Mahabharata 4.9.8 — Virata Parva, Adhyaya 9, 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
sā tām uvāca rājendra sairandhry aham upāgatā | karma cecchāmy ahaṃ kartuṃ tasya yo māṃ yuyukṣati ||
அப்போது த்ரௌபதி ராணியிடம் கூறினாள்—“ராஜேந்திரி! நான் சைரந்த்ரீயாக இங்கே வந்தேன். யார் என்னை நியமிப்பாரோ, அவருடைய இல்லத்தில் இருந்து சைரந்த்ரீயின் பணிகளைச் செய்ய விரும்புகிறேன்.”
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.
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