03.222
draupadi-satyabhāmā-saṃvāda-parva
The section of the dialogue between Draupadi and Satyabhama
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
upāsīneṣu vipreṣu pāṇḍaveṣu mahātmasu। draupadī satyabhāmā ca viviśāte tadā samam॥ jāhasyamāne suprīte sukhaṃ tatra niṣīdatuḥ॥03-222-1॥
While the Brāhmaṇas and great-souled Pāṇḍavas were seated, Draupadī and Satyabhāmā entered together and, amid much cheerful laughter, the two happily sat down there. (03-222-1)
cirasya dṛṣṭvā rājendra te'nyonyasya priyaṃvade। kathayāmāsatuścitrāḥ kathāḥ kuruyadukṣitām ॥03-222-2॥
O king, after seeing each other again after a long time, the two of them, speaking pleasantly to one another, recounted many varied stories about the Kurus and the Yadus. (03-222-2)
athābravītsatyabhāmā kṛṣṇasya mahiṣī priyā। sātrājitī yājñasenīṃ rahasīdaṃ sumadhyamā ॥03-222-3॥
Then Satyabhama, the beloved queen of Krishna and daughter of Satrajit, spoke these words in private to Yajnaseni (Draupadi), O slender-waisted lady. (03-222-3)
kena draupadi vṛttena pāṇḍavānupatiṣṭhasi। lokapālopamān vīrān yūnaḥ paramasaṃmatān॥ kathaṃ ca vaśagās tubhyaṃ na kupyanti ca te śubhe॥03-222-4॥
By what manner or conduct, O Draupadi, do you serve the Pāṇḍavas—the youthful and highly esteemed heroes, comparable to the guardians of the world? And how is it that they, being under your influence, do not become angry with you, O auspicious one? (03-222-4)
tava vaśyā hi satataṁ pāṇḍavāḥ priyadarśane. mukhaprekṣāś ca te sarve tattvam etad bravīhi me ॥03-222-5॥
The sons of Pāṇḍu are indeed always obedient to you, O pleasant-looking one; all of them look towards your face. Tell me this truth. (03-222-5)
vratacaryā tapo vāpi snāna-mantrauṣadhāni vā। vidyā-vīryaṃ mūla-vīryaṃ japa-homas tathāgadāḥ ॥03-222-6॥
Observance of vows, austerity, or even bathing, mantras, medicines, or the power of knowledge, the potency of roots, recitation, ritual offerings, and also antidotes. (03-222-6)
mama ācakṣva pāñcāli yaśasyaṃ bhagavedanam। yena kṛṣṇe bhaven nityaṃ mama kṛṣṇo vaśānugaḥ॥03-222-7॥
O Pāñcālī, state to me the glorious means by which Kṛṣṇa may always remain obedient to my will. (03-222-7)
evam uktvā satyabhāmā virarāma yaśasvinī। pativratā mahābhāgā draupadī pratyuvāca tām ॥03-222-8॥
After saying this, the illustrious Satyabhama became silent. The devoted and highly fortunate Draupadi replied to her. (03-222-8)
asat-strīṇāṃ samācāraṃ satye mām anupṛcchasi। asadācārite mārge kathaṃ syād anukīrtanam ॥03-222-9॥
You ask me about the conduct of unvirtuous women for the sake of truth; how can there be any recounting in the path of wrongful conduct? (03-222-9)
anupraśnaḥ saṁśayo vā naitat-tavy-upapadyate. tathā hy-upetā buddhyā tvaṁ kṛṣṇasya mahiṣī priyā ॥03-222-10॥
A further question or doubt does not befit you. For you are endowed with intelligence and are the beloved queen of Kṛṣṇa. (03-222-10)
yadaiva bhartā jānīyān mantramūlaparāṃ striyam। udvijeta tadaivāsyāḥ sarpād veṣmagatād iva ॥03-222-11॥
As soon as a husband discovers that a woman is devoted to the source of secret counsel, he should at once shrink away from her, just as from a snake that has entered the house. (03-222-11)
