Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 21 — Kīcaka’s clandestine approach and Bhīma’s covert intervention (नर्तनागारे कीचकवध-प्रसङ्गः)
आहरेदपि वित्तानि परेषां क्रोशतामपि । न तिष्ठति सम सन्मार्गें न च धर्म बुभूषति,लोग रोते-चिल्लाते रह जाते हैं; किंतु यह उनका सारा धन हड़प लेता है। यह सन्मार्गमें स्थिर नहीं रहता तथा धर्मोपार्जन भी नहीं करना चाहता है
āhared api vittāni pareṣāṁ krośatām api | na tiṣṭhati sa sanmārge na ca dharmaṁ bubhūṣati ||
Kahit sumigaw at umiyak sa pagtutol ang iba, kinakamkam pa rin niya ang kanilang yaman. Hindi siya nananatili sa matuwid na landas, ni wala siyang hangaring sundin ang dharma.
भीमसेन उवाच
The verse condemns unjust appropriation of others’ wealth and frames it as a sign of adharma: a person who ignores others’ suffering and refuses the sanmārga lacks the will to cultivate dharma.
Bhīma is speaking in a morally charged context, criticizing a wrongdoer’s conduct—someone who forcibly takes wealth despite public outcry—highlighting the ethical contrast between righteous restraint and predatory greed.