Shloka 38
Adhyāya 14: Sudēṣṇā Sends Sairandhrī to Kīcaka’s House (सुदेष्णा–सैरन्ध्री–कीचक संवादः)
वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमुक्तस्तु सैरन्ध्रया कीचक: काममोहित: । जानन्नपि सुद्दुर्बुद्धि: परदाराभिमर्शने
vaiśampāyana uvāca evam uktas tu sairandhryā kīcakaḥ kāma-mohitaḥ | jānann api su-durbuddhiḥ para-dārābhimarśane ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Though thus admonished by the Sairandhrī, Kīcaka—deluded by lust—did not come to his senses. Even while knowing that touching another man’s wife brings forth many blameworthy faults, condemned by all and even leading to the loss of life, that unrestrained and thoroughly misguided man still spoke to Draupadī in this manner.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Desire that overwhelms discernment leads to adharma: even when one knows the moral and social condemnation—and even mortal consequences—of violating another’s wife, lack of self-control and corrupted judgment can still drive wrongdoing. The verse underscores the necessity of indriya-nigraha (sense-restraint) and respect for marital and social dharma.
Draupadī, disguised as the Sairandhrī in King Virāṭa’s palace, warns/rebukes Kīcaka. Yet Kīcaka, intoxicated by lust, ignores her counsel. The narrator notes that he knows the grave faults of approaching another man’s wife, but being unrestrained and foolish, he persists and continues speaking to her with improper intent.