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.
इमं तु समुपालम्भं त्वत्तो राजा युधिष्ठिरः । शृणुयाद्यदि कल्याणि कृत्स्नं जह्यात्स जीवितं ।। 14
If King Yudhishthira were to hear this reproach from you, O blessed one, he would abandon his life entirely.
धनञ्जयो वा सुश्रोणि यमौ चापि सुमध्यमे। लोकान्तरगतेष्वेषु नाहं शक्ष्यामि जीवितुम् ।। 15
If Dhananjaya, O lovely-hipped one, and the twins were to depart from this world, I would not be able to live.
धर्मं शृणुष्व पाञ्चालि यत्ते वक्ष्यामि मानिनि ।। 16
Hear dharma, O Panchali, which I will now speak to you, O proud one.
दुहिता जनकस्यासीद्वैदेही यदि ते श्रुता। पतिमन्वचरत्सीता महारण्यनिवासिनम् ।। 17
There was a daughter of Janaka, named Vaidehi, if you have heard of her; Sita followed her husband, who dwelt in the great forest.
वसन्ती च महारण्ये रामस्य महिषी प्रिया। रावणेन हृता सीता राक्षसीभिश्च तर्जिता। सा क्लिश्यमाना सुश्रोणी राममेवान्वपद्यत ।। 18
Living in the great forest, Sita, the beloved queen of Rama, was abducted by Ravana and threatened by rakshasis; though suffering, O lovely-hipped one, she followed only Rama.
लोपामुद्रा तथा भीरु भर्तारमृषिसत्तमम्। भगवन्तमगस्त्यं सा वनायैवान्वपद्यत ।। 19
Likewise, timid Lopamudra followed her husband, the eminent sage Agastya, into the forest.
सुकन्या नाम शर्यातेर्भार्गवच्यवनं वने। वल्मीकभूतं साध्वी तमन्वपद्यत भामिनी ।। 20
Sukanya, daughter of Sharyati, followed Bhargava Cyavana in the forest, who had become covered in an anthill; she, the virtuous one, followed him, O radiant lady.
नालायनी चेन्द्रसेना रूपेणाप्रतिमा भुवि। पतिमन्वचरद्वृद्धं पुरा वर्षसहस्रिणम् ।। 21
Nalayani and Indrasena, unrivaled in beauty on earth, followed their aged husband, who lived for a thousand years, in ancient times.
नलं राजानमेवाथ दमयन्ती वनान्तरे। अन्वगच्छत्पुरा कृष्णे तथा भर्तॄंस्त्वमन्वगाः ।। 22
Damayanti, too, followed King Nala into the forest, O Krishna; likewise, you have followed your husbands.
यथैताः कीर्तिता नार्यो रूपवत्यः पतिव्रताः। तथा त्वमपि कल्याणि सर्वैः समुदिता गुणैः ।। 23
Just as these renowned women, beautiful and devoted to their husbands, so too, O blessed one, you are endowed with all virtues.