Sudeshna Asks the Sairandhri to Leave

Verse 1 (4.28.1)

ते दृष्ट्वा निहतान्सूतान्भीमसेनेन भारत । पौराश्च सहिताः सर्वे राज्ञे गत्वा न्यवेदयन् । गन्धर्वेण हता राजन्सूतपुत्राः परश्शतम् ॥

te dṛṣṭvā nihatānsūtānbhīmasenena bhārata | paurāśca sahitāḥ sarve rājñe gatvā nyavedayan | gandharveṇa hatā rājansūtaputrāḥ paraśśatam

Seeing the sutas slain by Bhimasena, Bharata, the citizens went together to the king and reported: "O king, a Gandharva has killed the suta's sons, more than a hundred of them.

Note on the text: This is CE 4.23.1 (unmatched by the automatic alignment) with the apparatus additions 4.23.1a*0479 (bhīmasenena bhārata; paurāś ca sahitāḥ sarve), which make it three lines; Wikisource reads गन्धर्वेण for gandharvair (its own footnote records gandharvair as a variant).

Verse 2 (4.28.2)

यथा वज्रेण दीर्णं वै पर्वतस्य महच्छिरः । विनिकीर्णाः प्रदृश्यन्ते तथा सूता महीतले ॥

yathā vajreṇa dīrṇaṃ vai parvatasya mahacchiraḥ | vinikīrṇāḥ pradṛśyante tathā sūtā mahītale

As the great peak of a mountain split by a thunderbolt lies scattered about, so the sutas lie strewn upon the ground.

Note on the text: Corrected विनिकार्णाः → विनिकीर्णाः (misprint in Wikisource; ā-sign for ī-sign; the critical edition reads vinikīrṇaṃ). Speaker assigned: the citizens, whose report the previous verse begins (Wikisource carried over Vaishampayana).

Verse 3 (4.28.3)

सैरन्ध्री चापि मुक्ता सा पुनरायाति ते गृहम् । सर्वं संशयितं राजन्नगरं ते भविष्यति ॥

sairandhrī cāpi muktā sā punarāyāti te gṛham | sarvaṃ saṃśayitaṃ rājannagaraṃ te bhaviṣyati

And the Sairandhri, set free, is coming back to your palace. Your whole city, O king, will be in peril.

Verse 4 (4.28.4)

तथारूपा हि सैरन्ध्री गन्धर्वाश्च महाबलाः । पुंसामिष्टश्च विषयो मैथुनाय न संशयः ॥

tathārūpā hi sairandhrī gandharvāśca mahābalāḥ | puṃsāmiṣṭaśca viṣayo maithunāya na saṃśayaḥ

For the Sairandhri is so beautiful, and the Gandharvas so mighty; and men, beyond doubt, crave the pleasures of union.

Verse 5 (4.28.5)

यथा सैरन्ध्रिदोषेण नेदं राजन्पुरं तव । विनाशमेति वै क्षिप्रं तथा साधु विधीयताम् ॥

yathā sairandhridoṣeṇa nedaṃ rājanpuraṃ tava | vināśameti vai kṣipraṃ tathā sādhu vidhīyatām

O king, take proper measures so that this city of yours does not swiftly come to ruin through the Sairandhri's fault.

Verse 6 (4.28.6)

सर्वाङ्गसौष्ठवयुतां रूपलावण्यशालिनीम् । पश्यतामनिमेषेण चक्षुषा वनितां शुभाम् । मनसश्चक्षुषश्चैव प्रतिबन्धो न विद्यते ॥

sarvāṅgasauṣṭhavayutāṃ rūpalāvaṇyaśālinīm | paśyatāmanimeṣeṇa cakṣuṣā vanitāṃ śubhām | manasaścakṣuṣaścaiva pratibandho na vidyate

Those who gaze unblinking at that lovely woman, graceful in every limb and rich in beauty and charm, find nothing to hold back their minds or their eyes.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.23.5d*0480, lines 1–3.

