Shloka 34
Adhyāya 14: Sudēṣṇā Sends Sairandhrī to Kīcaka’s House (सुदेष्णा–सैरन्ध्री–कीचक संवादः)
द्रौपहुवाच अप्रार्थनीयामिह मां सुतपुत्राभिमन्यसे । निहीनवर्णा सैरन्ध्री बीभत्सां केशकारिणीम्
drauapady uvāca aprārthanīyām iha māṃ sūtaputrābhimanyase | nihīnavarṇā sairandhrī bībhatsāṃ keśakāriṇīm ||
Wika ni Draupadī: “Ikaw, na inaakala ang sarili mong anak ng isang kutsero, ay nagmimithi sa akin dito—hindi man lamang dapat itanong ang ganyang bagay. Ako’y mababa ang kalagayan, isang sairandhrī (aliping babae) lamang, nakasuot ng kasuklam-suklam na pagbabalatkayo, at inuutusan lang na mag-ayos ng buhok—isang hamak na tagapaglingkod.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical boundary: certain desires and requests are intrinsically improper (aprārthanīya). Draupadī rebukes the man by invoking social role and propriety, emphasizing restraint and respect rather than coercive or shameless solicitation.
While living incognito in Virāṭa’s court, Draupadī is disguised as a maid (sairandhrī) who arranges hair. A man addressed as “sūtaputra” makes an improper advance; Draupadī rejects him sharply, stressing that such a request is unworthy and pointing to her assumed lowly position and menial role.