पाञ्चालराजं द्रुपदं दुःखशोकसमन्वितः। ततः काम्पिल्यमासाद्य दशार्णाधिपतिस्ततः
The king of Dasharna, filled with sorrow and grief, came to Kampilya and approached King Drupada.
प्रेषयामास सत्कृत्य दूतं ब्रह्मविदां वरम्। ब्रूहि मद्वचनाद्दूत पाञ्चाल्यं तं नृपाधमम्
He respectfully sent as his envoy a foremost knower of the Vedas, saying, "O messenger, speak these words of mine to that lowest of kings, the Panchala ruler."
यन्मे कन्यां स्वकन्यार्थे वृतवानसि दुर्मते। फलं तस्यावलेपस्य द्रक्ष्यस्यद्य न संशयः
"Because you, wicked-minded one, have given your daughter in marriage for the sake of your own daughter, today you shall surely see the result of your arrogance."
एवमुक्तश्च तेनासौ ब्राह्मणो राजसत्तम। दूतः प्रयातो नगरं दाशार्णनृपचोदितः
Thus addressed by him, the best of kings, the Brahmin envoy, sent by the king of Dasharna, set out for the city.
ततः आसादयामास पुरोधा द्रुपदं पुरे। तस्मै पाञ्चालको राजा गामर्घ्यं च सुसत्कृतम्
Thereupon, the priest met Drupada in the city; the Panchala king honored him greatly, offering him the customary gifts along with Shikhandi.
प्रापयामास राजेन्द्र सह तेन शिखण्डिना । तां पूजां नाभ्यनन्दत्स वाक्यं चेदमुवाच ह
But the priest did not accept that honor, and spoke these words:
यदुक्तं तेन वीरेण राज्ञा काञ्चनवर्मणा । यत्तेऽहमधमाचार दुहित्राऽस्म्यभिवञ्चितः
"What was said by that hero, King Kanchanavarman, and how I, through your daughter's misconduct, have been deceived—"
तस्य पापस्य करणात्फलं प्राप्नुहि दुर्मते । देहि युद्धं नरपते ममाद्य रणमूर्धनि
"Because of that sinful act, you shall reap its fruit, wicked-minded one; give me battle today, O king, on the field of war!"
उद्धरिष्यामि ते सद्यः सामात्यसुतबान्धवम् । तदुपालम्भसंयुक्तं श्रावितः किल पार्थिवः
"I shall at once destroy you, along with your ministers, sons, and kinsmen!" Thus, the king was made to hear these words filled with reproach.
दशार्णपतिना चोक्तो मन्त्रिमध्ये पुरोधसा। अभवद्भरतश्रेष्ठ द्रुपदः प्रणयानतः
And in the midst of his counselors, the priest of the lord of Dasharna spoke; then Drupada, best of the Bharatas, bowed with respect.
यदाह मां भवान्ब्रह्मन्संबन्धिवचनाद्वचः । अस्योत्तरं प्रतिवचो दूतो राज्ञे वदिष्यति
When you, O Brahman, spoke to me words concerning the alliance, the envoy will deliver this reply to the king.
ततः संप्रेषयामास द्रुपदोऽपि महात्मने । हिरण्यवर्मणे दूतं ब्राह्मणं वेदपारगम्
Then Drupada also sent to the great-souled king Hiraṇyavarman a Brahmin messenger learned in the Vedas.
तमागम्य तु राजानं दशार्णाधिपतिं तदा। तद्वाक्यमाददे राजन्यदुक्तं द्रुपदेन ह
Upon arriving before the king, the lord of Daśārṇa, he conveyed to the royal one the message spoken by Drupada.
आगमः क्रियतां व्यक्तः कुमारोऽयं सुतो मम । मिथ्यैतदुक्तं केनापि तदश्रद्धेयमित्युत
Let the verification be made; this prince is indeed my son. What has been said otherwise by someone is false and not to be believed.
ततः स राजा द्रुपदस्य श्रुत्वा। विमर्शयुक्तो युवतीर्वरिष्ठाः। संप्रेषयामास सुचारुरूपाः शिखण्डिनं स्त्रीपुमान्वेति वेत्तुम्
Then that king, having heard Drupada’s words and reflecting, sent the most distinguished young women, beautiful in form, to determine whether Śikhaṇḍin is male or female.
ताः प्रेषितास्तत्त्वभावं विदित्वा प्रीत्या राज्ञे तच्छशंसुर्हि सर्वम् । शिखण्डिनं पुरुषं कौरवेन्द्र दाशार्णराजाय महानुभावम्
Those women, having been sent and ascertained the truth, joyfully reported everything to the king: 'Śikhaṇḍin is a man, O lord of the Kauravas, O great-souled king of Daśārṇa.'
