Shloka 1
अध्याय १५ — कीचकस्य अत्याचारः, द्रौपद्याः सभाशरणगमनम्
Kīcaka’s coercion and Draupadī’s appeal in the assembly
(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठके १२ श्लोक मिलाकर कुल ६४ श्लोक हैं।) हि >> मो न (0) है पज्चदशो< ध्याय: रानी सुदेष्णाका द्रौपदीको कीचकके घर भेजना वैशम्पायन उवाच प्रत्याख्यातो राजपुत्र्या सुदेष्णां कीचको<ब्रवीत् । अमयदिन कामेन घोरेणाभिपरिप्लुत:,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! राजकुमारी द्रौपदीके द्वारा इस प्रकार ठुकरा दिये जानेपर कीचक असीम एवं भयंकर कामसे विवश होकर अपनी बहिन सुदेष्णासे बोला--
vaiśampāyana uvāca | pratyākhyāto rājaputryā sudeṣṇāṃ kīcako 'bravīt | amayadīn kāmena ghoreṇābhipariplutaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: When he had been rejected by the princess (Draupadī), Kīcaka—overwhelmed and driven by fierce desire—spoke to his sister Sudeṣṇā. The episode frames uncontrolled lust as a moral failing that leads to coercion and abuse of power, setting the stage for the ensuing conflict and retribution.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical danger of kāma (lust) when it overwhelms judgment: unchecked desire can drive a person toward coercion and adharma, especially when combined with social or political power.
After Draupadī rejects Kīcaka’s advances, he becomes consumed by desire and turns to his sister, Queen Sudeṣṇā, to influence or pressure Draupadī—initiating the chain of events that leads to Kīcaka’s downfall.