Shloka 7
अध्याय १५ — कीचकस्य अत्याचारः, द्रौपद्याः सभाशरणगमनम्
Kīcaka’s coercion and Draupadī’s appeal in the assembly
वैशम्पायन उवाच इत्युक्त: स विनिष्क्रम्य भगिन्या वचनात् तदा । सुरामाहारयामास राजार्हा सुपरिष्कृताम्
vaiśampāyana uvāca | ity uktaḥ sa viniṣkramya bhaginyā vacanāt tadā | surām āhārayāmāsa rājārhāṃ supariṣkṛtām ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: So angesprochen ging er damals, den Worten seiner Schwester folgend, hinaus. Nach seiner Rückkehr nach Hause ließ er zur rechten Zeit fein zubereiteten Trank herbeischaffen, eines Königs würdig; und durch kundige Köche richtete er im Überfluss Speisen mannigfacher Art an, erlesene wie gewöhnliche, samt dem Besten an Speise und Getränk.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how indulgence and calculated preparation can serve unethical intent: outwardly refined hospitality (royal liquor and delicacies) may be used to facilitate coercion or wrongdoing, reminding readers to judge actions by purpose and dharma rather than by polish or luxury.
After receiving reassurance based on his sister’s words, Kīcaka leaves and arranges for refined, king-worthy liquor and an elaborate spread of food and drink through skilled cooks—setting up the next stage of the episode in the Virāṭa court.