Verse 7 (4.28.7)

तस्मात्तां यः पुमान्दृष्ट्वा रूपेणाप्रतिमां भुवि । गच्छेत्कामवशं मूढो गन्धर्वैः स निहन्यते ॥

tasmāttāṃ yaḥ pumāndṛṣṭvā rūpeṇāpratimāṃ bhuvi | gacchetkāmavaśaṃ mūḍho gandharvaiḥ sa nihanyate

So any man who sees her, peerless in beauty on earth, and in his folly falls under the sway of desire, is killed by the Gandharvas.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.23.5d*0480, lines 4–5.

Verse 8 (4.28.8)

निष्कासयैनां भवनात्पुराच्चैव विशेषतः । कालः प्रविश्य सैरन्ध्रीं पुरं नाशयते ध्रुवम् ॥

niṣkāsayaināṃ bhavanātpurāccaiva viśeṣataḥ | kālaḥ praviśya sairandhrīṃ puraṃ nāśayate dhruvam

Banish her from your palace, and above all from the city. Death has entered into the Sairandhri; he will surely destroy the city."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.23.5d*0480, lines 6–7 (reading kāmaḥ for कालः).

Verse 9 (4.28.9)

तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा विराटो वाहिनीपतिः । अब्रवीत्क्रियतामेषां सूतानामपरक्रिया ॥

teṣāṃ tadvacanaṃ śrutvā virāṭo vāhinīpatiḥ | abravītkriyatāmeṣāṃ sūtānāmaparakriyā

Hearing their words, Virata, lord of hosts, said, "Let the funeral rites of these sutas be performed.

Verse 10 (4.28.10)

एकस्मिन्नेव ते सर्वे सुसमिद्धे हुताशने । दह्यन्तां कीचकाः सर्वे सर्वगन्धैश्च सर्वशः ॥

ekasminneva te sarve susamiddhe hutāśane | dahyantāṃ kīcakāḥ sarve sarvagandhaiśca sarvaśaḥ

Let all the Kichakas be burned together in a single blazing fire, with every kind of fragrance, with full rites."

Note on the text: Speaker assigned: Virata, whose order the previous verse begins (Wikisource carried over Vaishampayana). Wikisource's सर्वे सर्वगन्धैश्च (for śīghraṃ ratnair gandhaiś ca) is kept.

Verse 11 (4.28.11)

इत्युक्त्वा परमोद्विग्नः प्रविश्यान्तःपुरं शुभम् । सुदेष्णां चाब्रवीद्राजा महिषीं जातसाध्वसः ॥

ityuktvā paramodvignaḥ praviśyāntaḥpuraṃ śubham | sudeṣṇāṃ cābravīdrājā mahiṣīṃ jātasādhvasaḥ

Having said this, the king, deeply alarmed, went into the fair inner apartments and, full of dread, spoke to his queen Sudeshna:

Note on the text: Corrected परमोद्वग्निः → परमोद्विग्नः (misprint in Wikisource; the i-sign and the न्/ग् are displaced; "deeply alarmed"). Line 1 appears nowhere in the critical edition; line 2 is CE 4.23.8ab.

Verse 12 (4.28.12)

सैरन्ध्रीमागतां ब्रूया ममैव वचनादिह । गच्छ सैरन्ध्रि भद्रं ते यथाकामं चराधुना । बिभेति राजा सैरन्ध्रि गन्धर्वेभ्यः पराभवात् ॥

sairandhrīmāgatāṃ brūyā mamaiva vacanādiha | gaccha sairandhri bhadraṃ te yathākāmaṃ carādhunā | bibheti rājā sairandhri gandharvebhyaḥ parābhavāt

When the Sairandhri comes back, tell her this, on my word: "Go, Sairandhri, and good fortune to you; go wherever you please now. The king fears defeat at the hands of the Gandharvas, Sairandhri."

