Shloka 21
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 21 — Kīcaka’s clandestine approach and Bhīma’s covert intervention (नर्तनागारे कीचकवध-प्रसङ्गः)
तस्या विदित्वा तं भावं स्वयं चानृतदर्शन: । कीचको<यं सुदुष्टात्मा सदा प्रार्थयते हि माम्,जिसका देखना भी अनृत (पापमय) है, वही यह परम दुष्टात्मा कीचक रानी सुदेष्णाके उक्त मनोभाव-को जानकर सदा स्वयं आकर मेरे आगे प्रार्थना किया करता है इति श्रीमहाभारते विराटपर्वणि कीचकवधपर्वणि द्रौपदीसान्त्वने एकविंशो5 ध्याय:
tasyā viditvā taṃ bhāvaṃ svayaṃ cānṛtadarśanaḥ | kīcako 'yaṃ suduṣṭātmā sadā prārthayate hi mām ||
রানির সেই মনোভাব জেনে—যার দর্শনই পাপময়—সেই পরম দুষ্টাত্মা কীচক নিজে নিজে বারবার এসে আমার কাছে প্রার্থনা করতে থাকে।
भीमसेन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames persistent, coercive desire as adharma: a person of corrupt character becomes 'sinful to behold' through repeated unethical pursuit. It implicitly upholds the duty to recognize and resist exploitation, especially when someone abuses power or proximity to pressure another.
Bhīma speaks about Kīcaka’s conduct at Virāṭa’s court: after discerning the woman’s (Draupadī/Sairandhrī’s) situation and intent, Bhīma describes Kīcaka as thoroughly wicked and notes that he repeatedly comes and importunes her (and/or presses his suit), setting the stage for the ensuing confrontation.