04.021
Bhīmasena said.
So, O gentle lady, I will act just as you, O timid one, say. Today, I will kill Kīcaka with his relatives. (04-21-1)
O daughter of Yajñasena, O pure-smiled maiden, cast off your sorrow and grief, and unite with him this very evening of the night. (04-21-2)
This dance-hall was indeed constructed by King Matsya. By day, girls dance here; at night, they go to their respective homes. (04-21-3)
There is, O timid one, a firm and well-established couch. There I will show you his ancestors and grandfathers who have passed away. (04-21-4)
Just as they might not see you acting knowingly, O blessed one, so you should act so that even when present, they are unaware. (04-21-5)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Thus, after speaking, those two, having shed tears and being afflicted, endured that very intense remainder of the night with their hearts. (04-21-6)
When that night had passed and after rising in the morning, Kīcaka went to the royal palace and said this to Draupadī. (04-21-7)
While the king was watching in the assembly, having been made to throw down your sandals, being overcome by the stronger, you did not even take up any protection. (04-21-8)
It is by report that the one called the king of the Matsyas by name is spoken of; but I alone am truly the king of the Matsyas and the commander of the army. (04-21-9)
Accept happiness; I, though timid, become your servant. O beautiful-hipped one, I give you a hundred gold coins each day. (04-21-10)
I would give you a hundred maidservants, and another hundred male servants as well. Let us have a chariot yoked with mules, O timid one, let there be union between us. (04-21-11)
Draupadī said.
Kīcaka, accept one agreement of mine today: let not either friend or brother know of your association with me. (04-21-12)
Truly, I am afraid of the renowned Gandharvas because of my understanding. Therefore, promise me this; then I shall be under your control. (04-21-13)
Kīcaka said.
I shall do exactly as you say, O beautiful-hipped one. Alone, O auspicious one, I shall go to your empty dwelling. (04-21-14)
O Rambhoru, for the purpose of union, you, being deluded by desire, must act so that the radiant gandharvas will not recognize you. (04-21-15)
Draupadī said.
This dancing hall was caused to be built by the King of the Matsyas. During the day, maidens dance here; at night, they go to their respective homes. (04-21-16)
You should go there in darkness; the Gandharvas will not know that. There the fault will be removed—there is no doubt. (04-21-17)
Vaiśampāyana said.
O king, because of Kṛṣṇā’s incessant complaints to Kīcaka on that matter, half a day became as long as a whole month.
Kīcaka, then, having gone to his house, being greatly filled with joy, did not realize that death, assuming the form of Sairandhrī, was before him. (04-21-19)
He became especially attached to perfumes, ornaments, and garlands. Deluded by desire, he quickly adorned himself. (04-21-20)
For him, doing that action, time seemed to become very long; and also, as he kept thinking only of her with large eyes. (04-21-21)
His splendor exceeded (before), and now as he was wishing to renounce it, at the time of his extinction, it was like the wick of a lamp desiring to burn just before going out. (04-21-22)
There, Kīcaka, convinced and deluded by passion, did not notice the day passing as he kept thinking about the union. (04-21-23)
Then Draupadī went to Bhīma in the kitchen and the auspicious woman stood near her Kaurava husband. (04-21-24)
Sukeśāntā said to him: "I have arranged the meeting with Kīcaka in the dance hall as you instructed, O scorcher of foes." (04-21-25)
Kīcaka will come alone to the empty dance hall at night. O mighty-armed one, kill him, Kīcaka. (04-21-26)
O son of Kunti, go to the dance hall and make Kīcaka, the charioteer's son who is intoxicated with pride, lifeless, O Pāṇḍava. (04-21-27)
From pride, this son of the charioteer looks down on the Gandharvas; you, best among fighters, should uproot him like an elephant uproots a reed. (04-21-28)
O Bhārata, wipe away my sorrowful tears. For your own good, honor yourself and your family as well. (04-21-29)
Bhimasena said;
Welcome to you, O beautiful-hipped one; whatever dear thing you make known to me is welcome. In truth, O fair-complexioned lady, I do not desire any help in this matter. (04-21-30)
The affection of mine, which you described in the presence of Kīcaka, O fair-complexioned lady, was the same as that I felt after killing Hiḍimba. (04-21-31)
Having upheld truth, my brothers, and righteousness, I say to you: I will slay Kīcaka as Indra slew Vṛtra. (04-21-32)
Whether in secret or in the open, I will strike down Kīcaka. But if they find out, I will surely slay even the Matsyas. (04-21-33)
Then, after killing Duryodhana, I will gain the earth. Let Yudhiṣṭhira, son of Kunti, serve in the Matsya kingdom if he so desires. (04-21-34)
Draupadī said;
Just as you would not give up the truth for my sake, O lord, so too, staying hidden, O hero, strike down Kīcaka. (04-21-35)
Bhimasena said.
