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 ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Thus has he come to a kind of hell—life under another’s control—serving the king of Matsya. In the royal assembly he makes the king play at dice, and Yudhiṣṭhira speaks of himself there under the name ‘Kaṅka.’”
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.