Shloka 9
Kīcaka-vadha-pratisaṃjñā: Rumor in Matsya and the Kaurava Scouts’ Report (कीचकवध-प्रतिसंज्ञा)
गच्छ सैरन्दध्रि भद्रं ते यथाकामं वरानने । बिभेति राजा सुश्रोणि गन्धर्वेभ्य: पराभवात्,'सैरन्ध्री! तुम्हारा कल्याण हो। वरानने! तुम्हारी जहाँ रुचि हो, चली जाओ। सुश्रोणि! गन्धर्वोके तिरस्कारसे राजा डरते हैं
vaiśampāyana uvāca | gaccha sairandhri bhadraṃ te yathākāmaṃ varānane | bibheti rājā suśroṇi gandharvebhyaḥ parābhavāt ||
“ไปเถิด ไซรันธรี ขอความสวัสดีจงมีแก่เจ้า โอผู้มีพักตร์งาม จงไป ณ ที่ใดก็ได้ตามปรารถนา โอผู้มีสะโพกงาม พระราชาทรงหวาดหวั่น เพราะความอัปยศจากความพ่ายแพ้ต่อเหล่าคันธรรพ์ในกาลก่อน”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how past defeat and public humiliation can shape a ruler’s present conduct: fear arises from remembered vulnerability, and authority may yield to caution. Ethically, it suggests that unchecked pride leading to disgrace can later constrain one’s freedom and decision-making.
The narrator reports that Sairandhrī is told she may go wherever she wishes, with a blessing for her welfare. The reason given is that the king is afraid of the Gandharvas due to a prior defeat or humiliation connected with them.