Mahabharata — Virata Parva, Shloka 33
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 22 — Draupadī’s Abduction Attempt and Bhīma’s Suppression of the Kīcakas
त॑ गद्दरे प्रकाशे वा पोथयिष्यामि कीचकम् | अथ चेदपि योत्स्यन्ति हिंसे मत्स्यानपि ध्रुवम्
taṁ gaddare prakāśe vā pothayiṣyāmi kīcakam | atha ced api yotsyanti hiṁse matsyān api dhruvam ||
Bhīma déclara qu’il écraserait Kīcaka où qu’il le trouvât — dans un lieu retiré ou au grand jour, devant tous. Et si les hommes de Matsya, prenant le parti de Kīcaka, choisissaient de combattre, il les abattrait eux aussi sans hésiter. Cette parole souligne la résolution farouche de Bhīma : protéger l’honneur de Draupadī et châtier l’adharma, fût-ce au risque d’élargir le conflit au sein du royaume de Virāṭa.
भीमसेन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Adharma—especially the violation of a woman’s dignity—demands decisive restraint of the offender; yet the verse also highlights the ethical tension that righteous protection can threaten to spill into broader violence if others defend wrongdoing.
During the Pandavas’ incognito stay in Matsya, Bhima vows to kill Kichaka for his misconduct and declares that even if Matsya’s men support Kichaka and fight, he will defeat them too—signaling both protection and the danger of escalation.