Shloka 25
Draupadī’s Grief at Seeing the Heroes in Disguise (द्रौपदी-विषादः / वेष-परिभव-वर्णनम्)
स एष निरयं प्राप्तो मत्स्यस्य परिचारक: । सभायां देविता राज्ञ: कड्को ब्रूते युधिष्ठिर:
sa eṣa nirayaṁ prāpto matsyasya paricārakaḥ | sabhāyāṁ devitā rājñaḥ kaṅko brūte yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ||
বৈশম্পায়নে ক’লে—সেই যুধিষ্ঠিৰ পৰাধীনতা-ৰূপ নৰকসদৃশ অৱস্থাত পৰি মৎস্যৰাজৰ পৰিচাৰক হৈছে। সভাত তেওঁ ৰজাক পাশা খেলুৱায় আৰু তাত নিজ পৰিচয় ‘কঙ্ক’ বুলি দিয়ে।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames dependence and loss of autonomy as a ‘hell’ (niraya), highlighting the ethical pain of living under compulsion and the humility required in exile—especially for a dharma-minded king like Yudhiṣṭhira who must accept a lowly role and conceal his identity.
During the Pandavas’ incognito year in the Matsya court, Yudhiṣṭhira serves as an attendant connected with dice-play in the king’s assembly and uses the alias ‘Kaṅka,’ as Vaiśampāyana narrates.