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.
प्रणम्य शिरसा भूमौ वर्धयित्वा जयाशिषा। आसीनं सूर्यसंकाशे काञ्चने परमासने ।। 10
Bowing their heads to the ground, offering blessings for victory, they saw him seated on a golden, supreme throne, shining like the sun.
उपास्यमानं सचिवैर्मरुद्भिरिव वासवम् । विद्वद्भिर्गायकैः सार्धं कविभिः स्तुतिपाठकैः ।। 11
Surrounded by ministers, like Indra among the Maruts, with learned singers and poets reciting praises.
अनेकैरपि राजन्यैः सेवितं सपरिच्छदैः। दुर्योधनं सभामध्ये आसीनमिदमब्रुवन् ।। 12
Served by many kings with their retinues, they spoke to Duryodhana, seated in the midst of the assembly.
कृतोऽस्माभिः परो यत्नस्तेषामन्वेषणे सदा । पाण्डवानां मनुष्येन्द्र तस्मिन्महति कानने ।। 13
We have made every effort, O king of men, always searching for the Pandavas in that great forest.
निर्जने व्यालसंकीर्णे नानाभ्रमरसंकुले । लताप्रतानगहने नानागुल्मसमावृते ।। 14
In the lonely wilderness, filled with wild beasts and swarming with various bees, in the dense thickets of creepers, covered with many shrubs.
न च विद्मो गता येन पार्थाः सुदृढविक्रमाः । मार्गमाणाः पदन्यासमाश्रमेषु वनेषु च ।। 15
But we do not know where the mighty Pandavas have gone, though searching for their footprints in hermitages and forests.
गिरिकूटेषु तुङ्गेषु नानाजनपदेषु च। जनाकीर्णेषु देशेषु चत्वरेषु पुरेषु च ।। 16
On lofty mountain peaks, in various regions, in crowded places, crossroads, and cities.
नरेन्द्र सहसा नष्टान्नैव विद्म च पाण्डवान्। अत्यन्तादर्शनान्नष्टा भद्रं तुभ्यं नरर्षभ ।। 17
O king, the Pandavas have suddenly vanished, and we do not know them; because they are completely unseen, they are lost—good fortune to you, O best of men.
गिरीणां कूटकुञ्जेषु कन्दरोदरसानुषु। नदीप्रस्रवणेष्वेव ह्रदेषु च सरस्सु च।। 18
In the mountain caves and ravines, on slopes and in river springs, in lakes and ponds.
गह्वरेषु च दुर्गेषु ग्रामेषू पवनेषु च। दुर्विज्ञेया गतिस्तेषां मृग्यतेऽस्माभिरेव च ।। गजव्याघ्रसमीपेषु सिंहान्ते शरभान्तरे ।। 19
In forests and fortresses, in villages and open spaces, their movements are hard to discern, and we ourselves search for them—among elephants and tigers, at the edge of lions, and among sharabhas.