Shloka 8
सहदेवस्य गोसंख्य-तन्तिपाल-रूपेण विराट-समागमः | Sahadeva’s Audience with Virāṭa as Cattle-Enumerator
Tantipāla
सा तामुवाच राजेन्द्र सैरन्ध्रयहमुपागता । कर्म चेच्छाम्यहं कर्तु तस्य यो मां युयुक्षति,राजेन्द्र! तब द्रौपदीने रानी सुदेष्णासे कहा--'मैं सैरन्ध्री हूँ। जो मुझे अपने यहाँ नियुक्त करना चाहे, उसके यहाँ रहकर मैं सैरन्ध्रीका कार्य करना चाहती हूँ और इसीलिये यहाँ आयी हूँ
sā tām uvāca rājendra sairandhry aham upāgatā | karma cecchāmy ahaṃ kartuṃ tasya yo māṃ yuyukṣati ||
Waiśampāyana berkata: Draupadī menuturkan kepada sang ratu, “Wahai putri raja, aku datang kemari sebagai sairandhrī, pelayan perempuan. Aku ingin menjalankan tugas-tugas itu di rumah siapa pun yang berkenan mengangkatku.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic prudence: in dangerous circumstances, one may adopt a modest social role and speak carefully to protect oneself and uphold propriety. Draupadī’s willingness to serve is not servility but strategic restraint aligned with duty and survival.
During the Pāṇḍavas’ incognito year in Virāṭa’s kingdom, Draupadī approaches Queen Sudeshṇā and presents herself as a ‘sairandhrī’ (female attendant), requesting employment and stating her readiness to perform the attendant’s duties for whoever appoints her.