Shloka 23
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 21 — Kīcaka’s clandestine approach and Bhīma’s covert intervention (नर्तनागारे कीचकवध-प्रसङ्गः)
गन्धर्वाणामहं भार्या पञठ्चानां महिषी प्रिया । ते त्वां निहन्यु: कुपिता: शूरा: साहसकारिण:,“मैं पाँच गन्धर्वोकी पत्नी तथा प्यारी रानी हूँ। वे साहसी तथा शूरवीर गन्धर्व तुम्हें कुपित होकर मार डालेंगे”
gandharvāṇām ahaṃ bhāryā pañcānāṃ mahiṣī priyā | te tvāṃ nihanyur kupitāḥ śūrāḥ sāhasakāriṇaḥ ||
“I am the wife of five Gandharvas, their beloved chief queen. Those bold and valiant Gandharvas, if angered, will slay you.”
भीमसेन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores restraint and respect: violating a protected woman and acting from reckless desire is adharma and invites severe consequences. It also reflects the duty to deter wrongdoing through firm warning.
Bhīmasena speaks to intimidate and restrain an aggressor by asserting that the woman is the beloved chief queen of five powerful Gandharvas, who will become enraged and kill him if he persists.