Mahabharata — Virata Parva, Shloka 80
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 22 — Draupadī’s Abduction Attempt and Bhīma’s Suppression of the Kīcakas
इत्येवमुक्त्वा पुरुषप्रवीर- स्तं कीचकं क्रोधसरागनेत्र: । आस्त्रस्तवस्त्रा भरणं स्फुरन्त- मुद्भ्रान्तनेत्रं व्यसुमुत्ससर्ज
ity evam uktvā puruṣapravīras taṃ kīcakaṃ krodhasarāganetraḥ | āstṛtastavāstrā bharaṇaṃ sphurantam udbhrāntanetram vyasum utsasarja ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Having spoken thus, Bhīmasena—the foremost of men, his eyes reddened with wrath—cast down Kīcaka. His garments and ornaments were scattered about; he writhed in agony, his eyes rolling upward, and his life-breath departed.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma as protective action against adharma: righteous force may be employed to stop an aggressor, yet the text also emphasizes the gravity and finality of lethal violence, portraying anger as powerful and dangerous even when directed toward a just end.
After speaking, Bhīma—his eyes red with anger—overpowers and throws down Kīcaka. Kīcaka’s clothes and ornaments scatter as he writhes; his eyes roll upward and he dies, marking the decisive end of Kīcaka’s oppression.