Note on the text: Corrected सैरन्धि → सैरन्ध्रि (misprint in Wikisource; dropped र्). Speaker assigned: Virata, speaking to Sudeshna (Wikisource carried over Vaishampayana). Line 1 is CE 4.23.8cd (reading इह for idam); lines 2–3 are CE 4.23.9 (reading चराधुना and सैरन्ध्रि for carābale and suśroṇi).

Verse 13 (4.28.13)

न हि तामुत्सहे वक्तुं स्वयं गन्धर्वरक्षिताम् । स्त्रियास्त्वदोषस्तां वक्तुमतस्त्वां प्रब्रवीम्यहम् ॥

na hi tāmutsahe vaktuṃ svayaṃ gandharvarakṣitām | striyāstvadoṣastāṃ vaktumatastvāṃ prabravīmyaham

For I dare not say it to her myself, guarded as she is by the Gandharvas. A woman commits no offence in telling her; that is why I am asking you.

Verse 14 (4.28.14)

एकस्मिन्नेव ते सर्वे सुसमिद्धे हुताशने । अदहन्कीचकान्सर्वान्संस्कारैश्चैव सर्वशः ॥

ekasminneva te sarve susamiddhe hutāśane | adahankīcakānsarvānsaṃskāraiścaiva sarvaśaḥ

In a single blazing fire they burned all the Kichakas, with every rite, in full.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.23.7d*0481.

Verse 15 (4.28.15)

अथ मुक्ता भयात्कृष्णा सूतपुत्रान्निरस्य च । मोक्षिता भीमसेनेन जगाम नगरं प्रति ॥

atha muktā bhayātkṛṣṇā sūtaputrānnirasya ca | mokṣitā bhīmasenena jagāma nagaraṃ prati

Then Krishna, freed from fear, rid of the suta's sons and set loose by Bhimasena, went toward the city,

Verse 16 (4.28.16)

त्रासितेव मृगी बाला शार्दूलेन मनस्विनी । सा तु गात्राणि वासश्च प्रक्षाल्य प्रविवेश ह ॥

trāsiteva mṛgī bālā śārdūlena manasvinī | sā tu gātrāṇi vāsaśca prakṣālya praviveśa ha

proud as she was, yet like a young doe frightened by a tiger. Having washed her limbs and her clothes, she entered.

Note on the text: Line 2 differs from the CE's 4.23.12cd (gātrāṇi vāsasī caiva prakṣālya salilena sā); Wikisource's reading is kept.

Verse 17 (4.28.17)

तां दृष्ट्वा पुरुषा राजन्प्राद्रवन्त दिशो दश । गन्धर्वाणां भयत्रस्ताः केचिद्दृष्टिं न्यमीलयन् ॥

tāṃ dṛṣṭvā puruṣā rājanprādravanta diśo daśa | gandharvāṇāṃ bhayatrastāḥ keciddṛṣṭiṃ nyamīlayan

Seeing her, O king, the men fled in all ten directions in terror of the Gandharvas; some shut their eyes.

Verse 18 (4.28.18)

प्रदुद्रुवुश्चाप्यपरे तथा जना हस्तैश्च चक्षूंषि पिधाय मोहिताः । मा पश्यत स्मेति च तां ब्रुवन्तस्तथा जनाश्चुक्रुशुरार्तरूपाः ॥

pradudruvuścāpyapare tathā janā hastaiśca cakṣūṃṣi pidhāya mohitāḥ | mā paśyata smeti ca tāṃ bruvantastathā janāścukruśurārtarūpāḥ

Others ran off, covering their eyes with their hands in bewilderment; and people cried out in distress, telling one another, "Do not look at her!"

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.23.13d*0482, lines 1–4 (reading cakruśur for चुक्रुशुर्).