udvignasya kutaḥ śāntiraśāntasya kutaḥ sukham। na jātu vaśago bhartā striyāḥ syānmantrakāraṇāt॥03-222-12॥
How can a disturbed person have peace? How can an unpeaceful person have happiness? The husband will never come under a woman's control by means of incantations. (03-222-12)
amitra-prahitāṁś cāpi gadān paramadāruṇān। mūla-pravādair hi viṣam prayacchanti jighāṁsavaḥ ॥03-222-13॥
Those desiring to kill give poison in the form of extremely cruel diseases sent by enemies and spread through root rumors. (03-222-13)
jihvayā yāni puruṣas tvacā vāpy upasevate। tatra cūrṇāni dattāni hanyuḥ kṣipram asaṃśayam ॥03-222-14॥
The powders placed where a man enjoys with his tongue or even with his skin would rapidly destroy (him) without doubt. (03-222-14)
jalodarasamāyuktāḥ śvitriṇaḥ palitās tathā। apumāṁsaḥ kṛtāḥ strībhiḥ jaḍāndhabadhirās tathā ॥03-222-15॥
Those suffering from abdominal dropsy, people with leucoderma, the grey-haired, castrated men made so by women, the dull, the blind, and the deaf as well. (03-222-15)
pāpānugāstu pāpāstāḥ patīnupasṛjantyuta। na jātu vipriyaṃ bhartuḥ striyā kāryaṃ kathaṃcana॥03-222-16॥
But it is only those wicked women who follow evil that abandon their husbands; a woman should never do anything displeasing to her husband in any way. (03-222-16)
vartāmyahaṁ tu yāṁ vṛttiṁ pāṇḍaveṣu mahātmasu। tāṁ sarvāṁ śṛṇu me satyāṁ satyabhāme yaśasvini ॥03-222-17॥
But the manner in which I live among the high-souled Pāṇḍavas, hear that entire (truth) from me, O Satyabhāmā, illustrious lady. (03-222-17)
ahaṅkāraṃ vihāyāhaṃ kāmakrodhau ca sarvadā। sadārān pāṇḍavān nityaṃ prayatopacarāmy aham ॥03-222-18॥
Always, having abandoned ego, desire, and anger, I diligently serve the Pāṇḍavas together with their wives. (03-222-18)
praṇayaṁ pratisaṅgṛhya nidhāyātmānam ātmani। śuśrūṣur nirabhīmānā patīnāṁ cittarakṣiṇī ॥03-222-19॥
Having completely restrained her affection and establishing herself within herself, serving as a protector of her husbands' minds without pride. (03-222-19)
durvyāhṛtāc chaṅkamānā duḥsthitād duravekṣitāt। durāsitād durvrajitād iṅgitādhyāsitād api ॥03-222-20॥
She moves about even due to harsh words, uncomfortable situations, hostile looks, being made to sit uncomfortably, harsh speech, or even being subjected to angry gestures. (03-222-20)
sūryavaiśvānaranibhān somakalpān mahārathān। seve cakṣurhaṇaḥ pārthān ugratejaḥ-pratāpinaḥ ॥03-222-21॥
I serve the great chariot-warriors, the sons of Pritha, who have the radiance of the Sun and Vaiśvānara, who are comparable to Soma, who are destroyers of their enemies' sight, and who possess fierce energy and power. (03-222-21)
devo manuṣyo gandharvo yuvā cāpi sva-laṅkṛtaḥ। dravyavān abhirūpo vā na me'nyaḥ puruṣo mataḥ॥03-222-22॥
Whether he is a god, a human, a gandharva, or a youth, and even if he is splendidly adorned, wealthy, or handsome—no other man is considered by me. (03-222-22)
nābhuktavati nāsnāte nāsaṁviṣṭe ca bhartari। na saṁviśāmi nāśnāmi sadā karmakareṣvapi॥03-222-23॥
I never lie down nor eat before my husband has eaten, bathed, or reclined, not even among the servants. (03-222-23)
