Shloka 19
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 22 — Draupadī’s Abduction Attempt and Bhīma’s Suppression of the Kīcakas
कीचको<थ ग्हं गत्वा भृशं हर्षपरिप्लुत: । सैरन्ध्रीरूपिणं मूढो मृत्युं तं नावबुद्धवान्,इधर कीचक महान् हर्षमें भरा हुआ अपने घरको गया। उस मूर्खको यह पता नहीं था कि सैरन्ध्रीके रूपमें मेरी मृत्यु आ रही है
Kīcako ’tha gṛhaṃ gatvā bhṛśaṃ harṣapariplutaḥ | Sairandhrīrūpiṇaṃ mūḍho mṛtyuṃ taṃ nāvabuddhavān ||
Da kehrte Kīcaka, von heftiger Freude überflutet, in sein Haus zurück. In seiner Verblendung erkannte der Tor nicht, dass der Tod selbst in der Gestalt der Magd (Sairandhrī) zu ihm gekommen war.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how adharma—especially lustful obsession and arrogant self-confidence—clouds discernment. Kīcaka’s exhilaration makes him blind to consequences, illustrating that moral blindness often precedes downfall.
After pursuing the Sairandhrī (Draupadī in disguise), Kīcaka returns home elated. Unaware, he is moving toward his own death, since the Sairandhrī episode will lead to Bhīma’s lethal punishment of Kīcaka.