Shloka 46

Adhyāya 14: Sudēṣṇā Sends Sairandhrī to Kīcaka’s House (सुदेष्णा–सैरन्ध्री–कीचक संवादः)

Devanagari script

एवमुक्ता तु सा साध्वी कीचकेनाशुभं वच: । कीचकं प्रत्युवाचेदं गर्हयन्त्यस्य तद्‌ वच:

Transliteration

evamuktā tu sā sādhvī kīcakena aśubhaṃ vacaḥ | kīcakaṃ pratyuvācedaṃ garhayanty asya tad vacaḥ ||

Translation

Bị Kīcaka buông lời tội lỗi như thế, người phụ nữ đức hạnh ấy (Draupadī) quở trách lời hắn và đáp lại, lên án sự hèn hạ trong những điều hắn vừa nói.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• उक्ता: having been spoken to / addressed
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: क्त, Feminine, Nominative, Singular, Passive (past participle)

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• सा: she
• सा: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• साध्वी: the virtuous woman
• साध्वी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: साध्वी
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• कीचकेन: by Kīcaka
• कीचकेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीचक
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• अशुभम्: inauspicious/evil
• अशुभम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशुभ
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वचः: speech/words
• वचः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कीचकम्: Kīcaka
• कीचकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीचक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रति: towards/to
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति

• उवाच: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• गर्हयन्ती: censuring/reproaching
• गर्हयन्ती: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: गर्ह्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Feminine, Nominative, Singular, Parasmaipada (active)

• अस्य: of him
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वचः: speech/words
• वचः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Kīcaka
• Draupadī

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames ethical speech as a dharmic concern: vile, lust-driven words are to be censured, and a virtuous person should respond by condemning wrongdoing rather than accepting it. It highlights moral courage and the protection of dignity through righteous rebuke.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Virāṭa court episode, Kīcaka speaks improper, sinful words to Draupadī (disguised as Sairandhrī). Vaiśampāyana narrates that Draupadī, described as sādhvī, rebukes Kīcaka’s speech and replies in condemnation.