03.222
The section of the dialogue between Draupadi and Satyabhama
Vaiśampāyana said.
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
O Pāñcālī, state to me the glorious means by which Kṛṣṇa may always remain obedient to my will. (03-222-7)
After saying this, the illustrious Satyabhama became silent. The devoted and highly fortunate Draupadi replied to her. (03-222-8)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Those desiring to kill give poison in the form of extremely cruel diseases sent by enemies and spread through root rumors. (03-222-13)
The powders placed where a man enjoys with his tongue or even with his skin would rapidly destroy (him) without doubt. (03-222-14)
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)
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)
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)
Always, having abandoned ego, desire, and anger, I diligently serve the Pāṇḍavas together with their wives. (03-222-18)
Having completely restrained her affection and establishing herself within herself, serving as a protector of her husbands' minds without pride. (03-222-19)
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)
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)
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)
I never lie down nor eat before my husband has eaten, bathed, or reclined, not even among the servants. (03-222-23)
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)
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)
My conversation is not with bad women whose speech is much disrespected. I am always favorable and never indolent. (03-222-26)
One should avoid laughing in unclean places, standing repeatedly at the doorway, lingering long in the privy, and in the courtyards. (03-222-27)
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).
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)
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)
"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)
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)
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)
I serve gentle, virtuous, truthful, truly righteous lords, observing them, even when they are angry, like (one attends to) venomous snakes. (03-222-34)
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)
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)
O auspicious one, by attentiveness, constant diligence, and service to elders, husbands become obedient to me. (03-222-37)
I always personally serve the noble Kuntī, mother of heroes and truthful one, alone, in her bathing, dressing, and meals. (03-222-38)
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)
Thousands of Brāhmaṇas always ate in golden vessels at eight places in front, in Yudhiṣṭhira's residence. (03-222-40)
Yudhishthira supports eighty-eight thousand graduate householders, each of whom has thirty slave-women. (03-222-41)
An additional ten thousand servings of well-prepared food, taken in golden bowls, belong to the ascetics who are celibate. (03-222-42)
I honoured all those Brāhmaṇas devoted to Brahman, according to their merit, with grants of villages, with drink, clothing, and food. (03-222-43)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
O auspicious one, I alone know all the wealth, income, and expenditure of the illustrious Pāṇḍavas. (03-222-51)
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)
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)
I alone know the unassailable treasure of husbands, filled with riches like Varuṇa’s ocean, who act in righteousness. (03-222-54)
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)
I wake up first, and at the last I go to sleep; always, in truth, this observance is mine. (03-222-56)
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)
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)
I am distressed, O Pāñcālī, Yājñaseni; please forgive me. Out of inclination towards friends, indeed, I spoke with derision. (03-222-59)
