KICHAKA-VADHA PARVA: Chapter 14

Conversation between Krishna and Kichaka

वैशम्पायन उवाच वसमानेषु पार्थेषु मत्स्यस्य नगरे तदा। महारतेषु छन्नेषु मासा दश समाययुः॥
Vaishampayana said Those mighty warriors, the sons of Pritha, spent ten months living thus in disguise in Matsya's city.

याज्ञसेनी सुदेष्णां तु श्रुश्रूषन्ती विशाम्पते। आवसत् परिचारार्हा सुदुःखं जनमेजय॥
O lord of people, Yajnaseni, although herself worthy of being served by others, began to live, O Janamejaya, in great misery by waiting upon Sudeshna.

तथा चरन्ती पाञ्चाली सुदेष्णाया निवेशने। तां देवीं तोषयामास तथा चान्त:पुरस्त्रियः॥
Conducting herself in this way in Sudeshna's apartments the daughter of Panchala pleased that lady as well as the other women of the harem.

तस्मिन् वर्षे गतप्राये कीचकस्तु महाबलः। सेनापतिविराटस्य ददर्श दुपदात्मजाम्॥
That year being nearly expired the mighty Kichaka the commander of Virata's forces happened to see the daughter of Drupada.

तां दृष्ट्वा देवगर्भाभां चरन्ती देवतामिव। कीचकः कामयामास कामबाणप्रपीडितः॥
Beholding her having effulgence like that of a divine girl and waiting on the earth like a goddess, Kichaka, struck hard with the shafts of Cupid, desired to obtain her.

स तु कामाग्निसंतप्तः सुदेष्णामभिगम्य वै। प्रहसन्निव सेनानीरिदं वचनमब्रवीत्॥
Burning with the flame of lust, the leader of Virata's forces went to Sudeshna (his sister) and smilingly spoke to her in the following words.

नेयं मया जातु पुरेह दृष्टा राज्ञो विराटस्य निवेशने शुभा। रूपेण चोन्मादयतीव मां भृश गन्धेन जाता मदिरेव भामिनी॥
This damsel was never seen by me before in Virata palace. This beautiful lady maddenis me very much with her beauty as wine does with its odour.

का देवरूपा हृदयङ्गमा शुभे ह्याचक्ष्व मे कस्य कुतोऽत्र शोभने। चित्तं हि निर्मध्य करोति मां वशे न चान्यदत्रौषधमस्ति मे मतम्॥
Tell me, O lady, who is this be-witching girl of fine beauty, endued with the grace of a goddess and whose she is and where she comes from. She has brought me to subjection by grinding my heart. I think there is no other medicine to heal me (except her).

अहो तवेयं परिचारिका शुभा प्रत्यग्ररूपा प्रतिभाति मामियम्। अयुक्तरूपं हि करोति कर्म ते प्रशास्तु मां यच्च ममास्ति किंचन॥
This fine and maid of yours appears to me as one possessed of the blooming beauty of a goddess. The service which she renders to you is quite unsuitable to her.

प्रभूतनागाश्वरथं महाजनं समृद्धियुक्तं बहुपानभोजनम्। मनोहरं काञ्चचित्रभूषणं गृहं महच्छोभयतामियं मम॥
Let her grace my splendid and beautiful residence adorned with various ornaments of gold, furnished with viands and drinks in plenty, decked with excellent plates and containing everything signifying prosperity, besides elephants and cars in lots.

स्ततः समभ्येत्य नराधिपात्मजाम्। उवाच कृष्णामभिसान्त्वयंस्तदा मृगेन्द्रकन्यामिव जम्बुको वने॥
Having thus consulted Sudeshna Kichaka approached the daughter of the king (Draupadi) and addressed her in words of amity just as a jackal accosts a lioness in the forest.

का त्वं कस्यासि कल्याणि कुतो वा त्वं वरानने। प्राप्ता विराटनगरं तत् त्वमाचक्ष्व शोभने।॥
Who and whose are you, O graceful one? Whence are you come to this city of Virata, O you of beautiful countenance. Tell me truly, O fair one.

रूपमङ्गयं तथा कान्तिः सौकुमार्यमनुत्तमम्। कान्त्या विभाति वक्त्रं ते शशाङ्क इव निर्मलम्।।१३।
Your beauty is rankled as the foremost of its order, so also is your gracefulness. Excellent is your tenderness; in respect of loveliness your countenance shines as clearly as the moon.

