Mahabharata — Virata Parva, Shloka 88
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 22 — Draupadī’s Abduction Attempt and Bhīma’s Suppression of the Kīcakas
तत् कृत्वा दुष्करं कर्म कृष्णाया: प्रियमुत्तमम् । तथा स कीचकं हत्वा गत्वा रोषस्य वै शमम्
tad kṛtvā duṣkaraṃ karma kṛṣṇāyāḥ priyam uttamam | tathā sa kīcakaṃ hatvā gatvā roṣasya vai śamam ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Having accomplished that excellent deed—so difficult to perform and dear to Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī)—and having slain Kīcaka, he went on to the calming of his anger. Thereafter, having also consulted Draupadī, Bhīmasena returned again to the royal kitchen. Draupadī, the foremost among young women, was greatly pleased that Kīcaka had been made to die; all her anguish was dispelled. Then she approached the guards of the assembly-hall and spoke.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage frames the slaying of Kīcaka as a difficult yet excellent act done to protect Draupadī and restore moral order: righteous force may be employed against predatory wrongdoing, but the agent should also return to self-control—anger is to be pacified after justice is secured.
After killing Kīcaka, Bhīma’s wrath subsides; he consults Draupadī and returns to his role in the kitchen to maintain the Pāṇḍavas’ disguise. Draupadī, relieved and joyful, goes to the assembly-hall guards to speak, setting up the next development in the court’s response.