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.'
शृणुष्वान्यत्प्रतिज्ञातं यद्वदामीह भामिनि । धिगस्तु मे बाहुबलं गाण्डीवं फल्गुनस्य च। यत्ते रक्तौ पुरा भूत्वा पाणी कृतकिणाविमौ ।। 4
'Hear now another vow I make to you, fair lady: Shame on my strength, and on Arjuna’s bow Gāṇḍīva, that your hands, once adorned, are now callused.'
तदद्य मां तु तपति यत्कृतं न मया पुरा। सभायां स्म विराटस्य करोमि कदनं महत् ।। 5
'What pains me now is that I did not act before; in Virāṭa’s assembly, I will accomplish a great slaughter.'
तत्र मे कारणं भाति कौन्तेयो यत्प्रतीक्षते। तदहं तस्य विज्ञाय स्थितो धर्मस्य शासने ।। 6
There, the reason appears to me to be that the son of Kunti is waiting; so, understanding this, I remain under the command of dharma.
यच्च राज्यात्प्रच्यवनं कुरूणामवधश्च यः। सुयोधनस्य कर्णस्य शकुनेः सौबलस्य च ।। 7
And the loss of the kingdom, the slaughter of the Kurus, and the deaths of Suyodhana, Karna, Shakuni, the son of Subala—
दुःशासनस्य पापस्य यन्मया न हृतं शिरः । तन्मां दहति कल्याणि हृदि शल्यमिवार्पितम् ।। 8
The fact that I did not sever the head of wicked Duhshasana burns me, O blessed one, like a thorn planted in my heart.
अपि चान्यद्वरारोहे स्मरिष्यसि वचो मम। पुण्ये तीरे सरस्वत्या यत्प्रतिष्ठाम संगताः । तत्राहमब्रवं कृष्णे सर्वक्लेशाननुस्मरन् ।। 9
And, O fair-hipped one, do you remember my words when we gathered at the sacred bank of the Sarasvati? There, O Krishna, I spoke, recalling all our hardships.
न चाहमनुगच्छेयं धर्मराजं युधिष्ठिरम्। धनञ्जयं च पाञ्चालि माद्रिपुत्रौ च भ्रातरौ। कृत्वैतां च मतिं कृष्णे युधिष्ठिरमगर्हयम् ।। 10
Nor would I follow King Yudhishthira, Dhananjaya, you, O Panchali, or the sons of Madri, my brothers; having made this resolve, O Krishna, I did not blame Yudhishthira.
परुषं वचनं श्रुत्वा मम धर्मात्मजस्तदा। हीमान्वाक्यमहीनार्थं ब्रुवन्राजा युधिष्ठिरः । सर्वानन्वनयद्भ्रातॄन्मुनेर्धौम्यस्य पश्यतः ।। 11
Hearing my harsh words, the son of Dharma, King Yudhishthira, then spoke gentle, meaningful words, and calmed all his brothers, in the presence of the sage Dhaumya.
मा रोदी राज्ञि लोकानां सर्वागमगुणान्विता। रक्षितव्यं सहास्माभिः सत्यमप्रतिमं भुवि ।। 12
Do not weep, O queen, endowed with all virtues and the qualities praised in the world; together we must uphold truth, which is unmatched on earth.
अनुनीतेषु चास्मासु अनुनीता त्वमप्यसि। मा धर्मं जहि सुश्रोणि क्रोधं जहि महामते ।। 13
When we have been appeased, you too have been appeased; do not abandon dharma, O lovely-hipped one, and, O wise lady, renounce anger.