ततः कृत्वा तु राजा स आगमं प्रीतिमानथ। संबन्धिना समागम्य हृष्टो वासमुवास ह
Then the king, having performed the verification and being pleased, joyfully dwelt together with his relative.
शिखण्डिने च मुदितः प्रादाद्वित्तं जनेश्वरः । हस्तिनोऽश्वांश्च गाश्चैव दासीर्बहुशतास्तथा । पूजितश्च प्रतिययौ निर्भर्त्स्य तनयां किल
Delighted with Śikhaṇḍin, the lord of men gave him wealth, elephants, horses, cows, and many hundreds of maidservants; and, having been honored, he departed, reproaching his daughter.
विनीतकिल्विषे प्रीते हेमवर्मणि पार्थिवे । प्रतियाते दशार्णे तु हृष्टरूपा शिखण्डिनी
When the king Hemavarman, purified of sin and pleased, had departed for Daśārṇa, Śikhaṇḍinī appeared joyful.
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य कुबेरो नरवाहनः । लोकयात्रां प्रकुर्वाणः स्थूणस्यागान्निवेशनम्
Then, after some time, Kubera, the lord of wealth, while conducting his worldly affairs, entered the dwelling of Sthūṇa.
स नद्गृहस्योपरि वतमान आलोकयामास धनाधिगोप्ता। स्थूणस्य यक्षस्य विवेश वेश्म स्वलंकृतं माल्यगुणैर्विचित्रैः
He, the protector of wealth, hovering above the house, beheld the splendidly adorned mansion of the Yakṣa Sthūṇa, decorated with garlands of various kinds.
लाचैश्च गन्धैश्च तथा वितानै- रभ्यर्चितं धृनधृपितं च। ध्वजैः पताकाभिरलंकृतं च भक्ष्यान्नपेयामिपदत्तमोदम्
Adorned with powders, fragrances, and canopies, honored and splendid, decorated with banners and flags, and filled with delicious foods and drinks, it brought delight.
तत्स्थानं तस्य दृष्ट्वा तु सर्वतः समलंकृतम्। मणिरत्नसुवर्णानां मालाभिः परिपूरितम्
Seeing that place, adorned on all sides and filled with garlands of gems, jewels, and gold, he was amazed.
नानाकुसूमगन्धाढ्यं सिक्तसंमृष्टशोभितम् । अथाब्रवीद्यक्षपतिस्तान्यक्षाननुगांस्तदा
Rich with the scents of various flowers, shining from being sprinkled and polished, then the lord of the Yakṣas spoke to his attendants.
स्वलंकृतमिदं वेश्म स्थूणस्यामितविक्रमाः । नोपसर्पति मां चैव कस्मादद्य स मन्दधीः
'This mansion of Sthūṇa is splendidly adorned, O you of boundless might. Why does that dull-witted one not approach me today?'
यस्माज्जानन्स मन्दात्मा मामसौ नोपसर्पति । तस्मात्तस्मै महादण्डो धार्यः स्यादिति मे मतिः
'Because, knowing me, that slow-minded one does not approach, therefore a great punishment should be imposed on him—such is my decision.'
द्रुपदस्य सुता राजन्राज्ञो जाता शिखण्डिनी। तस्या निमित्ते कस्मिंश्चित्प्रादात्पुरुषलक्षणम्
O king, Drupada’s daughter, born as Śikhaṇḍinī, for her sake at one time received the marks of a man.
अग्रहील्लक्षणं स्त्रीणां स्त्रीभूता तिष्ठते गृहे। नोपसर्पति तेनासौ सव्रीडः स्त्रीसरूपवान्
He took on the marks of a woman and, having become a woman, remains in the house; out of shame, possessing a woman’s form, he does not approach.
एतस्मात्कारणाद्राजन्स्थूणो न त्वाऽद्य सर्पति। श्रुत्वा कुरु यथान्यायं विमानमिह तिष्ठताम्
For this reason, O King, Sthūṇa will not approach you today; having heard, act according to justice, and let the vimāna remain here.
आनीयतां स्थूण इति ततो यक्षाधिपोऽब्रवीत् । कर्तास्मि निग्रहं तस्य प्रत्युवाच पुनः पुनः
Then the lord of the Yakṣas said, 'Let Sthūṇa be brought here.' I shall restrain him—he spoke this again and again.