Draupadi Rejects Kichaka

Verse 1 (4.17.1)

एवमुक्ताऽनवद्याङ्गी कीचकेन दुरात्मना । द्रौपदी तमुवाचेदं सैरन्ध्रीवेषधारिणी ॥

evamuktā'navadyāṅgī kīcakena durātmanā | draupadī tamuvācedaṃ sairandhrīveṣadhāriṇī

Addressed thus by the wicked Kichaka, Draupadi of flawless limbs, who wore the guise of a sairandhri, said this to him:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.13, lines 29–30.

Verse 2 (4.17.2)

अप्रार्थनीयामिह मां सूतपुत्राभिमन्यसे । निहीनवर्णां सैरन्ध्रीं बीभत्सां केशकारिणीम् ॥

aprārthanīyāmiha māṃ sūtaputrābhimanyase | nihīnavarṇāṃ sairandhrīṃ bībhatsāṃ keśakāriṇīm

Son of a suta, you set your heart on me, who am not one to be courted here — a sairandhri of low birth, unlovely, a dresser of hair.

Note on the text: Speaker assigned: Draupadi, whose words the previous verse introduces (the critical edition heads them द्रौपद्युवाच). Corrected अप्रार्थनीयामिहं → अप्रार्थनीयामिह (misprint in Wikisource; stray anusvara on इह, "here"). Corrected सैरेन्ध्रीं → सैरन्ध्रीं (misprint in Wikisource; wrong vowel sign; सैरन्ध्री, as in the critical edition's sairandhrīṃ). Wikisource's निहीनवर्णां and केशकारिणीम् (for the CE's vihīnavarṇāṃ, keśakārikām) are kept.

Verse 3 (4.17.3)

परदाराऽस्मि भद्रं ते न युक्तं तव सांप्रतम् । दयिताः प्राणिनां दारा धर्मं समनुचिन्तय ॥

paradārā'smi bhadraṃ te na yuktaṃ tava sāṃpratam | dayitāḥ prāṇināṃ dārā dharmaṃ samanucintaya

I am another man's wife — may good come to you — and this is not fitting for you. Wives are dear to all living beings; think on dharma.

Verse 4 (4.17.4)

परदारे न ते बुद्धिर्जातु कार्या कथंचन । विवर्जनं ह्यकार्याणामेतत्सुपुरुषव्रतम् ॥

paradāre na te buddhirjātu kāryā kathaṃcana | vivarjanaṃ hyakāryāṇāmetatsupuruṣavratam

Never in any way should you set your mind on another's wife. To shun what ought not to be done — that is the vow of good men.

Verse 5 (4.17.5)

मिथ्याभिगृध्नो हि नरः पापात्मा मोहमास्थितः । अयशः प्राप्नुयाद्धोरं महद्वा प्राप्नुयाद्भयम् ॥

mithyābhigṛdhno hi naraḥ pāpātmā mohamāsthitaḥ | ayaśaḥ prāpnuyāddhoraṃ mahadvā prāpnuyādbhayam

A sinful man who, lost in delusion, covets what is wrong earns terrible infamy or meets with great danger.

Verse 6 (4.17.6)

एवमुक्तस्तु सैरन्ध्र्या कीचकः काममोहितः । जानन्नपि सुदुर्बुद्धिः परदाराभिमर्शने ॥

evamuktastu sairandhryā kīcakaḥ kāmamohitaḥ | jānannapi sudurbuddhiḥ paradārābhimarśane

Addressed thus by the sairandhri, Kichaka, deluded by desire — though the fool knew of the many evils in laying hands on another's wife,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.14, lines 1–2.

Verse 7 (4.17.7)

दोषान्बहून्प्राणहरान्सर्वलोकविगर्हितान् । प्रोवाचेदं सुदुर्बुद्धिर्द्रौपदीमजितेन्द्रियः ॥

doṣānbahūnprāṇaharānsarvalokavigarhitān | provācedaṃ sudurbuddhirdraupadīmajitendriyaḥ

evils that take a man's life and are condemned by the whole world — that utter fool, who had no mastery over his senses, said this to Draupadi:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.14, lines 3–4.

Verse 8 (4.17.8)

नार्हस्येवं वरारोहे प्रत्याख्यातुं वरानने । मां मन्मथसमाविष्टं त्वत्कृते चारुहासिनि ॥

nārhasyevaṃ varārohe pratyākhyātuṃ varānane | māṃ manmathasamāviṣṭaṃ tvatkṛte cāruhāsini

You should not reject me like this, fair-hipped, fair-faced, sweetly smiling lady, when I am possessed by love for your sake.

