Shloka 24
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 21 — Kīcaka’s clandestine approach and Bhīma’s covert intervention (नर्तनागारे कीचकवध-प्रसङ्गः)
एवमुक्त: सुदुष्टात्मा कीचक: प्रत्युवाच ह । नाहं बिभेमि सैरन्ध्रि गन्धर्वाणां शुचिस्मिते,मेरे ऐसा कहनेपर महा दुष्टात्मा कीचकने उत्तर दिया--'पवित्र मुसकानवाली सैरन्ध्री! मैं गन्धर्वोंसे नहीं डरता
evam uktaḥ suduṣṭātmā kīcakaḥ pratyuvāca ha | nāhaṁ bibhemi sairandhri gandharvāṇāṁ śucismite ||
ഇങ്ങനെ പറഞ്ഞപ്പോൾ ആ പരമദുഷ്ടാത്മാവ് കീചകൻ മറുപടി പറഞ്ഞു—‘ഹേ ശുചിസ്മിതേ സൈരന്ധ്രി! എനിക്ക് ഗന്ധർവന്മാരെ ഭയമില്ല.’
भीमसेन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Boastful confidence rooted in wrongdoing is portrayed as moral blindness: Kīcaka’s refusal to fear consequences reflects adharma and foreshadows downfall, while the narrative upholds that power without restraint invites retribution.
After being spoken to, Kīcaka responds directly to Sairandhrī (Draupadī in disguise), declaring that he is not afraid of the Gandharvas—figures invoked as her protectors—thereby escalating his intimidation and setting up the coming confrontation.