Verse 19 (4.28.19)

तामद्य यः पश्यति रूपशालिनीं शयीत भग्नोऽत्र यथैव कीचकाः । इति ब्रुवन्तो भयविग्नचेतसो भयेन गन्धर्वगतेन मोहिताः ॥

tāmadya yaḥ paśyati rūpaśālinīṃ śayīta bhagno'tra yathaiva kīcakāḥ | iti bruvanto bhayavignacetaso bhayena gandharvagatena mohitāḥ

"Whoever looks today on that beautiful woman will lie broken here, just like the Kichakas," they said, their minds shaken with fear, bewildered by their dread of the Gandharvas.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.23.13d*0482, lines 5–8 (reading bhayavegacetanā for भयविग्नचेतसो).

Verse 20 (4.28.20)

ततो महानसद्वारे भीमसेनमवस्थितम् । ददर्श राजन्पाञ्चाली यथा मत्तं महाद्विपम् ॥

tato mahānasadvāre bhīmasenamavasthitam | dadarśa rājanpāñcālī yathā mattaṃ mahādvipam

Then, O king, Panchali saw Bhimasena standing at the kitchen door like a rutting elephant.

Verse 21 (4.28.21)

सोपहासं तु शनकैः संज्ञाभिरिदमब्रवीत् । नमो गन्धर्वराजाय येनास्मि परिमोक्षिता ॥

sopahāsaṃ tu śanakaiḥ saṃjñābhiridamabravīt | namo gandharvarājāya yenāsmi parimokṣitā

With a mocking smile she said this softly, by signs: "Homage to the king of the Gandharvas, by whom I have been set free!

Note on the text: Wikisource's सोपहासं तु (for taṃ vismayantī) is kept.

Verse 22 (4.28.22)

कीचकेभ्यो विनिर्दोषामनाथां वसतीं गृहे । यो मां रक्षति सन्त्रस्तां गन्धर्वाय नमोस्तु ते ॥

kīcakebhyo vinirdoṣāmanāthāṃ vasatīṃ gṛhe | yo māṃ rakṣati santrastāṃ gandharvāya namostu te

To you, Gandharva, who protect me, guiltless and defenceless, living in this house in terror of the Kichakas: homage be to you!"

Note on the text: Speaker assigned: Draupadi, whose words the previous verse begins (Wikisource carried over Vaishampayana). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.23.15d*0483.

Verse 23 (4.28.23)

ये यस्या विचरन्तीह पुरुषा वशवर्तिनः । तेषां च वशगा नित्यं विचर त्वं यथेष्टतः ॥

ye yasyā vicarantīha puruṣā vaśavartinaḥ | teṣāṃ ca vaśagā nityaṃ vicara tvaṃ yatheṣṭataḥ

The men who go about here at the bidding of the woman they belong to: you, ever subject to them, may go about as you please.

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 4.23.16a; line 2 is in its apparatus as 4.23.16b*0484 (reading vaśagatā for वशगा).

Verse 24 (4.28.24)

ये पुरा विचरन्तीह पुरुषा वशवर्तिनः । तस्यास्ते वचनं श्रुत्वा ह्यनृणा विहरन्त्वितः ॥

ye purā vicarantīha puruṣā vaśavartinaḥ | tasyāste vacanaṃ śrutvā hyanṛṇā viharantvitaḥ

The men who once went about here at her bidding, having heard that word of hers, may go hence free of their debt.

Note on the text: Line 1, which nearly repeats line 1 of verse 23 (पुरा for यस्या), appears nowhere in the critical edition; line 2 is CE 4.23.16cd (reading विहरन्त्वितः for vicaranty uta). Kept as printed.

Verse 25 (4.28.25)

तयोस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा जज्ञिरे नेतरे जनाः । ततः पाञ्चालराजस्य सुता चापि जगाम ह ॥

tayostadvacanaṃ śrutvā jajñire netare janāḥ | tataḥ pāñcālarājasya sutā cāpi jagāma ha

Hearing what the two of them said, the other people did not understand. Then the daughter of the king of the Panchalas went on.

