तां दृष्ट्वा पुरुषा राजन्प्राद्रवन्त दिशो दश। गन्धर्वाणां भयत्रस्ताः केचिद्दृष्टिं न्यमीलयन् ।। 17
Seeing her, O King, the men fled in all directions, terrified by the fear of the Gandharvas; some closed their eyes.
प्रदुद्रुवुश्चाप्यपरे तथा जना हस्तैश्च चक्षूंषि पिधाय मोहिताः। मा पश्यत स्मेति च तां ब्रुवन्तस्तथा जनाश्चुक्रुशुरार्तरूपाः ।। 18
Others also ran away, covering their eyes with their hands, bewildered, crying out, 'Do not look at her!' and they wailed in distress.
तामद्य यः पश्यति रूपशालिनीं शयीत भग्नोऽत्र यथैव कीचकाः। इति ब्रुवन्तो भयविग्नचेतसो भयेन गन्धर्वगतेन मोहिताः ।। 19
'Whoever sees this beautiful woman today will be destroyed here, just as the Kīcakas were,' so they said, their minds disturbed by fear, deluded by the terror of the Gandharvas.
ततो महानसद्वारे भीमसेनमवस्थितम्। ददर्श राजन्पाञ्चाली यथा मत्तं महाद्विपम् ।। 20
Then at the entrance to the great kitchen, Pāñcālī saw Bhīmasena standing there, like a great, intoxicated elephant.
सोपहासं तु शनकैः संज्ञाभिरिदमब्रवीत्। नमो गन्धर्वराजाय येनास्मि परिमोक्षिता ।। 21
With a slight smile, she slowly signaled and spoke these words: 'Homage to the king of the Gandharvas, by whom I have been freed.'
कीचकेभ्यो विनिर्दोषामनाथां वसतीं गृहे। यो मां रक्षति सन्त्रस्तां गन्धर्वाय नमोस्तु ते ।। 22
'Homage to you, Gandharva, who protects me, helpless and dwelling in this house, innocent of the Kīcakas' crimes, and terrified.'
ये यस्या विचरन्तीह पुरुषा वशवर्तिनः। तेषां च वशगा नित्यं विचर त्वं यथेष्टतः ।। 23
'Those men who once moved here under her command, you may now move among them as you wish, always under your control.'
ये पुरा विचरन्तीह पुरुषा वशवर्तिनः। तस्यास्ते वचनं श्रुत्वा ह्यनृणा विहरन्त्वितः ।। 24
'Those men who formerly moved here under her command, having heard her words, now move about here free of debt.'
तयोस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा जझिरे नेतरे जनाः। ततः पाञ्चालराजस्य सुता चापि जगाम ह ।। 25
Hearing those words from the two, the other people were reassured; then the daughter of the king of the Pāñcālas also departed.
ततः सा नर्तनागारे धनंजयमपश्यत। राज्ञः कन्या विराटस्य नर्तयन्तं महाभुजम् ।। 26
Then she saw Dhanañjaya in the dancing hall, the daughter of King Virāṭa dancing with the mighty-armed one.
ततस्ता नर्तनागाराद्विनिष्क्रम्य सहार्जुनाः। कन्या ददृशुरायान्तीं कृष्णां क्लिष्टामनागसम् ।। 27
Then, as they came out of the dancing hall together with Arjuna, the maidens saw Kṛṣṇā approaching, distressed but innocent.
दिष्ट्या सैरन्ध्रि मुक्ताऽसि दिष्ट्याऽसि पुनरागता। दिष्ट्या च निहताः सूता ये त्वां क्लिश्यन्त्यनागसम् ।। 28
'By fortune, Sairandhrī, you are freed! By fortune, you have returned! By fortune, those charioteers who tormented you, though innocent, are slain!'
कथं सैरन्ध्रि मुक्ताऽसि कथं पापाश्च ते हताः। इच्छामि ते कथां श्रोतुं कथयस्व यथातथम् ।। 29
'How were you freed, Sairandhrī? How were those evil ones slain? I wish to hear your story—tell it to me just as it happened.'
बृहन्नले किंनु तव सैरन्ध्र्या कार्यमद्य वै। या त्वं रंस्यसि कल्याणि सदा कन्यापुरे सुखं ।। 30
'O Sairandhrī, what is your task today in Bṛhannalā’s service, that you may always enjoy happiness in the maiden’s quarters?'
न हि दुःख समाप्नोषि सैरन्ध्री यदुपाश्रुते। सुखेन वर्तसे येह न तद्दुःखमवाप्यते। तेन मां दुःखितामेवं पृच्छसि प्रहसन्त्यपि ।। 31
O Sairandhri, you do not experience suffering as you are protected by the Yadus; you live here in comfort, and such suffering does not befall you. That is why you ask me, even as I am distressed, with a smile.
