Shloka 8
Kīcaka-vadha-pratisaṃjñā: Rumor in Matsya and the Kaurava Scouts’ Report (कीचकवध-प्रतिसंज्ञा)
सुदेष्णामब्रवीद् राजा महिषीं जातसाध्वस: । सैरन्ध्रीमागतां ब्रूया ममैव वचनादिदम्,तदनन्तर राजाने भयभीत होकर रानी सुदेष्णाके पास जाकर कहा--'देवि! जब सैरन्ध्री यहाँ आ जाय, तो मेरी ही ओरसे उससे यों कहो--
sudeṣṇām abravīd rājā mahiṣīṁ jātasādhvasaḥ | sairandhrīm āgatāṁ brūyā mamaiva vacanād idam |
Vaiśaṃpāyana berkata: Raja, dikuasai ketakutan yang mendadak, berkata kepada permaisuri utamanya Sudeṣṇā: “Apabila Sairandhrī datang ke sini, katakanlah kepadanya begini—sampaikanlah sebagai kata-kataku sendiri.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical tension: when fear overtakes a ruler, he may avoid direct responsibility by speaking through others. It implicitly contrasts rightful, accountable speech with indirect command driven by anxiety.
The frightened king approaches Queen Sudeṣṇā and instructs her to deliver a specific message to Sairandhrī when she arrives, making Sudeṣṇā the intermediary for his words.