Shloka 50
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 21 — Kīcaka’s clandestine approach and Bhīma’s covert intervention (नर्तनागारे कीचकवध-प्रसङ्गः)
आश्वासयित्वा बहुशो भृशमार्ता सुमध्यमाम् । हेतुतत्त्वार्थसंयुक्तैर्वचोभिट्रूीपदात्मजाम्,वह बहुत आर्त हो रही थी, अतः उन्होंने सुन्दर कटिभागवाली ट्रुपदकुमारीको युक्तियुक्त तात्विक वचनोंसे अनेक बार आश्वासन देकर अपने हाथसे उसके आँसूभरे मुँहको पोंछा और क्रोधसे जबड़े चाटते हुए मन-ही-मन कीचकका स्मरण किया। तदनन्तर भीमने दुःखपीड़ित द्रौपदीसे इस प्रकार कहा
āśvāsayitvā bahuśo bhṛśam ārtāṃ sumadhyamām | hetutattvārthasaṃyuktair vacobhis trūpada-ātmajām ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Seeing the slender-waisted daughter of Drupada overwhelmed with grief, he repeatedly consoled her with words grounded in reason and true principles—restoring her courage and steadiness amid distress.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
In moments of intense suffering, one should respond with compassionate reassurance grounded in reason and truth (hetu–tattva–artha), helping the afflicted regain steadiness rather than inflaming despair.
The narrator describes Draupadī in deep distress, and her companion (contextually, Bhīma in this episode) repeatedly consoles her with principled, rational words, preparing the scene for the next speech and ensuing action.