बृहन्नलाऽपि कल्याणि दुःखमाप्नोत्यनन्तकम्। तिर्यग्योनिगतेवेयं न चैनामवबुध्यसे ।। 32
Even Brihannala, O blessed one, suffers endless pain; this woman is as if born in an animal womb, yet you do not perceive it.
त्वया सहोषिता चास्मि त्वं च सर्वैः सहोषिता। त्वत्तः कृच्छ्रतरं वासं वसेयमहमङ्गने । क्लिश्यन्त्यां त्वयि सुश्रोणि कोनु दुःखं न चिन्तयेत्। ।। 33
I have lived with you, and you have lived with everyone; but I would endure a harsher dwelling, O lady. When you are afflicted, O fair-hipped one, who would not think of suffering?
न तु केनचिदन्यन्तं कस्यचिद्धृदयं क्वचित्। वेदितुं शक्यते नूनं तेन मां नावबुध्यसे ।। 34
Indeed, no one can ever fully know another's heart anywhere; therefore, you do not understand me.
ततः सहैव कन्याभिर्द्रौपदी राजवेश्म तत्। प्रविवेश सुदेष्णायाः समीपमनसूयिनी ।। 35
Then, together with the maidens, Draupadi entered the royal palace, approaching Sudeṣṇā, free from envy.
तामब्रवीद्राजपत्नी विराटवचनादिदम् । सैरन्ध्रि गम्यतां शीघ्रं यत्र कामयसे गतिम् । राजा बिभेति सैरन्ध्रि गन्धर्वेभ्यः पराभवात् ।। 36
The queen, wife of Virāṭa, spoke these words to Sairandhri: 'Go quickly, Sairandhri, wherever you wish to go. The king fears defeat by the Gandharvas.'
त्वं चापि तरुणी सुभ्रू रूपेणाप्रतिमा भुवि । चित्तानि च नृणां भद्रे रक्तानि स्पर्शजे सुखे ।। 37
You are young, O lovely-browed one, unmatched in beauty on earth; and, O gentle one, men's hearts are drawn to the pleasure of your touch.
तस्मात्त्वत्तो भयं मह्यं राष्ट्रस्य नगरस्य च। गच्छाद्यैव यथेष्टं त्वं नगराद्यत्र रंस्यसे ।। 38
Therefore, I fear you for myself, for the kingdom, and for the city. Go now wherever you wish, outside the city, wherever you will find delight.
त्वन्निमित्तं शुभे मह्यं सर्वो बन्धुजनो हतः। नृशंसा खलु ते बुद्धिर्भ्रातॄणां मे कृतो वधः ।। 39
Because of you, O auspicious one, all my kin have been killed; truly, your mind is cruel, for you have caused the death of my brothers.
तस्माद्गन्धर्वराजेभ्यो भयमद्य प्रवर्तते। यथेष्टं गच्छ सैरन्ध्रि स्वस्ति चेह यथा भवेत् ।। 40
Thus, today fear arises from the Gandharva kings; go as you wish, Sairandhri, and may you have well-being here as is fitting.
सुदेष्णाया वचः श्रुत्वा सैरन्ध्री चेदमब्रवीत् । त्रयोदशाहमात्रं तु राजा क्षाम्यतु भामिनि ।। 41
Hearing Sudeṣṇā's words, Sairandhri replied: 'Let the king endure, O beautiful one, for just thirteen days.'
कृतकृत्या अविष्यन्ति गन्धर्वास्ते न संशयः । ततो मामुपनेष्यन्ति करिष्यन्ति च ते प्रियम् ।। 42
Once their purpose is accomplished, those Gandharvas will depart, without doubt; then they will bring me back and do what pleases you.
ध्रुवं च श्रेयसा राजा योक्ष्यते सह बान्धवैः । राज्ञः कृतोपकाराश्च कृतज्ञाश्च सदा शुभे। साधवश्च बलोत्सिक्ताः कृतप्रतिकृतेप्सवः ।। 43
Certainly, the king will attain prosperity together with his relatives; those who have benefited the king and are grateful, O auspicious one, are always noble, strong, and eager to repay favors.
अर्थिनी मा ब्रवीत्येषा यद्वातद्वेति चिन्तय। भरस्व तदहर्मात्रं तत्ते श्रेयो भविष्यति ।। 44
This woman asks for a favor; consider whether to grant it or not. Bear it for just this day; it will be for your good.
तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा कैकेयी दुःखमोहिता। उवाच द्रौपदीमार्ता भ्रातृव्यसनकर्शिता ।। 45
Hearing her words, the Kaikeyi queen, overwhelmed by grief, spoke to Draupadi, afflicted by the calamity of her brothers.
वस भद्रे यथेष्टं त्वं त्वामहं शरणं गता। त्रायस्व मम भर्तारं पुत्रांश्चैव विशेषतः ।। 46
Stay, O gentle one, as you wish; I have taken refuge in you. Protect my husband and especially my sons.