I will do this just as you, O fearful one, have said. Today, O blameless one, I will remain unseen by him in the darkness. (04-21-36)
Like a serpent trampling a bael wood, I will crush the head of that evil-minded Kīcaka who covets the unattainable. (04-21-37)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Then Bhīma went first and, hiding himself at night, sat down. Like a lion unseen, the beast waited in expectation for Kīcaka. (04-21-38)
Kīcaka, having adorned himself as he wished, also went at that time to the dancing-hall, intending to meet Pāñcālī (Draupadī). (04-21-39)
Thinking thus, he entered the secret house, and having entered that great mansion covered in darkness. (04-21-40)
Afterwards there, the very evil-minded one approached Bhīma, of incomparable energy, who had already arrived, and was stationed alone. (04-21-41)
There, lying on the bed, the charioteer touched Death, burning with anger that arose from Krishna's insult. (04-21-42)
Kīcaka, deluded by desire and his mind agitated with joy, approached her, and smiling, he spoke to her. (04-21-43)
All the wealth of many and boundless forms that I obtained for you, having you in mind, I have suddenly brought here. (04-21-44)
It is not without reason that the women of the household always praise me. There is no other man like you, well-dressed and handsome. (04-21-45)
Bhimasena said.
It is by good fortune that you are admirable, and by good fortune that you praise yourself. But such a touch as this has never happened previously at any time. (04-21-46)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Having said this, Bhīma the mighty-armed, terrifying in strength, sprung up; Kuntī's son laughed at the vile man, and Bhīma seized him by his fragrant, garlanded hair. (04-21-47)
He, having seized the Pāṇḍava by the hair with force—the best among the strong men—dragged him swiftly by the hair, seizing him by the arms. (04-21-48)
There was a hand-to-hand fight between the two enraged lion-like men, just like the mighty elephants (fight) for a mate in the spring. (04-21-49)
Standing unsteadily with slightly loosened steps out of anger, the strong Kīcaka threw Bhīma to the ground with his knees. (04-21-50)
Though cast to the ground by the stronger Kichaka, Bhima then sprang up forcefully, like a serpent struck by a staff. (04-21-51)
Driven by rivalry and intoxicated with strength, both the son of the charioteer and the son of Pāṇḍu wrestled with each other at midnight, those strong men, alone in the night, in a solitary place. (04-21-52)
Then that excellent mansion shook again and again as those two, both enraged, roared fiercely at each other. (04-21-53)
But Kīcaka, strong as he was, though struck on the chest by Bhīma with the blows of his palms, burning with anger, did not move a single step from where he stood. (04-21-54)
But the charioteer, overpowered by Bhīma's strength, withstood that unbearable force on the ground for a moment, and then was forcibly overcome. (04-21-55)
Perceiving him to be weakening, the mighty Bhīmasena dragged him swiftly onto his chest and crushed him while he was unconscious. (04-21-56)
Possessed by anger, Vṛkodara—the foremost of the victorious—exhaled deeply once more and then seized him forcefully by the hair. (04-21-57)
Bhīma, possessing great strength, seized Kīcaka and roared loudly, like a tiger longing for flesh after capturing a mighty animal. (04-21-58)
Śiva, the wielder of Pināka, caused all his feet, hands, head, and neck to enter completely into (his) body, just as (is done) to an animal. (04-21-59)
Bhīmasena of great strength, having made him with all his limbs crushed like a lump of flesh, showed him to Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī). (04-21-60)
The illustrious son of Pāṇḍu said to Draupadī: "Look at this, O daughter of the Pāñcāla, come here and see how this passionate one has been dealt with." (04-21-61)
Thus, having slain Kīcaka and after his anger subsided, he addressed Draupadī (Kṛṣṇā) and quickly went to the kitchen. (04-21-62)
But Draupadī, foremost among women, gladdened and free from distress after causing Kīcaka to be killed, indeed spoke to the guards of the assembly. (04-21-63)
This Kīcaka, infatuated with desire for another's wife, approached (me) and was slain by my husbands, the Gandharvas. Behold! (04-21-64)
Having heard her words, the guards of the dance-hall quickly gathered together, each carrying torches by the thousands. (04-21-65)
Then, after they went to that house, they saw Kīcaka, struck down lifeless, lying on the ground, all smeared with blood. (04-21-66)
"Where is his neck, where are his feet, where are his hands, where is his head likewise?" Thus they examined him then, the one slain by the gandharva. (04-21-67)
