Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 22 — Draupadī’s Abduction Attempt and Bhīma’s Suppression of the Kīcakas
अस्या: प्रदोषे शर्वर्या: कुरुष्वानेन संगतम् | दुःखं शोकं च निर्धूय याज्ञसेनि शुचिस्मिते,पवित्र मुसकानवाली द्रौपदी! तुम दुःख-शोक भुलाकर आगामी रात्रिके प्रदोषकालमें कीचकसे मिलो और उसे नृत्यशालामें आनेके लिये कह दो
asyāḥ pradoṣe śarvaryāḥ kuruṣvānena saṅgatam | duḥkhaṃ śokaṃ ca nirdhūya yājñaseni śucismite |
Bhīmasena sprach: „In der Abenddämmerung der kommenden Nacht richte ein Treffen mit ihm aus. Schüttle Kummer und Trauer ab, o Yājñasenī mit dem reinen Lächeln; geh und sage Kīcaka, er solle in die Tanzhalle kommen.“
भीमसेन उवाच
The verse highlights strategic action in the service of protection and justice: grief is to be set aside when decisive steps are needed to confront wrongdoing, while the vulnerable are safeguarded through careful planning rather than impulsive retaliation.
During the Pāṇḍavas’ incognito stay in Virāṭa’s kingdom, Kīcaka harasses Draupadī. Bhīma instructs Draupadī to arrange a dusk-time rendezvous and summon Kīcaka to the dance-hall, setting the stage for Bhīma to deal with him and end the threat.