Shloka 41

Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 22 — Draupadī’s Abduction Attempt and Bhīma’s Suppression of the Kīcakas

Devanagari script

पूर्वांगतं ततस्तत्र भीममप्रतिमौजसम्‌ । एकान्तावस्थितं चैनमाससाद स दुर्मति:,अतुलितपराक्रमी भीमसेन तो वहाँ पहलेसे ही आकर एकान्तमें एक शब्यापर लेटे हुए थे। खोटी बुद्धिवाला सूतपुत्र कीचक वहीं पहुँच गया और उन्हें हाथसे टटोलने लगा। उस समय भीमसेन कीचकढद्दारा द्रौपदीके अपमानके कारण क्रोधसे जल रहे थे

Transliteration

pūrvāṅgataṃ tatastatra bhīmam apratimaujasam | ekāntāvasthitaṃ cainam āsasāda sa durmatiḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: Da war Bhīma, von unvergleichlicher Kraft, bereits zuvor gekommen und lag verborgen in der Einsamkeit. Der böswillige Kīcaka stieß dort auf ihn und begann, ihn mit der Hand abzutasten. In jenem Augenblick loderte Bhīmasena vor Zorn, entfacht durch Kīcakas Schmach an Draupadī.

Word by Word

पूर्वाङ्गतम्gone beforehand / already arrived

ततःthen / thereafter

तत्रthere

भीमम्Bhima

अप्रतिमौजसम्of incomparable vigor

एकान्तावस्थितम्standing/remaining in seclusion

चand

एनम्him

आससादapproached / came up to

सःhe

दुर्मतिःthe evil-minded one

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Bhīma (Bhīmasena)

Kīcaka

Draupadī

Virāṭa’s palace/inner quarters (implied setting)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames righteous protection of the vulnerable as a dharmic duty: when honor is violated and coercion is attempted, moral force may be required, but it should arise from justice and protection—not from mere rage or desire.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīma has reached the secluded spot first and lies in wait. Kīcaka, driven by lust and arrogance after offending Draupadī, arrives and gropes in the darkness, unaware he has found Bhīma—who is already burning with anger and ready to punish him.