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 ||
Disse Vaiśampāyana: Ó Janamejaya, senhor dos povos—Draupadī, filha de Yajñasena (Yājñasenī), embora digna de ser servida como uma rainha, vivia ali em grande aflição, atendendo à rainha Sudeṣṇā na corte de Matsya. Este verso realça a vida oculta dos Pāṇḍava na cidade de Virāṭa, onde até os de alta linhagem, por dharma e necessidade, aceitam papéis humildes e suportam a provação sem revelar quem são.
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.