Shloka 44

Drupada’s Alarm and Inquiry Regarding Śikhaṇḍinī (द्रुपदस्य भय-विमर्शः)

Devanagari script

सो<भ्यगच्छत यक्षेन्द्रमाहृत: पृथिवीपते । स्त्रीसरूपो महाराज तस्थौ व्रीडासमन्वित:,राजन! इस प्रकार बुलानेपर वह यक्ष कुबेरकी सेवामें गया। महाराज! वह स्त्रीस्वरूप धारण करनेके कारण लज्जामें डूबा हुआ उनके सामने खड़ा हो गया

Transliteration

so 'bhyagacchat yakṣendram āhṛtaḥ pṛthivīpate | strī-sarūpo mahārāja tasthau vrīḍā-samanvitaḥ ||

Translation

Wahai Raja Agung! Setelah dipanggil oleh penguasa bumi, dia pun pergi menghadap raja Yakṣa, Kubera. Tuanku, kerana telah menyandang rupa seorang wanita, dia berdiri di hadapan baginda, tenggelam dalam rasa malu.

Word by Word

सःhe

अभ्यगच्छत्went towards/approached

यक्षेन्द्रम्the lord of Yakṣas (Kubera)

आहृतःhaving been summoned/brought

पृथिवीपतेO lord of the earth (king)

स्त्रीसरूपःin the form of a woman

महाराजO great king

तस्थौstood

व्रीडासमन्वितःendowed with shame; ashamed

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Kubera

Yakshas

Pṛthivīpati (the king addressed)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical-psychological tension between external role (a compelled disguise) and internal dignity: even when acting under summons, one may feel shame if the adopted form conflicts with one’s self-conception, reminding rulers to consider the human cost of commands.

What is happening in the narrative?

A person, summoned by a king, approaches Kubera (lord of the Yakṣas). Because he has taken on a woman’s form, he stands before Kubera feeling embarrassed and ashamed.