kṣetrād vanād vā grāmād vā bhartāraṃ gṛham āgatam। pratyutthāya abhinandāmi āsanena udakena ca ॥03-222-24॥
Whether from the field, forest, or village, when my husband arrives home, I stand up to greet him and offer him a seat and water. (03-222-24)
pramṛṣṭabhāṇḍā mṛṣṭānnā kāle bhojanadāyinī। saṃyatā guptadhānyā ca susaṃmṛṣṭaniveśanā ॥03-222-25॥
She is one who uses cleaned utensils, serves purified food at the proper time, gives food, is self-controlled, keeps the grain safe, and has a well-cleaned dwelling. (03-222-25)
atiraskṛtasambhāṣā duḥstriyo nānusevatī। anukūlavatī nityaṃ bhavāmyanalasā sadā ॥03-222-26॥
My conversation is not with bad women whose speech is much disrespected. I am always favorable and never indolent. (03-222-26)
anarme cāpi hasanaṁ dvāri sthānam abhīkṣṇaśaḥ। avaskare cirasthānaṁ niṣkuṭeṣu ca varjaye ॥03-222-27॥
One should avoid laughing in unclean places, standing repeatedly at the doorway, lingering long in the privy, and in the courtyards. (03-222-27)
atihāsāt-atiroṣau ca krodhasthānaṁ ca varjaye. niratāhaṁ sadā satye bhartṝṇām-upasevane ॥ sarvathā bhartṛ-rahitaṁ na mama iṣṭaṁ kathañcana ॥03-222-28॥
I avoid excessive laughter, excessive anger, and any cause of anger. I am always devoted to truth and to the service of my husbands. In every respect, life without a husband is never at all desirable to me (03-222-28).
yadā pravasate bhartā kuṭumbārthena kenacit। sumanovarṇakāpetā bhavāmi vratacāriṇī ॥03-222-29॥
Whenever my husband goes away for some family reason, I become pale like a flower stripped of its color, strictly observing a vow. (03-222-29)
yac ca bhartā na pibati yac ca bhartā na khādati। yac ca nāśnāti me bhartā sarvaṃ tad varjayāmy aham ॥03-222-30॥
Whatever my husband does not drink, whatever my husband does not eat, whatever my husband does not consume, I avoid all that. (03-222-30)
yathopadeśaṃ niyatā vartamānā varāṅgane। swalaṅkṛtā suprayatā bhartuḥ priyahite ratā ॥03-222-31॥
"O beautiful-limbed one, conducting herself according to instruction, restrained, well-adorned, making her best effort, engaged in what is dear and beneficial to her husband." (03-222-31)
ye ca dharmāḥ kuṭumbeṣu śvaśrva me kathitāḥ purā। bhikṣā-bali-śrāddham iti sthālīpākāś ca parvasu॥ mānyānāṃ mānasatkārā ye ca anye viditā mayā॥03-222-32॥
And those duties in families which were formerly told to me by my mother-in-law, such as alms, offering, śrāddha rites, as well as cooked food offerings on festival days, the mental respect for honored people, and such others as are known to me. (03-222-32)
tānsarvānanuvartāmi divārātram atandritā। vinayān niyamāṃś cāpi sadā sarvātmanā śritā॥03-222-33॥
I follow all of them at all times, day and night, tirelessly; and I always adhere to all the regulations and disciplines with my whole being. (03-222-33)
mṛdūn sataḥ satyaśīlān satyadharmānupālinaḥ। āśīviṣān iva kruddhān patīn paricarāmy aham ॥03-222-34॥
I serve gentle, virtuous, truthful, truly righteous lords, observing them, even when they are angry, like (one attends to) venomous snakes. (03-222-34)