Note on the text: Corrected जझिरे → जज्ञिरे (misprint in Wikisource; झ for ज्ञ; the critical edition's apparatus reads jajñire). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.23.17*0485.

Verse 26 (4.28.26)

ततः सा नर्तनागारे धनंजयमपश्यत । राज्ञः कन्या विराटस्य नर्तयन्तं महाभुजम् ॥

tataḥ sā nartanāgāre dhanaṃjayamapaśyata | rājñaḥ kanyā virāṭasya nartayantaṃ mahābhujam

Then in the dancing hall she saw Dhananjaya, the mighty-armed, teaching King Virata's daughters to dance.

Verse 27 (4.28.27)

ततस्ता नर्तनागाराद्विनिष्क्रम्य सहार्जुनाः । कन्या ददृशुरायान्तीं कृष्णां क्लिष्टामनागसम् ॥

tatastā nartanāgārādviniṣkramya sahārjunāḥ | kanyā dadṛśurāyāntīṃ kṛṣṇāṃ kliṣṭāmanāgasam

Then the maidens came out of the dancing hall with Arjuna and saw Krishna approaching, ill-used though she was blameless.

Verse 28 (4.28.28)

दिष्ट्या सैरन्ध्रि मुक्ताऽसि दिष्ट्याऽसि पुनरागता । दिष्ट्या च निहताः सूता ये त्वां क्लिश्यन्त्यनागसम् ॥

diṣṭyā sairandhri muktā'si diṣṭyā'si punarāgatā | diṣṭyā ca nihatāḥ sūtā ye tvāṃ kliśyantyanāgasam

Thank heaven, Sairandhri, you are free! Thank heaven you have come back! Thank heaven the sutas are dead, who tormented you, innocent as you are.

Note on the text: Speaker heading corrected: Wikisource prints कान्या ऊचुः, a misprint for कन्या ऊचुः ("the maidens said"; the critical edition's kanyā ūcuḥ).

Verse 29 (4.28.29)

कथं सैरन्ध्रि मुक्ताऽसि कथं पापाश्च ते हताः । इच्छामि ते कथां श्रोतुं कथयस्व यथातथम् ॥

kathaṃ sairandhri muktā'si kathaṃ pāpāśca te hatāḥ | icchāmi te kathāṃ śrotuṃ kathayasva yathātatham

How were you set free, Sairandhri? How were those wicked men killed? I want to hear your story; tell it just as it happened.

Verse 30 (4.28.30)

बृहन्नले किंनु तव सैरन्ध्र्या कार्यमद्य वै । या त्वं रंस्यसि कल्याणि सदा कन्यापुरे सुखं ॥

bṛhannale kiṃnu tava sairandhryā kāryamadya vai | yā tvaṃ raṃsyasi kalyāṇi sadā kanyāpure sukhaṃ

Brihannala, what do you care now about the Sairandhri, you who always live at your ease in the maidens' quarters, lovely one?

Note on the text: Speaker heading corrected: Wikisource prints सैरन्ध्युवाच, a misprint for सैरन्ध्र्युवाच.

Verse 31 (4.28.31)

न हि दुःखं समाप्नोषि सैरन्ध्री यदुपाश्नुते । सुखेन वर्तसे येह न तद्दुःखमवाप्यते । तेन मां दुःखितामेवं पृच्छसि प्रहसन्त्यपि ॥

na hi duḥkhaṃ samāpnoṣi sairandhrī yadupāśnute | sukhena vartase yeha na tadduḥkhamavāpyate | tena māṃ duḥkhitāmevaṃ pṛcchasi prahasantyapi

You do not meet the sorrow the Sairandhri suffers; you live in comfort here, where that sorrow does not reach. That is why you question me in my distress like this, laughing even as you ask.

