Shloka 21
अध्याय १५ — कीचकस्य अत्याचारः, द्रौपद्याः सभाशरणगमनम्
Kīcaka’s coercion and Draupadī’s appeal in the assembly
तां मृगीमिव संत्रस्तां दृष्टवा कृष्णां समीपगाम् | उदतिष्ठन्मुदा सूतो नावं लब्ध्वेव पारग:
tāṁ mṛgīm iva saṁtrastāṁ dṛṣṭvā kṛṣṇāṁ samīpagām | udatiṣṭhan mudā sūto nāvaṁ labdhveva pāragaḥ ||
毗湿摩波耶那说道：见黑姬（德劳帕蒂）如受惊的雌鹿般惶惧地走近，车夫出身的基恰迦欣然起身——仿佛急欲渡河的旅人得见舟船而欢喜。
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.