Shloka 21
अध्याय १५ — कीचकस्य अत्याचारः, द्रौपद्याः सभाशरणगमनम्
Kīcaka’s coercion and Draupadī’s appeal in the assembly
तां मृगीमिव संत्रस्तां दृष्टवा कृष्णां समीपगाम् | उदतिष्ठन्मुदा सूतो नावं लब्ध्वेव पारग:,डरी हुई हरिणीकी भाँति भयभीत द्रौपदीको समीप आयी देख सूत कीचक आनन्दमें भरकर खड़ा हो गया; मानो नदीके पार जानेवाला पथिक नौका पाकर प्रसन्न हो गया हो
tāṁ mṛgīm iva saṁtrastāṁ dṛṣṭvā kṛṣṇāṁ samīpagām | udatiṣṭhan mudā sūto nāvaṁ labdhveva pāragaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Seeing Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī) approach, frightened like a startled doe, the sūta Kīcaka rose up in delight—like a traveler eager to cross who rejoices on finding a boat.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical inversion: Kīcaka feels joy at seeing a frightened woman approach, revealing predatory intent. By contrasting her fear with his delight, the narrative implicitly condemns exploitation of vulnerability and points toward dharma as protection of the distressed rather than gratification of desire.
Draupadī (Kṛṣṇā), terrified like a doe, comes near. Kīcaka, described as a sūta, rises up happily on seeing her—compared to a traveler who finds a boat to cross a river—signaling his eagerness to pursue her and foreshadowing the ensuing confrontation.