Shloka 1
(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठके २५ श्लोक मिलाकर कुल ४६ “लोक हैं।) हि न [हुक हि 7 आम षोडशो< ध्याय: कीचकद्दारा द्रौपदीका अपमान कीचक उवाच स्वागतं ते सुकेशान्ते सुव्युष्टा रजनी मम । स्वामिनी त्वमनुप्राप्ता प्रकुरुष्व मम प्रियम्,कीचकने कहा--सुन्दर अलकोंवाली सैरन्ध्री! तुम्हारा स्वागत है। आजकी रातका प्रभात मेरे लिये बड़ा मंगलमय है। अब तुम मेरी स्वामिनी होकर मेरा प्रिय कार्य करो
kīcaka uvāca | svāgataṃ te sukeśānte suvyuṣṭā rajanī mama | svāminī tvam anuprāptā prakuruṣva mama priyam ||
Kīcaka said: “Welcome to you, O woman of lovely hair. For me, this night has passed into an auspicious dawn. Now that you have come here as my ‘mistress,’ do what is pleasing to me.”
कीचक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse illustrates how adharma can begin with flattering speech and entitlement: Kīcaka frames his desire as a command, misusing social power and language to pressure a vulnerable person. The ethical lesson is to recognize coercion disguised as ‘welcome’ or ‘affection’ and to uphold dignity and consent as part of dharma.
In the Virāṭa kingdom, Draupadī lives incognito as a maid named Sairandhrī. Kīcaka, a powerful commander, approaches her with insinuating words, claiming she has become his ‘mistress’ and ordering her to satisfy him—setting up the ensuing conflict and the eventual punishment of Kīcaka for his misconduct.