Shloka 226
धर्मरहस्योपदेशः
Dharma-rahasya Instruction: Vows, Truth, and Non-injury
गूढभावं समाश्रित्य कीचक: सगणो हत: । “विराटनगरमें अज्ञातवास करते समय इन्होंने द्रौषपदीका प्रिय करनेकी इच्छासे छिपे- छिपे जाकर केवल बाहुबलसे कीचकको उसके साथियोंसहित मार डाला था
gūḍhabhāvaṃ samāśritya kīcakaḥ sagaṇo hataḥ |
Sañjaya dit : Sous un nom dissimulé et avec une intention cachée, il tua Kīcaka avec toute sa bande. Cela rappelle l’époque où, dans la cité de Virāṭa, les Pāṇḍava vivaient en exil incognito : lorsque Kīcaka voulut outrager Draupadī, Bhīma s’y rendit en secret et, par la seule force de ses bras, abattit Kīcaka et ses compagnons, sauvant son honneur et demeurant fidèle au dharma.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that strength and strategy may be used ethically to protect the vulnerable and uphold dharma: wrongdoing driven by lust and abuse of power (Kīcaka) warrants decisive restraint and punishment, even if carried out discreetly to preserve a larger righteous purpose (the Pāṇḍavas’ incognito vow).
Sanjaya reminds Dhṛtarāṣṭra of an earlier event: during the Pāṇḍavas’ year of incognito exile in Virāṭa’s city, Kīcaka pursued Draupadī with immoral intent; Bhīma, acting secretly, killed Kīcaka along with his associates.