Shloka 1
द्रौपद्याः शोकवचनम्
Draupadī’s Lament and Indictment of Misfortune
(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठके ९२ श्लोक मिलाकर कुल १४३ श्लोक हैं।) हि आय न () ऑन अप सप्तदशो< ध्याय: ट्रौोपदीका भीमसेनके समीप जाना वैशम्पायन उवाच सा हता सूतपुत्रेण राजपत्नी यशस्विनी । वधं कृष्णा परीप्सन्ती सेनावाहस्य भामिनी
vaiśampāyana uvāca | sā hatā sūtaputreṇa rājapatnī yaśasvinī | vadhaṃ kṛṣṇā parīpsantī senāvāhasya bhāminī ||
Vaiśampāyana said: O King, ever since the commander Kīcaka—the son of a charioteer—struck her, the illustrious royal wife, Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī), burning with indignation, began to seek his death. In the moral world of the Mahābhārata, this is not mere personal revenge: it is the demand that outrage against a protected woman and abuse of power by a courtly strongman be answered by just retribution, restoring order and dignity within the king’s household.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power used to violate the vulnerable—especially within a king’s domain—creates adharma that must be corrected. Draupadī’s resolve signals that dignity and justice are not optional; restoring moral order may require decisive punishment of the offender.
After being assaulted by Kīcaka, Draupadī (living incognito in Virāṭa’s palace) turns her mind toward arranging his death. This sets up her appeal to Bhīma and the ensuing plan that culminates in Kīcaka’s slaying.