Mahabharata — Virata Parva, Shloka 78
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 22 — Draupadī’s Abduction Attempt and Bhīma’s Suppression of the Kīcakas
त॑ विषीदन्तमाज्ञाय कीचकं पाण्डुनन्दन: । भूतले भ्रामयामास वाक्यं चेदमुवाच ह,मृत्युके समय कीचकको विषाद करते देख पाण्डुनन्दन भीमने उसे धरतीपर घसीटा और इस प्रकार कहा--
taṁ viṣīdantam ājñāya kīcakaṁ pāṇḍunandanaḥ | bhūtale bhrāmayāmāsa vākyaṁ cedam uvāca ha ||
Seeing Kīcaka sinking into despair, Bhīma—the son of Pāṇḍu—seized him and dragged him about on the ground. Then, in a stern voice, he spoke these words.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores moral accountability: when a powerful wrongdoer causes harm and then collapses in fear, dharma demands decisive restraint and punishment to protect others and restore order. Strength is portrayed as ethically justified when used to check abuse and uphold justice.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Bhīma recognizes Kīcaka’s despair and physically overpowers him, dragging him on the ground. Bhīma then begins to speak—introducing a warning or pronouncement that frames the impending punishment within a justice-oriented context.