Shloka 2
Adhyāya 14: Sudēṣṇā Sends Sairandhrī to Kīcaka’s House (सुदेष्णा–सैरन्ध्री–कीचक संवादः)
याज्ञसेनी सुदेष्णां तु शुश्रूषन्ती विशाम्पते । आवसत् परिचारार्हा सुदु:खं जनमेजय,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! उस समय कुन्तीके उन महारथी पुत्रोंको मत्स्यराजके नगरमें छिपकर रहते हुए धीरे-धीरे दस महीने बीत गये। राजन! यज्ञसेनकुमारी द्रौपदी, जो स्वयं स्वामिनीकी भाँति सेवाके योग्य थी, रानी सुदेष्णाकी शुश्रूषा करती हुई बड़े कष्टसे वहाँ रहती थी
yājñasenī sudeṣṇāṃ tu śuśrūṣantī viśāmpate | āvasat paricārārhā suduḥkhaṃ janamejaya ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Wahai Janamejaya, tuan bagi rakyat—Draupadī, puteri Yajñasena (Yājñasenī), meskipun layak dilayani seperti seorang permaisuri, tinggal di sana dalam kesusahan besar sambil melayani Permaisuri Sudeṣṇā di istana Matsya. Rangkap ini menegaskan kehidupan penyamaran para Pāṇḍava di kota Virāṭa, di mana bahkan yang berdarah mulia pun, demi dharma dan keperluan, menerima peranan rendah serta menanggung derita tanpa mendedahkan jati diri.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic endurance: even those of royal stature may accept menial-seeming service when duty and circumstance require it. True nobility is shown through self-restraint, patience, and steadfastness in adversity, not merely through external status.
During the Pandavas’ period of concealment in the Matsya realm, Draupadī lives in the palace as an attendant to Queen Sudeṣṇā. Though naturally fit to be served, she remains there with great hardship, maintaining the disguise and protecting the larger mission of completing the incognito year.