Shloka 16
अध्याय १५ — कीचकस्य अत्याचारः, द्रौपद्याः सभाशरणगमनम्
Kīcaka’s coercion and Draupadī’s appeal in the assembly
राजपुत्री! आपके अधीन तो और भी बहुत-सी दासियाँ हैं; उन्हींमेंसे किसी दूसरीको भेज दीजिये। आपका कल्याण हो। मेरे जानेसे कीचक मेरा अपमान करेगा ।।
rājaputrī! tvad-adhīnāḥ khalu anyā api bahvyaḥ dāsyaḥ santi; tāsām madhyāt kām api anyāṃ preṣaya. śubhaṃ te. mama gamanena kīcakaḥ mām apamāniṣyati. sudēṣṇovāca: naiva tvāṃ jātu hiṃsyāt sa itaḥ samprēṣitāṃ mayā. ity uktvā pradadau pātraṃ sa-pidhānaṃ hiraṇmayam.
“王女啊，你麾下还有许多婢女；从她们中另遣一人去吧。愿你吉祥。若我前往，奇迦迦必辱我。” 苏德什那说道：“善女啊，既是我从此处差遣你，他便绝不敢加害于你。”说罢，苏德什那将一只带盖的金器放在德劳帕蒂手中。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage underscores the ethical duty to protect the vulnerable and the danger of assuming that social rank alone can prevent wrongdoing. Draupadī anticipates harm and seeks a safer alternative; Sudeṣṇā’s assurance reveals how authority can be overestimated when confronting entrenched power and desire.
Draupadī (serving incognito in Virāṭa’s palace) asks the queen Sudeṣṇā to send another maid instead, fearing Kīcaka’s misconduct if she goes. Sudeṣṇā insists Kīcaka will not harm her because the queen herself is sending her, and she hands Draupadī a lidded golden vessel to carry.