Shloka 9
Adhyāya 14: Sudēṣṇā Sends Sairandhrī to Kīcaka’s House (सुदेष्णा–सैरन्ध्री–कीचक संवादः)
अहो तवेयं परिचारिका शुभा प्रत्यग्ररूपा प्रतिभाति मामियम् | अयुक्तरूपं हि करोति कर्म ते प्रशास्तु मां यच्च ममास्ति किंचन
aho taveyaṁ paricārikā śubhā pratyagrarūpā pratibhāti mām iyam | ayuktarūpaṁ hi karoti karma te praśāstu māṁ yac ca mamāsti kiṁcana ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: “Ah, kay kamangha-mangha! Ang magandang dalagang ito’y naglilingkod sa iyong sambahayan na para lamang karaniwang tagapaglingkod. Sa aking paningin, ang kanyang ganda’y laging sariwa, na wari’y bagong nahahayag. Ang gawaing ginagawa niya rito’y lubos na di angkop sa kanyang kalagayan. Nais ko sanang siya ang maging ginang ng aking tahanan at magtaglay ng nag-iisang kapangyarihan sa akin at sa lahat ng ari-ariang nasa akin.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical tension between outward beauty/status and the roles imposed by circumstance. It also shows how desire can quickly translate into claims of control (‘let her rule me and my possessions’), raising questions of propriety, consent, and dharma in social relations.
A speaker, observing a strikingly beautiful woman serving as an attendant in another household, expresses astonishment that she performs such menial work. He then voices a wish to take her as the mistress of his own house, granting her authority over himself and his wealth—an expression that foreshadows pursuit driven by attraction and power.