Note on the text: Corrected दुःख समाप्नोषि → दुःखं समाप्नोषि (misprint in Wikisource; dropped anusvara on the object; the critical edition reads duḥkhaṃ) and यदुपाश्रुते → यदुपाश्नुते (misprint; श्रु for श्नु, "suffers"; the critical edition reads upāśnute). Lines 1 and 3 are CE 4.23.22 (unmatched by the automatic alignment; Wikisource reads पृच्छसि प्रहसन्त्यपि for pṛcchase prahasann iva); line 2 is in its apparatus as 4.23.22b*0486.

Verse 32 (4.28.32)

बृहन्नलाऽपि कल्याणि दुःखमाप्नोत्यनन्तकम् । तिर्यग्योनिगतेवेयं न चैनामवबुध्यसे ॥

bṛhannalā'pi kalyāṇi duḥkhamāpnotyanantakam | tiryagyonigateveyaṃ na caināmavabudhyase

Brihannala too suffers endless sorrow, lovely one. She has fallen, as it were, into the womb of a beast, and you do not understand her.

Verse 33 (4.28.33)

त्वया सहोषिता चास्मि त्वं च सर्वैः सहोषिता । त्वत्तः कृच्छ्रतरं वासं वसेयमहमङ्गने । क्लिश्यन्त्यां त्वयि सुश्रोणि कोनु दुःखं न चिन्तयेत् ॥

tvayā sahoṣitā cāsmi tvaṃ ca sarvaiḥ sahoṣitā | tvattaḥ kṛcchrataraṃ vāsaṃ vaseyamahamaṅgane | kliśyantyāṃ tvayi suśroṇi konu duḥkhaṃ na cintayet

I have lived with you, and you have lived with all of us. I may well be living in harder straits than you, my lady. When you suffer, shapely one, who would not feel the pain of it?

Note on the text: Removed a stray danda before the closing ॥. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); its apparatus has line 1 as 4.23.23d*0487, line 1, line 2 as 4.23.23d*0488 and line 3 as 4.23.23d*0487, line 2.

Verse 34 (4.28.34)

न तु केनचिदत्यन्तं कस्यचिद्धृदयं क्वचित् । वेदितुं शक्यते नूनं तेन मां नावबुध्यसे ॥

na tu kenacidatyantaṃ kasyaciddhṛdayaṃ kvacit | vedituṃ śakyate nūnaṃ tena māṃ nāvabudhyase

But no one can ever fully know another's heart; that, surely, is why you do not understand me.

Note on the text: Corrected अन्यन्तं → अत्यन्तं (misprint in Wikisource; न्य for त्य, "fully"; the critical edition's apparatus reads atyantaṃ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.23.23d*0487, lines 3–4.

Verse 35 (4.28.35)

ततः सहैव कन्याभिर्द्रौपदी राजवेश्म तत् । प्रविवेश सुदेष्णायाः समीपमनसूयिनी ॥

tataḥ sahaiva kanyābhirdraupadī rājaveśma tat | praviveśa sudeṣṇāyāḥ samīpamanasūyinī

Then Draupadi, bearing no resentment, went with the maidens into the royal palace, to Sudeshna's presence.

Verse 36 (4.28.36)

तामब्रवीद्राजपत्नी विराटवचनादिदम् । सैरन्ध्रि गम्यतां शीघ्रं यत्र कामयसे गतिम् । राजा बिभेति सैरन्ध्रि गन्धर्वेभ्यः पराभवात् ॥

tāmabravīdrājapatnī virāṭavacanādidam | sairandhri gamyatāṃ śīghraṃ yatra kāmayase gatim | rājā bibheti sairandhri gandharvebhyaḥ parābhavāt

The queen said this to her, at Virata's bidding: "Sairandhri, go quickly wherever you wish to go. The king fears defeat at the hands of the Gandharvas, Sairandhri.

Note on the text: CE 4.23.25–26ab (unmatched by the automatic alignment): Wikisource reads राजपत्नी for rājaputrī, and its third line राजा बिभेति सैरन्ध्रि for rājā bibheti bhadraṃ te.

