Shloka 35
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 22 — Draupadī’s Abduction Attempt and Bhīma’s Suppression of the Kīcakas
द्रौपहयुवाच यथा न संत्यजेथास्त्वं सत्यं वै मत्कृते विभो । निगूढस्त्वं तथा पार्थ कीचकं तं निषूदय,द्रौोपदीने कहा--प्रभो! तुम वही करो, जिससे मेरे लिये तुम्हें सत्यका परित्याग न करना पड़े। कुन्तीनन्दन! तुम अपनेको गुप्त रखकर ही उस कीचकका संहार करो
draupady uvāca yathā na saṃtyajethās tvaṃ satyaṃ vai mat-kṛte vibho | nigūḍhas tvaṃ tathā pārtha kīcakaṃ taṃ niṣūdaya ||
Draupadī sprach: „O Mächtiger, handle so, dass du meinetwegen deine Wahrhaftigkeit nicht preisgeben musst. O Sohn Kuntīs, bleibe verborgen, wie du es bist, und töte jenen Kīcaka.“
भीमसेन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic tension: protecting the vulnerable and restoring justice must be done without sacrificing satya (truthfulness/keeping one’s vow). Draupadī urges a course of action that preserves moral integrity while still punishing wrongdoing.
During the Pāṇḍavas’ incognito stay in Virāṭa’s kingdom, Draupadī—harassed by Kīcaka—appeals to Pārtha (Arjuna) to have Kīcaka killed, but in a way that keeps the Pāṇḍavas’ identities concealed and does not force him to violate his commitment to truth.