नेत्रे सुविपुले सुभ्र पद्मपत्रनिभे शुभे। वाक्यं ते चारुसर्वाङ्गि परपुष्टरुतोपमम्॥
O one of lovely eye-brows, your eyes are large resembling the petals of lotuses. O you of graceful limbs, your voice is like the notes of the cuckoo.

एवंरूपा मया नारी काचिदन्या महीतले। न दृष्टपूर्वा सुश्रोणि यादृशी त्वमनिन्दिते॥
O you of fair hips, never before have I beheld in the world a woman endued with such beauty as you are, O blameless one.

लक्ष्मी: पद्मालया का त्वमथ भूतिः सुमध्यमे। ह्रीः श्रीः कीर्तिरथो कान्तिरासां का त्वं वरानने।।१६।
Are you Lakshmi herself having lotuses for abode, or O slender-waisted one, are you Bhuti herself? Which of these-Hri, Sri, Kiriti and Kanti, are you the impersonation, O you of excellent features?

अतीवरूपिणी किं त्वमनङ्गाङ्गविहारिणी। अतीव भ्राजसे सुभ्र प्रभेवेन्दोरनुत्तमा॥
Are you the one endued with the beauty of Rati, enjoying dalliance in the embrace of the god of love? O you of fair eye-brows, exceedingly do you shine like the excellent light of the moon.

अपिचेक्षणपक्ष्माणां स्मितं ज्योत्स्नोपमं शुभम्। दिव्यांशुरश्मिभिर्वृत्तं दिव्यकान्तिमनोरमम्॥ निरीक्ष्य वक्त्रचन्द्रं ते लक्ष्यानुपमया युतम्। कृत्स्ने जगति को नेह कामस्य वशगो भवेत्॥
Who is there in the whole world that will not yield to the influence of Cupid beholding your face endued with matchless grace-your face endued with the halo of celestials light, are pleasant in consequence of the heavenly bcauty, resembles the moon in full having smile for its rays and eye-lashes for its spots.

हारालंकारयोग्यौ तु स्तनौ चोभौ सुशोभनौ। सुजातौ सहितौ लक्ष्म्या पीनौ वृत्तौ निर गै॥
Both your breasts exceedingly graceful, well-shaped, endued with beauty, well rounded and without a space between, and are worthy of being decked with garlands.

कुड्मलाम्बुरुहाकारौ तव सुभ्रु पयोधरौ। कामप्रतोदाविव मां तुदतश्चारुहासिनि॥
Your breasts, O you of fair eye-brows, resemble lotus-buds in shape; like the whips of Kama they are afflicting me, O you of pleasant smiles.

वलीविभङ्गचतुरं स्तनभारविनामितम्। कराग्रसम्मितं मध्यं तवेदं तनुमध्यमे॥ दृष्ट्वैव चारु जघनं सरित्पुलिनसंनिभम्। कामव्याधिरसाध्यो मामप्याक्रामति भामिनि॥
O slender-waisted lady, beholding this your waist marked with four waivy wrinkles, stooping forward with the veight of your breasts and measuring only a span, and also looking on your beautiful hips resembling the banks of the river the incurable disease of lust afflicts me greatly, O beautiful one.

जज्वाल चाग्निमदनो दावाग्निरिव निर्दयः। त्वत्सङ्गमाभिसंकल्पविवृद्धो मां दहत्ययम्॥
The flame of lust like forest conflagration augmented by the hope of union with you burns me without mercy.

आत्मप्रदानवर्षेण संगमाम्भोधरेण च। शमयस्व वरारोहे ज्वलन्त मन्मथानलम्॥
O fair one of excellent hip, pray quench the flaming fire kindled by the god of love, by self-surrender resembling a shower, the cloud thereof being union with you.

मच्चित्तोन्मादनकरा मन्मथस्य शरोत्कराः। त्वत्संगमाशानिशितास्तीवाः शशिनिभानने। मां विदार्य हृदयमिदं निर्दयवेगिताः॥ प्रविष्टा ह्यसितापाङ्गि प्रचण्डाश्चण्डदारुणाः। अत्युन्मादसमारम्भाः प्रीत्युन्मादकरा मम। आत्मप्रदानसम्भोगैर्मामुद्धर्तुमिहार्हसि॥
O you of a countenance resembling the moon, the dreadful, violent and cruel shafts of Cupid, capable of causing my mind quite out of sorts, sharpened by the desire of dalliance with you, piercing my heart with a rapid course, have penetrated into its core, O black eyed one. The maddening gestures and movements of yours are really transporting my joy into madness. It behoves you to save me from this plight by surrendering your person to me and allowing me to enjoy your company.

