Mahabharata — Virata Parva, Shloka 25
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 22 — Draupadī’s Abduction Attempt and Bhīma’s Suppression of the Kīcakas
तमुवाच सुकेशान्ता कीचकस्य मया कृत: । संगमो नर्तनागारे यथावोच: परंतप,वहाँ सुन्दर लटोंवाली कृष्णाने कहा--“शत्रुतापन! जैसा तुमने कहा था, उसके अनुसार मैंने कीचकको नृत्यशालामें मिलनेका संकेत कर दिया है
tam uvāca sukeśāntā kīcakasya mayā kṛtaḥ | saṅgamo nartanāgāre yathāvochaḥ paraṃtapa ||
Then the woman of lovely tresses (Draupadī) said: “O scorcher of foes, as you instructed, I have arranged an appointment with Kīcaka in the dancing-hall.” In the ethical frame of the episode, her words signal a deliberate stratagem—using a controlled meeting-place to expose and restrain Kīcaka’s wrongdoing while protecting honor and order within the Virāṭa court.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic strategy: when confronted with adharma (Kīcaka’s misconduct), the righteous may employ careful planning and controlled circumstances to prevent further harm and enable just correction, without abandoning moral restraint.
Draupadī informs Bhīma that she has set up, as he directed, a rendezvous for Kīcaka in the dancing-hall—preparing the stage for Bhīma to confront and punish Kīcaka while the Pāṇḍavas remain incognito in Virāṭa’s kingdom.