patyāśrayo hi me dharmo mataḥ strīṇāṃ sanātanaḥ। sa devaḥ sā gatirnānyā tasya kā vipriyaṃ caret ॥03-222-35॥
Dependence on the husband is indeed regarded by me as the eternal duty of women. He is her lord, she has no other refuge; what displeasing thing could she do to him? (03-222-35)
ahaṃ patīn nātiśaye nātyaśne nātibhūṣaye। nāpi parivade śvaśrūṃ sarvadā pari-yantritā ॥03-222-36॥
I do not excessively honor my husbands, nor overeat, nor excessively adorn myself; nor do I ever speak ill of my mother-in-law. I am always restrained. (03-222-36)
avadhānena subhage nityotthānatayaiva ca। bhartāro vaśagā mahyaṃ guruśuśrūṣaṇena ca॥03-222-37॥
O auspicious one, by attentiveness, constant diligence, and service to elders, husbands become obedient to me. (03-222-37)
nityam āryām ahaṃ kuntīṃ vīrasūṃ satyavādinīm। svayam paricarāmy ekā snānācchādanabhojanaiḥ ॥03-222-38॥
I always personally serve the noble Kuntī, mother of heroes and truthful one, alone, in her bathing, dressing, and meals. (03-222-38)
naitāmatishaye jātu vastrabhūṣaṇabhojanaiḥ। nāpi parivade cāhaṃ tāṃ pṛthāṃ pṛthivīsamām॥03-222-39॥
I never excessively reproach her for matters of clothes, ornaments, or food; nor indeed do I censure her, who is as broad and noble as the earth. (03-222-39)
aṣṭāvagre brāhmaṇānāṃ sahasrāṇi sma nityadā। bhuñjate rukmapātrīṣu yudhiṣṭhiraniveśane ॥03-222-40॥
Thousands of Brāhmaṇas always ate in golden vessels at eight places in front, in Yudhiṣṭhira's residence. (03-222-40)
aṣṭāśītisahasrāṇi snātakā gṛhamedhinaḥ. triṃśaddāsīka ekaiko yān bibharti yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ॥03-222-41॥
Yudhishthira supports eighty-eight thousand graduate householders, each of whom has thirty slave-women. (03-222-41)
daśānyāni sahasrāṇi yeṣām annaṁ susaṁskṛtam। hriyate rukmapātrībhiḥ yatīnām ūrdhvaretasām ॥03-222-42॥
An additional ten thousand servings of well-prepared food, taken in golden bowls, belong to the ascetics who are celibate. (03-222-42)
tān sarvān agrahāreṇa brāhmaṇān brahmavādinaḥ। yathārhaṃ pūjayāmi sma pāna-acchādana-bhojanaiḥ ॥03-222-43॥
I honoured all those Brāhmaṇas devoted to Brahman, according to their merit, with grants of villages, with drink, clothing, and food. (03-222-43)
śataṃ dāsīsahasrāṇi kaunteyasya mahātmanaḥ। kambukeyūradhāriṇyo niṣkakaṇṭhyaḥ svalaṅkṛtāḥ ॥03-222-44॥
There were a hundred thousand maidservants of the noble Kuntī's son, adorned with conch-shell bangles and armlets, with necks decorated with coin-ornaments, and beautifully adorned. (03-222-44)
mahārhamālyābharaṇāḥ suvarṇāś candanokṣitāḥ। maṇīn hema ca bibhratyo nṛtyagītaviśāradāḥ॥03-222-45॥
Adorned with extremely costly garlands and ornaments, adorned with gold, anointed with sandalwood, bearing jewels and gold, they are skilled in dance and song. (03-222-45)
tāsāṃ nāma ca rūpaṃ ca bhojanācchādanāni ca। sarvāsāmeva vedāhaṃ karma caiva kṛtākṛtam ॥03-222-46॥
I know the names and forms, foods and coverings of them all; I also know indeed all their deeds, both done and not done. (03-222-46)
śataṃ dāsī-sahasrāṇi kuntī-putrasya dhī-mataḥ. pātrī-hastā divā-rātram atithīn bhojayanti uta ॥03-222-47॥