Verse 37 (4.28.37)

त्वं चापि तरुणी सुभ्रू रूपेणाप्रतिमा भुवि । चित्तानि च नृणां भद्रे रक्तानि स्पर्शजे सुखे ॥

tvaṃ cāpi taruṇī subhrū rūpeṇāpratimā bhuvi | cittāni ca nṛṇāṃ bhadre raktāni sparśaje sukhe

And you are young, fair-browed, peerless in beauty on earth; and men's hearts, good woman, are drawn to the pleasure born of touch.

Note on the text: Speaker assigned: Sudeshna, whose words the previous verse begins (Wikisource carried over Vaishampayana). Line 1 is CE 4.23.26cd; line 2 is in its apparatus as 4.23.26d*0491, line 1 (reading śubhre for भद्रे).

Verse 38 (4.28.38)

तस्मात्त्वत्तो भयं मह्यं राष्ट्रस्य नगरस्य च । गच्छाद्यैव यथेष्टं त्वं नगराद्यत्र रंस्यसे ॥

tasmāttvatto bhayaṃ mahyaṃ rāṣṭrasya nagarasya ca | gacchādyaiva yatheṣṭaṃ tvaṃ nagarādyatra raṃsyase

So because of you I fear for myself, for the kingdom and for the city. Go this very day, wherever you please, from this city to where you will find your pleasure.

Note on the text: Sudeshna's speech continues. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.23.26d*0491, lines 2–3.

Verse 39 (4.28.39)

त्वन्निमित्तं शुभे मह्यं सर्वो बन्धुजनो हतः । नृशंसा खलु ते बुद्धिर्भ्रातॄणां मे कृतो वधः ॥

tvannimittaṃ śubhe mahyaṃ sarvo bandhujano hataḥ | nṛśaṃsā khalu te buddhirbhrātṝṇāṃ me kṛto vadhaḥ

Because of you, fair one, all my kin have been killed. Cruel indeed is your mind, that you brought about my brothers' slaughter.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.23.26d*0491, lines 4–5 (reading sarve bandhujanā hatāḥ for सर्वो बन्धुजनो हतः).

Verse 40 (4.28.40)

तस्माद्गन्धर्वराजेभ्यो भयमद्य प्रवर्तते । यथेष्टं गच्छ सैरन्ध्रि स्वस्ति चेह यथा भवेत् ॥

tasmādgandharvarājebhyo bhayamadya pravartate | yatheṣṭaṃ gaccha sairandhri svasti ceha yathā bhavet

So now fear of the Gandharva kings hangs over us. Go wherever you wish, Sairandhri, so that all may be well here."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.23.26d*0491, lines 6–7.

Verse 41 (4.28.41)

सुदेष्णाया वचः श्रुत्वा सैरन्ध्री चेदमब्रवीत् । त्रयोदशाहमात्रं तु राजा क्षाम्यतु भामिनि ॥

sudeṣṇāyā vacaḥ śrutvā sairandhrī cedamabravīt | trayodaśāhamātraṃ tu rājā kṣāmyatu bhāmini

Hearing Sudeshna's words, the Sairandhri said this: "Let the king bear with me for just thirteen days more, lady.

Note on the text: Line 1 is in the critical edition's apparatus as 4.23.26d*0491, line 8 (reading sudeṣṇāvacanaṃ śrutvā); line 2 is CE 4.23.27ab (reading तु and क्षाम्यतु for me and kṣamatu). The CE prints sairandhry uvāca between the two lines; Wikisource has no heading here, so the verse stays with the narrator.

Verse 42 (4.28.42)

कृतकृत्या भविष्यन्ति गन्धर्वास्ते न संशयः । ततो मामुपनेष्यन्ति करिष्यन्ति च ते प्रियम् ॥

kṛtakṛtyā bhaviṣyanti gandharvāste na saṃśayaḥ | tato māmupaneṣyanti kariṣyanti ca te priyam

By then the Gandharvas will have accomplished their purpose, no doubt of it. Then they will take me away, and they will do you a kindness too.