चित्रमाल्याम्बरधरा सर्वाभरणभूषिता। कामं प्रकामं सेव त्वं मया सह विलासिनि॥
Wearing beautiful garlands and clothes and adorned with all kinds of ornaments enjoy with ine. O sweet one, all the objects of your desire to your fill.

। नार्हसीहासुखं वस्तुं सुखार्हा सुखवर्जिता। प्राप्नुह्यनुत्तमं सौख्यं मत्तस्त्वं मत्तगामिनि॥ स्वादून्यमृतकल्पानि पेयानि विविधानि च। पिबमाना मनोज्ञानि रममाणा यथासुखम्॥ भोगोपचारान् विविधान् सौभाग्यं चाप्यनुत्तमम्। पानं पिब महाभागे भोगैश्चानुत्तमैः शुभैः॥
you endued with the gait of an elephant in ruttish state, as you are accustomed to happiness, though deprived of it now, it behoves you not to live here in misery; pray receive from me all kinds of excellent things contributing to your happiness. Eating delightful and dainty viands of various kinds with taste almost equal to ambrosia, and sporting at your sweet will, attain fortune and all the enjoyable articles of superior and excellent kind and drink and wine, O blessed one.

इदं हि रूपं प्रथमं तवान निरर्थकं केवलमद्य भामिनि। अधार्यमाणा स्रगिवोत्तमा शुभा न शोभसे सुन्दरि शोभना सती॥ दारान् मम ये
This beauty and prime of your youth, O beauteous lady, is now totally useless. O beautiful and chaste lady, lovely as you are, do you not shine like fine garlands unused?

त्यजामि पुरातना भवन्तु दास्यस्तव चारुहासिनि। अहं च ते सुन्दरि दासवत् स्थितः सदा भविष्ये वशगो वरानने॥
I will renounce all my old wives. Let them be your serving hands, O one of sweet smile. O beautiful one, I will stay as a slave to you and be ever obedient to you, O you of fair face.

द्रौपद्युवाच अप्रार्थनीयामिह मां सूतपुत्राभिमन्यसे। निहीनवर्णां सैरन्ध्रीं बीभत्सां केशकारिणीम्॥
Draupadi said I am Sairandhri of low caste holding the hateful office of dressing hair; O Suta's son, in desiring me you desire one who is not worthy of such honour.

परदारास्मि भद्रं ते न युक्तं तव साम्प्रतम्। दयिता: प्राणिनां दारा धर्मं समनुचिन्तय॥
I am the wife of others; good be to you. This conduct does not become your position. The wives of others are dear to them, think of this axiomatic precept.

परदारे न ते बुद्धिर्जातु कार्या कथंचन। विवर्जनं ह्यकार्याणामेतत् सुपुरुषव्रतम्॥
Let your heart never be inclined to adultery, because the complete abandonment of all improper acts is ever the duty of those that are good.

मिथ्याभिगृनो हि नरः पापात्मा मोहमास्थितः। अयशः प्राप्नुयाद् घोरं महद् वा प्राप्नुयाद् भयम्॥३७
The person who hankers after the worldly desire leads a sinful life, and under the influence of deceptive knowledge, comes by either dire disgrace or grim calamity.

वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमुक्तस्तु सैरन्ध्या कीचकः काममोहितः। जानन्नपि सुदुर्बुद्धिः परदाराभिमर्शने।॥ दोषान् बहून् प्राणहरान् सर्वलोकविगर्हितान्। प्रोवाचेदं सुदुर्बुद्धिद्रौपदीमजितेन्द्रियः॥
Vaishampayana said Thus addressed by Sairandhri the wickedminded Kichaka, with senses unsubdued and overcome by lust, in spite of the knowledge of numerous evils of adultery the evils denounced by every body and sometimes ending fatally, spoke the following to Draupadi.