Note on the text: Speaker assigned: Kichaka, whose words the previous verse introduces. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.14, lines 5–6.

Verse 9 (4.17.9)

प्रत्याख्याय च मां भीरु वशगं प्रियवादिनम् । नूनं त्वमसितापाङ्गि पश्चात्तापं करिष्यसि ॥

pratyākhyāya ca māṃ bhīru vaśagaṃ priyavādinam | nūnaṃ tvamasitāpāṅgi paścāttāpaṃ kariṣyasi

If you reject me, timid one — me, who am in your power and speak to you so kindly — you will surely be sorry for it later, dark-eyed one.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.14, lines 7–8.

Verse 10 (4.17.10)

अहं हि सुभ्रु राज्यस्य कृत्स्नस्यास्य सुमध्यमे । प्रभुर्वासयिता चैव वीर्ये चाप्रतिमः क्षितौ ॥

ahaṃ hi subhru rājyasya kṛtsnasyāsya sumadhyame | prabhurvāsayitā caiva vīrye cāpratimaḥ kṣitau

For I, fair-browed and slender-waisted one, am master of this entire kingdom and the one who keeps it settled, and in valour I have no equal on earth.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.14, lines 9–10.

Verse 11 (4.17.11)

पृथिव्यां मत्समो नास्ति कश्चिदन्यः पुमानिह । रूपयौवनसौभाग्यैर्भोगैश्चानुत्तमैः शुभैः ॥

pṛthivyāṃ matsamo nāsti kaścidanyaḥ pumāniha | rūpayauvanasaubhāgyairbhogaiścānuttamaiḥ śubhaiḥ

There is no other man on earth to equal me in beauty, youth and good fortune, or in fine and choice pleasures.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.14, lines 11–12.

Verse 12 (4.17.12)

सर्वकामसमृद्धेषु भोगेष्वनुपमेष्विह । भोक्तव्येषु च कल्याणि कस्माद्दास्ये रता ह्यसि ॥

sarvakāmasamṛddheṣu bhogeṣvanupameṣviha | bhoktavyeṣu ca kalyāṇi kasmāddāsye ratā hyasi

When peerless pleasures, rich in everything one could desire, are here for you to enjoy, lovely one, why do you delight in servitude?

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.14, lines 13–14.

Verse 13 (4.17.13)

मया दत्तमिदं राज्यं स्वामिन्यसि शुभानने । भजस्व मां वरारोहे भुङ्क्ष्व भोगाननुत्तमान् ॥

mayā dattamidaṃ rājyaṃ svāminyasi śubhānane | bhajasva māṃ varārohe bhuṅkṣva bhogānanuttamān

I give you this kingdom; you are its mistress, lovely-faced one. Love me, fair-hipped one, and enjoy the finest pleasures.

Note on the text: Corrected भुङ्क्ष्वं → भुङ्क्ष्व (misprint in Wikisource; stray anusvara on the imperative "enjoy", as in the CE's Appendix I.14 bhuṅkṣva). Wikisource's स्वामिन्यसि (for the CE's svāminy asmiñ) is kept. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.14, lines 15–16.

Verse 14 (4.17.14)

एवमुक्ता तु सा साध्वी कीचकेनाशुभं वचः । कीचकं प्रत्युवाचेदं गर्हयन्त्यस्य तद्वचः ॥

evamuktā tu sā sādhvī kīcakenāśubhaṃ vacaḥ | kīcakaṃ pratyuvācedaṃ garhayantyasya tadvacaḥ

When Kichaka had spoken these ugly words to her, that virtuous woman answered him, rebuking what he had said:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.14, lines 17–18.

Verse 15 (4.17.15)

मा सूतपुत्र मुह्यस्व माऽद्य त्यक्ष्यसि जीवितम् । जानीहि पञ्चभिर्घोरैर्नित्यं मामभिरक्षिताम् ॥

mā sūtaputra muhyasva mā'dya tyakṣyasi jīvitam | jānīhi pañcabhirghorairnityaṃ māmabhirakṣitām

Son of a suta, do not be deluded; do not throw away your life today. Know that I am always guarded by five terrible beings.

Note on the text: Corrected त्यक्ष्यस्व → त्यक्ष्यसि (misprint in Wikisource; a future stem with an imperative ending is no form; मा with the future, "do not throw away", as in the critical edition's tyakṣyasi). This is CE 4.13.17 (unmatched by the automatic alignment): Wikisource reads मुह्यस्व for hṛṣyasva, and its second line differs from the CE's (durlabhām abhimanvāno māṃ vīrair abhirakṣitām).

