Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 22 — Draupadī’s Abduction Attempt and Bhīma’s Suppression of the Kīcakas
सभायां पश्यतो राज्ञ: पातयित्वा पदाहनम् । न चैवालभसे त्राणमभिपन्ना बलीयसा,'सैरन्ध्री! मैंने राजसभामें तुम्हारे महाराजके देखते-देखते तुम्हें पृथ्वीपर गिराकर लातोंसे मारा था। तुम मुझ-जैसे महाबलवान् पुरुषके पाले पड़ी हो; तुम्हें कोई बचा नहीं सकता
sabhāyāṃ paśyato rājñaḥ pātayitvā padāhanam | na caivālabhase trāṇam abhipannā balīyasā ||
‘سَیرَندھری! شاہی سبھا میں، بادشاہ کے دیکھتے دیکھتے، میں نے تجھے گرا کر اپنے پاؤں سے مارا تھا۔ اب تو مجھ جیسے زورآور کے قبضے میں آ چکی ہے؛ تجھے کوئی پناہ نہ ملے گی۔’
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights adharma: when power is used to humiliate and harm the vulnerable—especially in a public court where protection should be assured—it becomes a moral failure of both the aggressor and the silent witnesses. It implicitly condemns cowardice and complicity in injustice.
A powerful man boasts that he publicly assaulted Sairandhrī (Draupadī in disguise) in the king’s court and threatens that, since she is now under the control of someone stronger, she will not be rescued—intensifying the crisis that will lead to retaliation and the restoration of dharma.