Shloka 22
सहदेवस्य गोसंख्य-तन्तिपाल-रूपेण विराट-समागमः | Sahadeva’s Audience with Virāṭa as Cattle-Enumerator
Tantipāla
सुदेष्णोवाच मूर्थ्नि त्वां वासयेयं वै संशयो मे न विद्यते । न चेदिच्छति राजा त्वां गच्छेत् सर्वेण चेतसा,सुदेष्णाने कहा--सुन्दरी! यदि मेरे मनमें संदेह न होता, तो मैं तुम्हें अपने सिर-माथे रख लेती। यदि राजा तुम्हें चाहने न लगें--सम्पूर्ण चित्तसे तुमपर आसक्त न हो जायेँ तो तुम्हें रखनेमें मुझे कोई आपत्ति न होगी
sudeṣṇovāca mūrdhni tvāṁ vāsayeyam vai saṁśayo me na vidyate | na ced icchati rājā tvāṁ gacchet sarveṇa cetasā ||
Sudeṣṇā berkata: “Aku akan menempatkanmu di atas kepalaku sendiri—tentang itu aku tak ragu. Namun bila raja tidak menginginkanmu, bila seluruh hatinya tidak terpaut kepadamu, maka tidak ada halangan bagimu untuk tinggal di sini.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Honor and hospitality must be balanced with prudence: Sudeṣṇā expresses willingness to protect and esteem the woman, yet recognizes the ethical risk if the king’s desire becomes involved, which could endanger propriety and safety within the palace.
In the Virāṭa court setting, Queen Sudeṣṇā speaks about keeping the woman (Draupadī in disguise) close. She says she would gladly keep her with great honor, but only if the king does not become wholeheartedly attracted to her—hinting at concern over royal desire and its consequences.