Shloka 20
Kīcaka-vadha-pratisaṃjñā: Rumor in Matsya and the Kaurava Scouts’ Report (कीचकवध-प्रतिसंज्ञा)
बुह्तन्नलोवाच कथं सैरन्ध्रि मुक्तासि कथं पापाश्न ते हता: । इच्छामि वै तव श्रोतुं सर्वमेव यथातथम्,बृहन्नलाने पूछा--सैरन्ध्री! तू उन पापियोंके हाथसे कैसे छूटी? और वे पापी कैसे मारे गये? मैं ये सब बातें तेरे मुखसे ज्यों-की-त्यों सुनना चाहती हूँ
bṛhannalovāca kathaṃ sairandhrī muktāsi kathaṃ pāpāś ca te hatāḥ | icchāmi vai tava śrotuṃ sarvam eva yathātatham ||
బృహన్నలా చెప్పింది—“సైరంధ్రీ! నీవు ఎలా విడిపించబడ్డావు? ఆ దుష్టులు ఎలా హతులయ్యారు? జరిగినదంతా యథాతథంగా నీ నోట వినాలని ఉంది.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds ethical accountability and truth: wrongdoing (pāpa) invites consequences, and the listener seeks an accurate, unembellished account (yathātatham). It also reflects dharmic concern for the protection and vindication of one who has been wronged.
Bṛhannalā (Arjuna, disguised) questions Sairandhrī (Draupadī, disguised) about how she escaped from the offenders and how those offenders were killed, requesting a complete and faithful narration of the events.