Shloka 29
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 22 — Draupadī’s Abduction Attempt and Bhīma’s Suppression of the Kīcakas
अश्रु दुःखाभिभूताया मम मार्जस्व भारत । आत्मनश्वैव भद्रं ते कुरुमानं कुलस्य च,“भारत! तुम्हारा कल्याण हो। तुम कीचकको मारकर मुझ दुःखपीड़ित अबलाके आँसू पोंछो तथा अपना और अपने कुलका सम्मान बढ़ाओ'
aśru duḥkhābhibhūtāyā mama mārjasva bhārata | ātmanaś caiva bhadraṃ te kurumānaṃ kulasya ca ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai Bhārata, semoga kebaikan menimpa dirimu. Dengan membunuh Kīcaka, sapulah air mataku kerana aku ditenggelami dukacita; dan dengan itu, tegakkanlah maruahmu sendiri serta kemuliaan keturunanmu.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames the killing of a wrongdoer as a dharmic act when it protects the afflicted and restores honor: a kṣatriya’s strength is to be used to end oppression, relieve suffering, and uphold the dignity of self and lineage.
In the Virāṭa court episode surrounding Kīcaka’s misconduct, the speaker urges the addressed Bhārata (a Kuru hero in disguise) to kill Kīcaka, thereby wiping away the tears of the sorrow-stricken woman and restoring the honor of the hero and his family line.