Shloka 13

Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 21 — Kīcaka’s clandestine approach and Bhīma’s covert intervention (नर्तनागारे कीचकवध-प्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

रक्षसा निग्रहं प्राप्प रामस्य महिषी प्रिया । क्लिश्यमानापि सुश्रोणि राममेवान्वपद्यत,सुश्रोणि! जानकी श्रीरामकी प्यारी रानी थीं। वे राक्षसकी कैदमें पड़कर दीर्घकालतक क्लेश उठाती रहीं, तो भी उन्होंने श्रीरामको ही अपनाये रखा; अपना धर्म नहीं छोड़ा

Transliteration

rakṣasā nigrahaṁ prāptaṁ rāmasya mahiṣī priyā | kliśyamānāpi suśroṇi rāmam evānvapadyata |

Translation

భీముడు పలికెను— సుశ్రోణీ! జానకి శ్రీరాముని ప్రియ రాణి. ఆమె రాక్షసుని బంధనంలో పడి దీర్ఘకాలం కష్టపడినా, శ్రీరామునినే ఏకైక ఆశ్రయంగా పట్టుకుంది; తన ధర్మాన్ని, నిష్ఠను ఎప్పుడూ విడువలేదు.

Word by Word

रक्षसाby/through the demon

निग्रहम्restraint, captivity, seizure

प्राप्पattained, came to (fell into)

रामस्यof Rama

महिषीchief queen, consort

प्रियाbeloved, dear

क्लिश्यमानाbeing afflicted, suffering

अपिeven, although

सुश्रोणिO fair-hipped lady (epithet)

रामम्Rama (as object)

एवindeed, only

अन्वपद्यतfollowed, resorted to, remained devoted to

सुश्रोणिO fair-hipped one!

Speaker

भीमसेन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīmasena

Rāma

Jānakī (Sītā)

Rākṣasa (as captor)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse upholds steadfast dharma and fidelity: even under coercion and prolonged suffering, one should remain true to one’s rightful refuge and moral commitment, exemplified by Sītā’s unwavering devotion to Rāma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīmasena cites the well-known Rāmāyaṇa episode of Sītā’s captivity under a rākṣasa to illustrate a moral example—despite hardship and confinement, she remained devoted to Rāma alone—using it as persuasive instruction within the Mahābhārata context.