Shloka 15
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 22 — Draupadī’s Abduction Attempt and Bhīma’s Suppression of the Kīcakas
समागमार्थ रम्भोरु त्वया मदनमोहित: । यथा त्वां नैव पश्येयुर्गन्धर्वा: सूर्यवर्चस:,रम्भोरु! मैं कामसे मोहित होकर तुम्हारे साथ समागमके लिये इस प्रकार आऊँगा, जिससे सूर्यके समान तेजस्वी गन्धर्व तुम्हें उस समय मेरे साथ न देख सकें
samāgamārthaṃ rambhoru tvayā madanamohitaḥ | yathā tvāṃ naiva paśyeyur gandharvāḥ sūryavarcasaḥ ||
Wahai yang berpinggul elok, terbius dan tersesat oleh hasrat kepadamu, aku akan datang untuk bersatu denganmu sedemikian rupa sehingga para Gandharva yang bercahaya laksana matahari tidak akan melihatmu bersamaku saat itu.
कीचक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical collapse that occurs when desire (kāma) overrides restraint: Kīcaka plans secrecy not to correct wrongdoing but to evade accountability. In Mahābhārata’s moral frame, concealment used to facilitate exploitation is a mark of adharma and foreshadows inevitable consequences.
Kīcaka, inflamed with desire for the woman serving as Sairandhrī (Draupadī in disguise), proposes a clandestine meeting for sexual union. He refers to her ‘Gandharvas’—the supposed radiant protectors she claims as husbands/guardians—and schemes to ensure they do not witness him with her.