Note on the text: Corrected अविष्यन्ति → भविष्यन्ति (misprint in Wikisource; dropped भ; the critical edition reads bhaviṣyanti). Speaker assigned: Draupadi (as Sairandhri), whose words the previous verse begins (Wikisource carried over Vaishampayana). Line 1 is CE 4.23.27cd; line 2 is CE 4.23.28ab (reading उपनेष्यन्ति for te 'paneṣyanti).

Verse 43 (4.28.43)

ध्रुवं च श्रेयसा राजा योक्ष्यते सह बान्धवैः । राज्ञः कृतोपकाराश्च कृतज्ञाश्च सदा शुभे । साधवश्च बलोत्सिक्ताः कृतप्रतिकृतेप्सवः ॥

dhruvaṃ ca śreyasā rājā yokṣyate saha bāndhavaiḥ | rājñaḥ kṛtopakārāśca kṛtajñāśca sadā śubhe | sādhavaśca balotsiktāḥ kṛtapratikṛtepsavaḥ

And surely the king and his kin will be blessed with good fortune. The king has done them a kindness, and they are ever grateful, gentle lady: good men, proud of their strength, eager to repay what is done for them.

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 4.23.28cd; lines 2–3 are not in the critical edition's text — its apparatus has them as 4.23.28d*0493, lines 1–2 (reading rājñā for राज्ञः).

Verse 44 (4.28.44)

अर्थिनी मा ब्रवीत्येषा यद्वातद्वेति चिन्तय । भरस्व तदहर्मात्रं तत्ते श्रेयो भविष्यति ॥

arthinī mā bravītyeṣā yadvātadveti cintaya | bharasva tadaharmātraṃ tatte śreyo bhaviṣyati

Do not think, "This suppliant is saying whatever comes into her head." Bear with me for those few days; it will be for your good."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.23.28d*0493, lines 3–4 (reading prabravīmy for मा ब्रवीत्य).

Verse 45 (4.28.45)

तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा कैकेयी दुःखमोहिता । उवाच द्रौपदीमार्ता भ्रातृव्यसनकर्शिता ॥

tasyāstadvacanaṃ śrutvā kaikeyī duḥkhamohitā | uvāca draupadīmārtā bhrātṛvyasanakarśitā

Hearing her words, Kaikeyi, bewildered by grief and worn down by the loss of her brothers, said in distress to Draupadi:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.23.28d*0493, lines 5–6.

Verse 46 (4.28.46)

वस भद्रे यथेष्टं त्वं त्वामहं शरणं गता । त्रायस्व मम भर्तारं पुत्रांश्चैव विशेषतः ॥

vasa bhadre yatheṣṭaṃ tvaṃ tvāmahaṃ śaraṇaṃ gatā | trāyasva mama bhartāraṃ putrāṃścaiva viśeṣataḥ

Stay as you wish, good woman; I come to you for refuge. Protect my husband, and above all my sons.

Note on the text: Speaker assigned: Sudeshna (called Kaikeyi in the previous verse), whose words that verse introduces (Wikisource carried over Vaishampayana). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.23.28d*0493, lines 7–8.

Verse 47 (4.28.47)

इत्युक्त्वा राजशार्दूल राज्ञे सर्वं न्यवेदयत् । त्रिंशद्रात्रिमिमां भीरुः कृतकृत्या निवासये ॥

ityuktvā rājaśārdūla rājñe sarvaṃ nyavedayat | triṃśadrātrimimāṃ bhīruḥ kṛtakṛtyā nivāsaye

Having said this, O tiger among kings, she told the king everything: "I shall let this timid woman stay for thirty nights, until she has accomplished her purpose."

Note on the text: Corrected इत्युक्तवा → इत्युक्त्वा (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); it appears nowhere in the CE, whose apparatus has a different line to a similar effect (4.23.28d*0492).