Shloka 14
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 22 — Draupadī’s Abduction Attempt and Bhīma’s Suppression of the Kīcakas
कीचक उवाच एवमेतत् करिष्यामि यथा सुश्रोणि भाषसे । एको भद्रे गमिष्यामि शून्यमावसथं तव,कीचक बोला--ठीक है। सुश्रोणि! तुम जैसा कहती हो, वैसा ही करूँगा। भद्रे! तुम्हारे सूने घरमें मैं अकेला ही जाऊँगा
kīcaka uvāca evam etat kariṣyāmi yathā suśroṇi bhāṣase | eko bhadre gamiṣyāmi śūnyam āvasathaṁ tava ||
Kīcaka berkata: “Baiklah. Wahai Suśroṇī, aku akan melakukan tepat seperti yang kau katakan. Wahai wanita yang lemah lembut, aku akan pergi seorang diri ke kediamanmu ketika ia kosong.”
कीचक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how desire and power can distort judgment: Kīcaka interprets the woman’s words as consent and agrees to meet her in secrecy. In the broader ethical frame of the episode, it underscores the danger of coercive intent and the adharma of pursuing a vulnerable woman through intimidation and clandestine arrangements.
Kīcaka responds to Suśroṇī (Draupadī in disguise as Sairandhrī), agreeing to follow her instruction and to come alone to her dwelling when it is empty—setting up the planned encounter that will lead to his downfall.