नार्हस्येवं वरारोहे प्रत्याख्यातुं वरानने। मां मन्मथसमाविष्टं त्वत्कृते चारुहासिनि॥
O fair faced damsel of excellent hips, it is not seemly on your part thus to disregarded me who am quite under the influence of Cupid on your account, O you of sweet smiles.

प्रत्याख्याय च मां भीरु वशगं प्रियवादिनम्। नूनं त्वमसितापाङ्गि पश्चात्तापं करिष्यसि॥
O timid one, having disregarded me speaking so sweet to you and totally under your influence, surely, O black eyed one, you will have to true afterwards.

अहं हि सुभ्र राज्यस्य कृत्स्नस्यास्य सुमध्यमे। प्रभुर्वासयिता चैव वीर्ये चाप्रतिमः क्षितौ॥
O you of fair eye-brows, I am the lord of the whole of this realm, 0 slender-waisted lady, the people of this kingdom owe to me their safe living here. In heroisin I have to rival on earth.

पृथिव्यां मत्समो नास्ति कश्चिदन्यः पुमानिह। रूपयौवनसौभाग्यैर्भोगैश्चानुत्तमैः शुभैः॥
In personal beauty, youth, prosperity as well as in the possession of all the excellent objects of luxury, there is no other man on earth that can stand equal to me.

सर्वकामसमृद्धेषु भोगेष्वनुपमेष्विह। भोक्तव्येषु च कल्याणि कस्माद् दास्ये रता ह्यसि॥
Having everything of luxury, comfort and enjoyment of no parallel at your command, why do you, O auspicious lady, prefer to remain enchained in servitude?

मया दत्तमिदं राज्यं स्वामिन्यसि शुभानने। भजस्व मां वरारोहे भुक्ष्व भोगाननुत्तमान्॥
O fair-faced one, I confer on you the whole of the kingdom; accept me O you of large ips and enjoy all the excellent objects of desire.

एवमुक्ता तु सा साध्वी कीचकेनाशुभं वचः। कीचकं प्रत्युवाचेदं गर्हयन्त्यस्य तद् वचः॥
Thus addressed by Kichaka in these foul words the chaste Draupadi set his word at naught and addressed him thus.

सैरभ्युवाच मा सूतपुत्र मुह्यस्व माद्य त्यक्ष्यस्व जीवितम्। जानीहि पञ्चभि।रैर्नित्यं मामभिरक्षिताम्॥
Sairandhri said O son of a Suta, do not play the fool and do not throw away your life this very day; know me always protected by five heroes.

न चाप्यहं त्वया लभ्या गन्धर्वाः पतयो मम। ते त्वां निहन्युः कुपिता: साध्वलं मा व्यनीनशः॥४८
I am not to be won by you; I have Gandharvas for my husband, they, if enraged, shall slay you. It is good for you not to bring destruction upon yourself.

अशक्यरूपं पुरुषैरध्वानं गन्तुमिच्छसि। यथा निश्चेतनो बालः कूलस्थ: कूलमुत्तरम्। तर्तुमिच्छति मन्दात्मा तथा त्वं कर्तुमिच्छसि॥
You wish to go by the way which was never passed by men, O wicked one; you intend to act just like a foolish boy who standing on one bank of the ocean desires to go to the other side of it.

अन्तर्महीं वा यदि वोर्ध्वमुत्पतेः समुद्रपारं यदि वा प्रधावसि। तथापि तेषां न विमोक्षमर्हसि प्रमाथिनो देवसुता हि खेचराः।॥
If you enter the subterreneous pit of the earth or soar up the sky or go to the other shore of the ocean, still you will have no escape from their hands, for it is in the nature of these skyranging offspring of gods to crush enemies.

त्वं कालरात्रीमिव कश्चिदातुरः किं मां दृढं प्रार्थयसेऽद्य कीचक। श्चन्द्र जिघृक्षुरिव मन्यसे हि माम्॥
Why do you, O Kichaka, desire me today so firmly, just like a sick man who wishes for the night that will put an end to his existence. Why do you solicit me just like a child who lies on its mother's lap wishes to obtain the moon.

तेषां प्रियां प्रार्थयतो न ते भुवि गत्वा दिवं वा शरणं भविष्यति। न वर्तते कीचक ते दृशा शुभं या तेन संजीवनमर्थयेत् सा॥
There will be nowhere any refuge for you soliciting their beloved wife whether you go to the earth or to the heaven. O Kichaka, you have no eyes that may win for you any good or safety of your life.