Shloka 21
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 21 — Kīcaka’s clandestine approach and Bhīma’s covert intervention (नर्तनागारे कीचकवध-प्रसङ्गः)
तस्या विदित्वा तं भावं स्वयं चानृतदर्शन: । कीचको<यं सुदुष्टात्मा सदा प्रार्थयते हि माम्,जिसका देखना भी अनृत (पापमय) है, वही यह परम दुष्टात्मा कीचक रानी सुदेष्णाके उक्त मनोभाव-को जानकर सदा स्वयं आकर मेरे आगे प्रार्थना किया करता है इति श्रीमहाभारते विराटपर्वणि कीचकवधपर्वणि द्रौपदीसान्त्वने एकविंशो5 ध्याय:
tasyā viditvā taṃ bhāvaṃ svayaṃ cānṛtadarśanaḥ | kīcako 'yaṃ suduṣṭātmā sadā prārthayate hi mām ||
Ayant compris son intention, Kīcaka —dont la seule vue est souillure et péché—, cet homme d’une méchanceté extrême, connaissant l’état d’esprit de la reine Sudeshṇā, vient sans cesse de lui-même et ne cesse de me supplier.
भीमसेन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames persistent, coercive desire as adharma: a person of corrupt character becomes 'sinful to behold' through repeated unethical pursuit. It implicitly upholds the duty to recognize and resist exploitation, especially when someone abuses power or proximity to pressure another.
Bhīma speaks about Kīcaka’s conduct at Virāṭa’s court: after discerning the woman’s (Draupadī/Sairandhrī’s) situation and intent, Bhīma describes Kīcaka as thoroughly wicked and notes that he repeatedly comes and importunes her (and/or presses his suit), setting the stage for the ensuing confrontation.