Verse 16 (4.17.16)

न चाप्यहं त्वया लभ्या गन्धर्वाः पतयो मम । ते त्वां निहन्युः कुपिताः साध्वलं मा व्यनीनशः ॥

na cāpyahaṃ tvayā labhyā gandharvāḥ patayo mama | te tvāṃ nihanyuḥ kupitāḥ sādhvalaṃ mā vyanīnaśaḥ

You cannot have me: Gandharvas are my husbands. Enraged, they would kill you. Enough — do not destroy yourself.

Verse 17 (4.17.17)

अशक्यरूपं पुरुषैरध्वानं गन्तुमिच्छसि ॥

aśakyarūpaṃ puruṣairadhvānaṃ gantumicchasi

You want to travel a road that men cannot travel.

Note on the text: A single line in Wikisource; with the next verse it is CE 4.13.19, a three-line verse (unmatched by the automatic alignment). Wikisource reads अशक्यरूपं पुरुषैः for aśakyarūpaiḥ puruṣaiḥ.

Verse 18 (4.17.18)

यथा निश्चेतनो बालः कूलस्थः कूलमुत्तरम् । तर्तुमिच्छति मन्दात्मा तथा त्वं कर्तुमिच्छसि ॥

yathā niścetano bālaḥ kūlasthaḥ kūlamuttaram | tartumicchati mandātmā tathā tvaṃ kartumicchasi

As a senseless child standing on one bank wants to cross to the far bank, so, fool, do you mean to act.

Note on the text: CE 4.13.19cd–ef (unmatched by the automatic alignment).

Verse 19 (4.17.19)

अन्तर्महीं वा यदि वोर्ध्वमुत्पतेः समुद्रपारं यदि वा प्रधावसि । तथापि तेषां न विमोक्षमर्हसि प्रमाथिनो देवसुता हि खेचराः ॥

antarmahīṃ vā yadi vordhvamutpateḥ samudrapāraṃ yadi vā pradhāvasi | tathāpi teṣāṃ na vimokṣamarhasi pramāthino devasutā hi khecarāḥ

Though you should burrow into the earth or fly up into the sky, though you should run to the far shore of the ocean, even so you cannot escape them; for they are destroyers, sons of the gods who range the sky.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (4.13.20b): Wikisource's table cuts this verse off at the right margin, losing its last syllables and the closing mark (प्र → प्रधावसि, and the closing ॥). Wikisource's खेचराः (for the CE's me varāḥ) is kept.

Verse 20 (4.17.20)

त्वं कालरात्रीमिव कश्चिदातुरः किं मां दृढं प्रार्थयसेऽद्य कीचक । किं मातुरङ्के शयितो यथा शिशुश्चन्द्रं जिघृक्षुरिव मन्यसे हि माम् ॥

tvaṃ kālarātrīmiva kaścidāturaḥ kiṃ māṃ dṛḍhaṃ prārthayase'dya kīcaka | kiṃ māturaṅke śayito yathā śiśuścandraṃ jighṛkṣuriva manyase hi mām

Why do you press your suit on me so stubbornly today, Kichaka, like a sick man longing for the night of doom? You think of me as a child lying in its mother's lap thinks of the moon it wants to seize.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (4.13.21b, 21d): Wikisource's table cuts this verse off at the right margin, losing its last syllables and the closing mark (कीचक at the end of the first line; मन्यस → मन्यसे हि माम्, and the closing ॥). Corrected पार्थयसे → प्रार्थयसे (misprint in Wikisource; dropped र; "you beg", as in the critical edition's prārthayase).

Verse 21 (4.17.21)

तेषां प्रियां प्रार्थयतो न ते भुवि गत्वा दिवं वा शरणं भविष्यति । न वर्तते कीचक ते दृशा शुभं या तेन संजीवनमर्थयेत सा ॥

teṣāṃ priyāṃ prārthayato na te bhuvi gatvā divaṃ vā śaraṇaṃ bhaviṣyati | na vartate kīcaka te dṛśā śubhaṃ yā tena saṃjīvanamarthayeta sā

If you court their beloved, there will be no refuge for you on earth, nor if you go to heaven. Kichaka, as far as I can see, nothing good lies ahead for you: what woman would look to such a man to keep her alive?

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition's apparatus (4.13.21b*0278, line 2): Wikisource's table cuts this verse off at the right margin, losing its last syllables and the closing mark (भ → भविष्यति, and the closing ॥; the verse number is cut to "2"). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.13.21b*0278.