Adhyāya 14: Sudēṣṇā Sends Sairandhrī to Kīcaka’s House (सुदेष्णा–सैरन्ध्री–कीचक संवादः)
सर्वकामसमृद्धेषु भोगेष्वनुपमेष्विह । भोक्तव्येषु च कल्याणि कस्माद् दास््ये रता हासि,“कल्याणि! जब सम्पूर्ण मनोरथोंसे सम्पन्न अनुपम भोग यहाँ भोगनेके लिये तुम्हें सुलभ हो रहे हैं, तब तुम दासीपनमें क्यों आसक्त हो?
sarvakāmasamṛddheṣu bhogeṣv anupameṣv iha | bhoktavyeṣu ca kalyāṇi kasmād dāsye ratā hāsi ||
قال فايشامبايانا: «أيتها السيدة المباركة، حين تكون هنا لذّات لا نظير لها، تُتمّ كل رغبة، مهيّأة لك لتتنعّمي بها، فلماذا ما زلتِ متعلّقة بحال العبودية؟»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse contrasts material abundance with a chosen life of service, implicitly raising an ethical question: when pleasure and privilege are available, what inner commitment or principle leads someone to prefer humility, duty, or self-restraint over indulgence?
In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, someone addresses an ‘auspicious lady’ and questions her preference for remaining in a servant’s role despite the availability of exceptional comforts and pleasures, highlighting a tension between external opportunity and personal resolve.