obedient—today, Draupadī is subject to Sudeṣṇā.
यस्याः पुरश्चरा ह्यासन्पृष्ठतश्चानुगामिनः। साहमद्य सुदेष्णायाः पुरः पश्चाच्च गामिनी ।। 22
She who was once preceded and followed by attendants—today, I walk before and behind Sudeṣṇā.
इदं तु दुःखं कौन्तेय ममासह्यं निबोध तत्। या न जातु स्वयं पिंषे गात्रोद्वर्तनमात्मनः । अन्यत्र कुन्त्या भद्रं ते सा पिनष्म्यद्य चन्दनं ।। 23
Hear, son of Kuntī, this unbearable sorrow of mine: I, who never ground sandalwood for myself except for Kuntī—today, for Sudeṣṇā, I grind the sandalwood.
पश्य कौन्तेय पाणी मे नैवं वै भवतः पुरा। इत्यस्मै दर्शयामास किणवन्तौ करावुभौ ।। 24
See, son of Kuntī, my hands are not as they once were; thus she showed him both her hands, marked with calluses.
बिभेमि कुन्त्या या नाऽहं युष्माकं वा कदाचन। साऽद्याग्रतो विराटस्य भीता तिष्ठामि किंकरी ।। 25
I, who never feared Kuntī or any of you, now stand before Virāṭa, afraid, as a servant.
किंनु वक्ष्यति सम्राण्मां वर्णकः सुकृतो न वा। नान्यपिष्टं विराटस्य चन्दनं किल रोचते ।। 26
What will the king’s painter say of me, whether skilled or not? No other sandalwood pleases Virāṭa, it seems.
सा कीर्तयन्ती दुःखानि भीमसेनस्य भामिनी। रुरोद शनकैः कृष्णा भीमस्योरस्समाश्रिता ।। 27
Thus, the radiant Kṛṣṇā, recounting her sorrows, wept softly, leaning on Bhīmasena’s chest.
सा बाष्पकलया वाचा निश्वसन्ती पुनःपुनः । हृदयं भीमसेनस्य घटयन्तीदमब्रवीत् ।। 28
With a voice choked by tears, sighing again and again, she pressed Bhīmasena’s heart and spoke these words.
नाल्पं कृतं मया भीम देवानां किल्बिषं पुरा। अभाग्या या तु जीवामि मर्तव्ये सति पाण्डव ।। 29
I have not committed only a small sin against the gods, Bhīma, for I, though destined to die, still live, unfortunate as I am, O Pāṇḍava.
कीचकं चेन्न हन्यास्त्वं स्वात्मानं नाशयाम्यहम्। विषमालोड्य पास्यामि प्रवेक्ष्याम्यथवाऽनलम्। अभाग्याऽहमपुण्याऽहं नित्यदुःखा च विक्लवा ।। 30
If you do not kill Kīcaka, I will destroy myself—drinking poison, or entering fire; I am unfortunate, unworthy, ever-suffering, and helpless.
पापे निपतितायाश्च किं फलं जीवितेन मे। इत्यस्मै दर्शयामास किणबद्धौ करावुभौ ।। 31
What is the use of life for one fallen into such misery? Thus she showed him both her hands, bound with calluses.
ततस्तस्याः करौ पीनौ किणबद्धौ वृकोदरः। मुखमानीय वेपन्त्या रुरोद परवीरहा ।। 32
Then Vṛkodara, the slayer of foes, brought her strong, callused hands to his face as she trembled, and he wept.
तौ गृहीत्वा च कौन्तेयो बाष्पमुत्सृज्य वीर्यवान् । ततः परमदुःखार्त इदं वचनमब्रवीत् ।। 32
Taking her hands, the mighty son of Kuntī shed tears, and, overwhelmed by deep sorrow, spoke these words.
आश्वासयंस्तां पाञ्चालीं भीमसेन उवाच ह। शृणु भद्रे वरारोहे क्रोधात्तत्र तु चिन्तितम् ।। 1
Consoling Pāñcālī, Bhīmasena said: 'Listen, noble lady of lovely hips, to what I have resolved in anger.'
त्वं वै सभागतां दृष्ट्वा मात्स्यानां कदनं महत् । कर्तुकामेन भद्रं ते वृक्षश्चावेक्षितो मया ।। 2
'When I saw the great slaughter of the Matsyas in the assembly, I wished to act, and I had already looked for a tree, O blessed one.'
तत्र मां धर्मराजस्तु कटाक्षेण न्यवारयत्। तज्ज्ञात्वाऽवाङ्भुखस्तूष्णीमास्थितोस्मि महानसं ।। 3
'But there, Dharmarāja restrained me with a glance; knowing this, I sat silent in the kitchen, my head bowed.'