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.
मा दीर्घं क्षम कालं त्वं त्रिंशद्रात्रमनिन्दिते। पूर्णे त्रयोदशे वर्षे राज्ञां राज्ञी भविष्यसि ।। 24
Do not endure for a long time, O blameless one; for thirty nights only. When the thirteenth year is complete, you shall become the queen of kings.
सत्येन ते शपे चाहं भविता नान्यथेति च ।। 25
I swear to you by truth itself: it shall not be otherwise.
सर्वासां परमस्त्रीणां प्रामाण्यं कर्तुमर्हसि। सर्वेषां च नरेन्द्राणां मूर्ध्नि स्थास्यसि भामिनि ।। 26
You are worthy to be the foremost among all women, and you shall stand above the heads of all kings, O beautiful one.
भर्तृभक्त्या च वृत्तेन भोगानाप्स्यसि दुर्लभान् । यातायां तु प्रतिज्ञायां महान्तं भोगमाप्नुयाः ।। 27
Through devotion to your husband and virtuous conduct, you will obtain enjoyments that are difficult to attain; and when the vow is fulfilled, you will gain great happiness.
गुरुभक्तिकृतं ज्ञात्वा राज्ञां मूर्ध्नि स्थिता भवेः ।। 28
Knowing that this is due to devotion to your elders, you shall stand upon the heads of kings.
आर्तप्रलापा कौन्तेय न राजानमुपालभे। अपारयन्त्या दुःखानि कृतं बाष्पप्रमोचनम् ।। 29
O son of Kunti, my lamentations are not to reproach the king; shedding tears is natural for one overwhelmed by suffering.
इदं तु दुःखं कौन्तेय ममासद्यं निबोध तत् ।। 30
But now, O son of Kunti, listen to this present sorrow of mine.
योऽयं राज्ञो विराटस्य सूतपुत्रस्तु कीचकः। स्यालो नाम प्रवादेन भोजस्त्रैगर्तदेशजः ।। 31
This Suta's son, Kichaka, who serves King Virata, is called my brother-in-law by common report, and is a Bhoja from the land of Trigarta.
त्यक्तधर्मो नृशंसश्च सर्वार्थेषु च वल्लभः । नित्यमेवाह दुष्टात्मा भार्या मे भव शोभने । अविनीतः सुदुष्टात्मा मामनाथेति चिन्तयन् ।। 32
He is devoid of righteousness, cruel, and favored in all matters; this wicked-minded man always says to me, 'Become my wife, O lovely one,' thinking I am unprotected, though he is undisciplined and evil-hearted.
किमुक्तेन व्यतीतेन भीमसेन महाबल। प्रत्युपस्थितकालस्य कार्यस्यानन्तरो भव ।। 33
What is the use of recounting the past, O mighty Bhimasena? Be ready for the task that is now at hand.
ममेह भीम कैकेयी रूपाद्धि भयशङ्किता। नित्यमुद्विजते राजा कथं नेयादिमामिति ।। 34
O Bhima, the king is always anxious because of my beauty, fearing how he might protect me.
तस्या विदित्वा तं भावं स्वयं चानृतदर्शनः । कीचकोपि च दुष्टात्मा पुनः प्रार्थयते च मां ।। 35
Knowing his feelings, and seeing that he disregards the truth, this wicked-hearted Kichaka again seeks me out.
तमहं कुपिता भीम पुनः कोपं नियम्य च। अब्रवं कामसंमूढमात्मानं रक्ष कीचक ।। 36
Then, though angry, I restrained my wrath and said to Kichaka, who was deluded by desire, 'Protect yourself, Kichaka.'
गन्धर्वाणामहं भार्या पञ्चानां महिषी प्रिया । ते त्वां निहन्युर्दुर्धर्षाः शूराः साहसकारिणः ।। 37
I am the wife of five Gandharvas, their beloved queen; they are invincible, heroic, and daring, and they will slay you.
एवमुक्तस्तु दुष्टात्मा कीचकः प्रत्युवाच ह। नाहं बिभेमि भैरन्ध्रि गन्धर्वाणां शुचिस्मिते ।। 38
Thus addressed, the wicked-hearted Kichaka replied, 'I do not fear the terrible feet of the Gandharvas, O fair-smiling one.'
शतं सहस्रमपि वा गन्धर्वाणामहं रणे। समागतं हनिष्यामि त्वं भीरु कुरु मे क्षणम् ।। 39
Even if a hundred thousand Gandharvas were to gather in battle, I would slay them; do not be afraid, grant me but a moment.
इत्युक्ता चाब्रवं सूतं कामातुरमहं पुनः। न त्वं प्रतिबलस्तेषां गन्धर्वाणां यशस्विनाम् ।। 40
Thus addressed, I said again to the Suta, who was overwhelmed by desire, 'You are no match for those illustrious Gandharvas.'
धर्मे स्थिताऽस्मि सततं कुलशीलसमन्विता। नेच्छामि किंचिद्वध्यं त्वां तस्माज्जीवसि कीचक ।। 41
I always stand firm in righteousness, endowed with noble family and conduct; I do not wish to kill you, and for that reason you live, Kichaka.
एवमुक्तस्तु दुष्टात्मा प्रहस्य स्वनवत्ततः। न तिष्ठिति स सन्मार्गे न च धर्मं बुभूषति ।। 42
Thus spoken to, the wicked-hearted one laughed loudly; he does not stand on the right path, nor does he desire righteousness.
पापात्मा पापकारी च कामराजवशानुगः । अविनीतश्च दुष्टात्मा प्रत्याख्यातः पुनः पुनः ।। 43
He is evil-minded and does evil deeds, following the sway of lust and kingship; undisciplined and wicked-hearted, he has been rejected again and again.