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.
इत्युक्तवा राजशार्दूल राज्ञे सर्वं न्यवेदयत् । त्रिंशद्रात्रिमिमां भीरुः कृतकृत्या निवासये ।। 47
Having spoken thus, O tiger among kings, she reported everything to the king: 'Let this fearful woman, whose purpose is accomplished, stay for thirty nights.'
कीचके तु हते राजा विराटः परवीरहा। शोकमाहारयत्तीव्रं सामात्यः सपुरोहितः ।। 1
When Kīcaka was slain, King Virāṭa, destroyer of enemy heroes, was seized by intense grief, along with his ministers and priests.
कीचकस्य वधं घोरं सानुजस्य विशांपते । अत्याहितं चिन्तयित्वा व्यस्मयन्त पृथग्जनाः ।। 2
Reflecting on the dreadful killing of Kichaka and his brothers, O lord of the people, the common folk were astonished.
तस्मिन्पुरे जनपदे जजल्पुश्चापि सर्वशः । वीर्यवान्दयितो राज्ञो दर्पोत्सिक्तश्च कीचकः ।। 3
In that city and region, everywhere people spoke: Kichaka, strong and favored by the king, proud and arrogant.
सांपराये परिक्रुष्टो बलवान्दुर्जयो रणे। आसीत्प्रहर्ता शत्रूणां दारदर्शी च दुर्मतिः । स हतः किल गन्धर्वैः सैरन्ध्रीकारणान्निशि ।। 4
In battle, he was called upon, powerful and unconquerable in war, a striker of enemies, wicked in mind and a pursuer of women; he was slain at night by Gandharvas because of Sairandhri.
इत्यजल्पन्महाराज कीचकस्य विनाशनम् । देशेदेशे मनुष्याश्च विस्मितः कीचके हते ।। 5
Thus, O great king, people everywhere spoke of Kichaka's destruction, and men in every place were amazed at his death.
अथ वैः धार्तराष्ट्रेण प्रयुक्ता ये बहिश्चराः । मृगयित्वा बहून्देशान्ग्रामांश्च नगराणि च ।। 6
Then, those spies sent by Dhritarashtra searched many regions, villages, and cities.
संविधाय यथाऽऽदिष्टं यथादेशं प्रदर्शकाः । कृतसंकेतनाः सर्वे न्यवर्तन्त पुरं ततः ।। 7
Having carried out their instructions as ordered, all the informants, having made their arrangements, returned to the city.
आगम्य हास्तिनपुरं धार्तराष्ट्रमरिन्दमम्। तत्र दृष्ट्वा तु राजानं कौरव्यं धृतराष्ट्रजम् ।। 8
Arriving at Hastinapura, to Dhritarashtra, the foe-subduer, they saw the Kaurava king, son of Dhritarashtra.
द्रोणकर्णकृपैः सार्धं भीष्मेण च महात्मना। संगतं भ्रातृभिः सार्धं त्रिगर्तैश्च महारथैः ।। 9
Together with Drona, Karna, Kripa, and the great-souled Bhishma, assembled with his brothers and the mighty chariot-warriors of the Trigartas.