Shloka 22
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 21 — Kīcaka’s clandestine approach and Bhīma’s covert intervention (नर्तनागारे कीचकवध-प्रसङ्गः)
तमहं कुपिता भीम पुन: कोप॑ं नियम्य च । अब्र॒ुवं कामसम्मूढमात्मानं रक्ष कीचक,भीम! पहले-पहल उसके ऐसा कहनेपर मैं कुपित हो उठी; किंतु पुनः क्रोधके वेगको रोककर बोली--'कीचक! तू कामसे मोहित हो रहा है। अरे! तू अपने-आपकी रक्षा कर
tam ahaṁ kupitā bhīma punaḥ kopaṁ niyamya ca | abruvaṁ kāma-sammūḍham ātmānaṁ rakṣa kīcaka ||
Bhīma said: “At his words I first flared up in anger; but then, restraining the surge of wrath, I addressed Kīcaka—who was deluded by lust—saying: ‘Kīcaka, guard yourself; protect your own life.’”
भीमसेन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when provoked, one should restrain anger and respond with measured speech; unchecked lust (kāma) leads to delusion and self-destruction, so the wrongdoer is warned to protect himself by abandoning adharma.
In the Kīcaka episode of the Virāṭa court, Bhīma recounts that he initially became angry at Kīcaka’s conduct, then controlled his rage and issued a stern warning to Kīcaka, who was blinded by desire.