Shloka 21
तां मृगीमिव संत्रस्तां दृष्टवा कृष्णां समीपगाम् | उदतिष्ठन्मुदा सूतो नावं लब्ध्वेव पारग:,डरी हुई हरिणीकी भाँति भयभीत द्रौपदीको समीप आयी देख सूत कीचक आनन्दमें भरकर खड़ा हो गया; मानो नदीके पार जानेवाला पथिक नौका पाकर प्रसन्न हो गया हो
tāṁ mṛgīm iva saṁtrastāṁ dṛṣṭvā kṛṣṇāṁ samīpagām | udatiṣṭhan mudā sūto nāvaṁ labdhveva pāragaḥ ||
Sabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Nang makita ni Kīcaka na sūta na papalapit si Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī), takót na parang usang inahing usa, siya’y tumindig sa galak—gaya ng manlalakbay na ibig tumawid ng ilog at nagagalak kapag nakatagpo ng bangka.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical inversion: Kīcaka feels joy at seeing a frightened woman approach, revealing predatory intent. By contrasting her fear with his delight, the narrative implicitly condemns exploitation of vulnerability and points toward dharma as protection of the distressed rather than gratification of desire.
Draupadī (Kṛṣṇā), terrified like a doe, comes near. Kīcaka, described as a sūta, rises up happily on seeing her—compared to a traveler who finds a boat to cross a river—signaling his eagerness to pursue her and foreshadowing the ensuing confrontation.