Shloka 14
Kīcaka-vadha-pratisaṃjñā: Rumor in Matsya and the Kaurava Scouts’ Report (कीचकवध-प्रतिसंज्ञा)
जनमेजय! उस समय द्रौपदीको देखकर गन्धर्वोके भयसे डरे हुए पुरुष दसों दिशाओंकी ओर भाग जाते थे और कोई-कोई उसे देखकर आँख मूँद लेते थे ।। ततो महानसद्वारि भीमसेनमवस्थितम् । ददर्श राजन पाञज्चाली यथा मत्तं महाद्विपम्
janamejaya! tadā draupadīṁ dṛṣṭvā gandharva-bhayāt trastāḥ puruṣā daśa diśaḥ prati palāyante sma, kecid enam (tāṁ) dṛṣṭvā netre nimīlayanti sma. tato mahānasa-dvāri bhīmasenam avasthitam dadarśa rājan pāñcālī yathā mattaṁ mahādvipam.
Janamejaya, at that time, on seeing Draupadī, men—terrified by fear of the Gandharvas—fled in all ten directions, and some, upon looking at her, even shut their eyes. Then Pāñcālī saw Bhīmasena standing at the doorway of the royal kitchen, like a great elephant in musth.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage contrasts panic with steadiness: fear (here, of the Gandharvas) makes people scatter and even avert their gaze, while true protective strength remains stationed and composed—Bhīma standing firm like a powerful elephant. Ethically, it highlights the value of courage and readiness to protect the vulnerable amid social hysteria.
As events unfold in the Virāṭa court during the Pāṇḍavas’ incognito exile, people react in alarm upon seeing Draupadī, fleeing in all directions. Immediately after, Draupadī (Pāñcālī) notices Bhīma positioned at the kitchen doorway, described with the vivid simile of a musth elephant—signaling his latent power and protective presence.