Shloka 226

धर्मरहस्योपदेशः

Dharma-rahasya Instruction: Vows, Truth, and Non-injury

Devanagari script

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

Transliteration

gūḍhabhāvaṃ samāśritya kīcakaḥ sagaṇo hataḥ |

Translation

संजय बोले—गूढ़ भाव धारण करके उसने कीचक को उसके साथियों सहित मार डाला। विराटनगर में अज्ञातवास के समय द्रौपदी की रक्षा के लिए वह छिपकर गया और केवल बाहुबल से कीचक को उसके अनुचरों समेत संहार दिया।

Word by Word

• गूढभावम्: hidden intention/secret motive
• गूढभावम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गूढभाव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• समाश्रित्य: having resorted to / taking refuge in
• समाश्रित्य: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-श्रि
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• कीचकः: Kīcaka
• कीचकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीचक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सगणः: together with his followers/retinue
• सगणः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सगण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हतः: killed/slain
• हतः: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Kīcaka

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

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).

What is happening in the narrative?

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.