Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 22 — Draupadī’s Abduction Attempt and Bhīma’s Suppression of the Kīcakas
ततो जग्राह केशेषु माल्यवत्सु महाबल: । स केशेषु परामृष्टो बलेन बलिनां वर:
tato jagrāha keśeṣu mālyavatsu mahābalaḥ | sa keśeṣu parāmṛṣṭo balena balināṃ varaḥ ||
Dann packte der Mächtige ihn am Haar, das mit Girlanden geschmückt war. So wurde der Vorkämpfer unter den Starken mit Gewalt am Schopf gepackt.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights how physical domination—especially acts meant to shame, such as seizing someone by the hair—marks a moral and social escalation in conflict. It implicitly contrasts strength used for righteous restraint with strength used for humiliation and coercion.
A powerful figure grabs another person by the hair, described as garlanded, and forcibly handles him. The language emphasizes raw strength and the degrading nature of the act, indicating a turning point toward harsher confrontation.