Shloka 19
अध्याय १५ — कीचकस्य अत्याचारः, द्रौपद्याः सभाशरणगमनम्
Kīcaka’s coercion and Draupadī’s appeal in the assembly
वैशम्पायन उवाच उपातिष्ठत सा सूर्य मुहूर्तमबला ततः । स तस्यास्तनुमध्याया: सर्व सूर्योडवबुद्धवान्
vaiśampāyana uvāca upātiṣṭhata sā sūryaṃ muhūrtam abalā tataḥ | sa tasyās tanumadhyāyāḥ sarvaṃ sūryo ’vabuddhavān |
Vaiśampāyana disse: Então a indefesa Draupadī venerou o Sol por algum tempo. Depois, o deus Sūrya compreendeu plenamente toda a situação da princesa de Drupada, de cintura esbelta, e, para protegê-la, designou como guardião um rākṣasa invisível—que jamais deixaria a casta e virtuosa Draupadī, a irrepreensível, sem amparo em qualquer circunstância.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Steadfast devotion and moral integrity (satī-sādhvī) are portrayed as drawing protective grace: when one acts within dharma and seeks refuge with sincerity, divine support may arise—sometimes through unexpected agents—so that the vulnerable are not abandoned.
During the Pāṇḍavas’ incognito period, Draupadī, feeling powerless, worships the Sun. The Sun-god understands her predicament and assigns an unseen rākṣasa to guard her continuously so she will not be left defenseless.