Shloka 5
Adhyāya 14: Sudēṣṇā Sends Sairandhrī to Kīcaka’s House (सुदेष्णा–सैरन्ध्री–कीचक संवादः)
तां दृष्टवा देवगर्भाभां चरन्तीं देवतामिव । कीचक: कामयामास कामबाणप्रपीडित:,राजमहलमें देवांगनाकी भाँति विचरती हुई देवकन्याके समान कान्तिवाली द्रौपदीको देखकर कीचक कामबाणसे अत्यन्त पीड़ित हो उसे चाहने लगा
tāṃ dṛṣṭvā devagarbhābhāṃ carantīṃ devatām iva | kīcakaḥ kāmayāmāsa kāmabāṇaprapīḍitaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Melihat Draupadī—bersinar seolah-olah memikul kemuliaan ilahi—berjalan di istana seperti dewi, Kīcaka, yang diseksa panah nafsu, pun menyala oleh syahwat dan mulai mendambakannya.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Unchecked kāma (desire) is portrayed as a force that wounds the mind and leads to unethical conduct. The verse signals that attraction, when joined with loss of self-restraint and power, becomes a seed of adharma—especially dangerous within a royal court where protection and justice are expected.
During the Pāṇḍavas’ incognito stay in the Matsya kingdom, Draupadī is seen moving about the palace with striking beauty. Kīcaka, overwhelmed by lust (described metaphorically as being pierced by Kāma’s arrows), begins to desire her, initiating the conflict that follows.