Mahabharata — Virata Parva, Shloka 79
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 22 — Draupadī’s Abduction Attempt and Bhīma’s Suppression of the Kīcakas
अद्याहमनृणो भूत्वा भ्रातुर्भार्यापहारिणम् । शान्तिं लब्धास्मि परमां हत्वा सैरन्ध्रिकण्टकम्
adyāham anṛṇo bhūtvā bhrātur bhāryāpahāriṇam | śāntiṁ labdhāsmi paramāṁ hatvā sairandhrikaṇṭakam ||
ఈ రోజు నేను—సైరంధ్రీకి కంటకమై, నా అన్న భార్యను అపహరించబోయిన ఆ దుష్ట కీచకుణ్ని సంహరించి—నా కర్తవ్యఋణం తీర్చుకొని పరమ శాంతిని పొందుతాను।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames righteous action as the discharge of a moral debt: protecting a woman from predatory violence and upholding familial duty. Peace (śānti) is presented not as passivity but as the inner resolution that follows the removal of a grievous wrongdoer who threatens dharma.
In the Virāṭa court during the Pāṇḍavas’ incognito exile, Kīcaka harasses Sairandhrī (Draupadī). The speaker’s sentiment anticipates/justifies Kīcaka’s killing as repayment of duty toward the brother whose wife was targeted, and as the removal of the ‘thorn’ afflicting Sairandhrī.