Hundreds of thousands of maidservants belonging to the wise son of Kuntī, with vessels in hand, serve food to guests day and night. (03-222-47)
śatam aśva-sahasrāṇi daśa nāga-ayutāni ca। yudhiṣṭhirasya anuyātram indraprastha-nivāsinaḥ॥03-222-48॥
A hundred thousand horses and ten tens of thousands of elephants formed the retinue of Yudhishthira, comprised of the inhabitants of Indraprastha. (03-222-48)
etad āsīt tadā rājño yan mahīṃ paryapālayat। yeṣāṃ saṅkhyā-vidhiṃ caiva pradiśāmi śṛṇomi ca॥03-222-49॥
This was, at that time, of the king—the earth which he protected. Of those, I state and also listen to the arrangement of their number. (03-222-49)
antaḥ-purāṇāṃ sarveṣāṃ bhṛtyānāṃ ca eva sarvaśaḥ। ā gopāla-avi-pālebhyaḥ sarvaṃ veda kṛta-akṛtam॥03-222-50॥
He knows everything about all the inner chambers and all the servants, from the cowherds to the keepers of sheep and goats; he knows all that is done and not done. (03-222-50)
sarvaṃ rājñaḥ samudayam āyaṃ ca vyayam eva ca। ekāhaṃ vedmi kalyāṇi pāṇḍavānāṃ yaśasvinām॥03-222-51॥
O auspicious one, I alone know all the wealth, income, and expenditure of the illustrious Pāṇḍavas. (03-222-51)
mayi sarvaṃ samāsajya kuṭumbaṃ bharatarṣabhāḥ। upāsanaratāḥ sarve ghaṭante sma śubhānane॥03-222-52॥
O best of the Bharatas, having entrusted the whole family to me, all were engaged in worship and used to assemble, O beautiful-faced one. (03-222-52)
tam ahaṃ bhāram āsaktam anādhṛṣyaṃ dur-ātmabhiḥ। sukham sarvaṃ parityajya rātry-ahāni ghaṭāmi vai॥03-222-53॥
I indeed devote myself day and night to that burden, which is attached (to me) and unassailable by wicked beings, having given up all happiness. (03-222-53)
adhṛṣyaṃ varuṇasyeva nidhipūrṇam ivodadhim। ekāhaṃ vedmi kośaṃ vai patīnāṃ dharmacāriṇām॥03-222-54॥
I alone know the unassailable treasure of husbands, filled with riches like Varuṇa’s ocean, who act in righteousness. (03-222-54)
aniśāyāṃ niśāyāṃ ca sahāyāḥ kṣutpipāsayoḥ। ārādhayantyāḥ kauravyāṃstulyā rātrirahaśca me ॥03-222-55॥
O son of Kuru, to me, night and day are equal while serving as companions of hunger and thirst, both by day and night. (03-222-55)
prathamaṃ pratibudhyāmi caramaṃ saṃviśāmi ca। nityakālamahaṃ satye etatsaṃvananaṃ mama॥03-222-56॥
I wake up first, and at the last I go to sleep; always, in truth, this observance is mine. (03-222-56)
etaj jānāmy ahaṃ kartuṃ bhartṛ-saṃvananaṃ mahat। asat-strīṇāṃ samācāraṃ nāhaṃ kuryāṃ na kāmaye॥03-222-57॥
I know this: I wish to perform the great duty of honoring my husband. I do not wish, nor do I desire, to adopt the conduct of unchaste women. (03-222-57)
tacchrutvā dharmasahitaṃ vyāhṛtaṃ kṛṣṇayā tadā. uvāca satyā satkṛtya pāñcālīṃ dharmacāriṇīm ॥03-222-58॥
Then Satyā, having honored Pāñcālī, who follows dharma, spoke (thus) upon hearing the speech in accord with dharma spoken by Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī). (03-222-58)
abhipannāsmi pāñcāli yājñaseni kṣamasva me। kāmakāraḥ sakhīnāṃ hi sopahāsaṃ prabhāṣitum ॥03-222-59॥
I am distressed, O Pāñcālī, Yājñaseni; please forgive me. Out of inclination towards friends, indeed, I spoke with derision. (03-222-59)
