Shloka 30

Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 21 — Kīcaka’s clandestine approach and Bhīma’s covert intervention (नर्तनागारे कीचकवध-प्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

सूतपुत्रस्तु मां दृष्टवा महत्‌ सान्त्वमवर्तयत्‌ । सान्त्वे प्रतिहते क्रुद्ध: परामर्शमना भवत्‌,मैं वहाँ गयी। सूतपुत्रने मुझे देखकर पहले तो अपनी बात मान लेनेके लिये बड़े-बड़े आश्वासनोंके साथ समझाना आरम्भ किया; किंतु जब मैंने उसकी प्रार्थना ठुकरा दी, तब उसने क्रोधपूर्वक मेरे साथ बलात्कार करनेका विचार किया

Transliteration

sūtaputrastu māṃ dṛṣṭvā mahat sāntvam avartayat | sāntve pratihate kruddhaḥ parāmarśamanā abhavat |

Translation

Bhīmasena said: “When the charioteer’s son saw me, he first began to placate me with grand assurances, trying to win my consent. But when his entreaties were rejected, he became enraged and turned his mind toward forcibly violating me.”

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'sūtaputraḥ', 'definition': 'son of a sūta (charioteer/bard)

• here, Kīcaka'}, {'term': 'tu', 'definition': 'but

• however'}, {'term': 'mām', 'definition': 'me'}, {'term': 'dṛṣṭvā', 'definition': 'having seen'}, {'term': 'mahat', 'definition': 'great

• grand'}, {'term': 'sāntvam', 'definition': 'conciliation, soothing persuasion, placation'}, {'term': 'avartayat', 'definition': 'set in motion

• employed (persuasion)'}, {'term': 'sāntve', 'definition': 'in/with the act of conciliation (locative)'}, {'term': 'pratihate', 'definition': 'when repulsed/foiled/rejected (locative absolute sense)'}, {'term': 'kruddhaḥ', 'definition': 'angry

• enraged'}, {'term': 'parāmarśa-manāḥ', 'definition': 'one whose mind is set on an intention/plan

• here, a wrongful intent'}, {'term': 'abhavat', 'definition': 'became

Speaker

भीमसेन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīmasena
• Sūtaputra (Kīcaka)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights an ethical contrast: persuasion that seeks to override another’s will can quickly devolve into coercion when refused. It frames forced violation as adharma and exposes how anger and entitlement corrupt judgment, underscoring the duty to protect dignity and consent.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Virāṭa court episode involving Kīcaka and Draupadī (disguised as Sairandhrī), Kīcaka first tries to win her over with soothing promises. When she rejects him, he becomes furious and forms the intent to force himself upon her, setting up the ensuing confrontation and retribution.