अध्याय १५ — कीचकस्य अत्याचारः, द्रौपद्याः सभाशरणगमनम्
Kīcaka’s coercion and Draupadī’s appeal in the assembly
इस प्रकार श्रीमहाभारत विराटपर्वके अन्तर्गत कीचकवधपर्वमें कीचक-द्रीपदी- संवादविषयक चौदहवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ
kīcakas tu sukeśānte mūḍho madanadarpitaḥ | so ’vamāṁsyati māṁ dṛṣṭvā na yāsye tatra śobhane ||
ਹੇ ਸੁਕੇਸ਼ੀ ਸੋਹਣੀਏ! ਮੂਰਖ ਕੀਚਕ ਕਾਮ-ਮਦ ਦੇ ਅਹੰਕਾਰ ਨਾਲ ਉन्मੱਤ ਹੈ। ਉਹ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਵੇਖਦੇ ਹੀ ਬੇਇਜ਼ਤੀ ਕਰੇਗਾ; ਇਸ ਲਈ ਮੈਂ ਉੱਥੇ ਨਹੀਂ ਜਾਵਾਂਗੀ।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Unchecked desire (madana) coupled with pride (darpa) produces immediate adharma—disrespect and harm toward others. A dharmic response may include prudent avoidance of foreseeable danger and refusal to enable misconduct.
In the Kīcaka–Draupadī episode, Kīcaka is portrayed as lust-intoxicated and likely to dishonor her upon seeing her. The speaker therefore resolves not to go to the place where that encounter would occur, anticipating insult and escalation.