कीचकोऽथ गृहं गत्वा भृशं हर्षपरिप्लुतः। सैरन्ध्रीरूपिणीं मूढो मृत्युं तां नावबुद्धवान् ।। 29
Then Kichaka, filled with great joy, went home; deluded, he did not realize that the woman in the form of Sairandhri was his death.
गन्धाभरणमाल्येषु व्यासक्तः स विशेषतः। अलंचक्रे तदाऽऽत्मानं सत्वरः काममोहितः ।। 30
Absorbed especially in perfumes, ornaments, and garlands, he quickly adorned himself, driven by desire and infatuation.
तस्य तत्कुर्वतः कर्म कालो दीर्घ इवाभवत्। अनुचिन्तयतश्चापि तामेवायतलोचनाम् ।। 31
For him, as he performed these acts and thought only of her with wide eyes, time seemed to drag on endlessly.
आसीदभ्यधिका चापि श्रीः श्रियं प्रमुमुक्षतः । निर्वाणकाले दीपस्य वर्तीमिव दिधक्षतः ।। 32
His splendor increased even as he sought to display it, like the flame of a lamp burning brightest just before it is extinguished.
कृतसंप्रत्ययस्तस्याः कीचकः काममोहितः। नाजानात्पतनं स्वस्य चिन्तयंस्तां शुभाननाम् ।। 33
Having gained her consent, Kichaka, overcome by desire, did not perceive his own downfall as he thought of her with beautiful face.
ततस्तु द्रौपदी गत्वा भीमसेनं महानसे। उपातिष्ठत कल्याणी कौरव्यं पतिमन्तिकात् ।। 34
Then Draupadi went to Bhimasena in the kitchen, and the noble lady approached her Kaurava husband.
तमुवाच सुकेशान्ता कीचकस्य कृतो मया। सङ्गमो नर्तनागारे यथाऽवोचः परन्तप ।। 35
She, with lovely hair, said to him: 'I have arranged a meeting with Kichaka in the dancing hall, just as you instructed, scorcher of foes.'
कालेन नियतं बद्धः कामेन च बलात्कृतः। शून्यं स नर्तनागारमागमिष्यति कीचकः। एको निशि महाबाहो कीचकं तं निषूदय ।। 36
Bound by fate and overpowered by desire, Kichaka will come alone at night to the empty dancing hall, mighty-armed one; there, strike down Kichaka.
तं मूतपुत्रं कौन्तेय कीचकं मददर्पितम्। गत्वा त्वं नर्तनागारं निर्जीवं कुरु पाण्डव ।। 37
Go to the dancing hall, son of Kunti, and render lifeless that Kichaka, the son of a Suta, proud with intoxication.
गर्वितः मूतपुत्रोऽसौ गन्धर्वानवमन्यते। स त्वं प्रहरतांश्रेष्ठ नालं नाग इवोद्धर ।। 38
That arrogant son of a Suta, scorning the Gandharvas, is puffed up with pride; you, best of warriors, must bring him down like an elephant.
अस्रं दुःखाभिभूताया मम मार्जस्व भारत। बाहुवीर्यानुरूपं च दर्शयाद्य पराक्रमम्। आत्मनश्चैव भद्रं ते कुरु मानं कुलस्य च ।। 39
Wipe away my tears, O Bharata, for I am overcome with sorrow; today, show your valor in a manner worthy of your strength, and uphold the honor of yourself and your lineage—may good be yours.
स्वागतं ते वरारोहे यन्मां वेदयसे प्रियम्। नह्यस्य कंचिदिच्छामि सहायं वरवर्णिनि ।। 40
Welcome, O lovely-hipped one, that you inform me of this dear matter; for I desire no other helper in this, fair-complexioned lady.
सा मे प्रीतिस्त्वयाऽऽख्याता कीचकस्य समागमे। हत्वा हिडिम्बं या प्रीतिर्ममासीत्सा शुचिस्मिते ।। 41
O fair-smiling one, the joy you have described to me at the meeting with Kichaka is the same joy I felt when I slew Hidimba.
सत्यं भ्रातॄंश्च पुत्रांश्च पुरस्कृत्य शपामि ते। कीचकं निहनिष्यामि वृत्रं देवपतिर्यथा ।। 42
By truth, by my brothers, and by my sons, I swear to you: I will slay Kichaka as Indra slew Vritra.
प्रसह्य निहनिष्यामि केशवः केशिनं यथा। रहस्यं वा प्रकाशं वा सूदयिष्यामि कीचकम् ।। 43
I will kill Kichaka by force, as Keshava killed Keshi; whether in secret or in the open, I will destroy Kichaka.
अहं भद्रे हनिष्यामि कीचकं मदनान्वितम्। यस्त्वां कामाभिभूतात्मा दुर्लभामभिमन्यते ।। 44
O gentle lady, I will kill Kichaka, inflamed with desire, who, overcome by passion, seeks you though you are unattainable.
अथ चेदवबुध्यन्ति सूतपुत्रं मया हतम्। निर्मनुष्यं करिष्यामि मत्स्यानामिदमालयम् ।। 45
If they realize that the son of the charioteer has been slain by me, I will make this dwelling of the Matsyas devoid of men.
मया हतांश्चेन्मात्स्यांस्तु धार्तराष्ट्रो विबुध्यति। दुर्योधनं ततो हत्वा सानुबन्धं सबान्धवम्। कुरुणामखिलं राज्यं प्रतिपत्स्यामि भामिनि ।। 46
If the Matsyas, whom I have slain, are discovered by Dhritarashtra’s son, then, after killing Duryodhana with his allies and kin, I will seize the entire kingdom of the Kurus, O fair one.
नाहं शक्तोऽनुनयितुं कुन्तीपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम्। कामं सत्यमुपासीत कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः । काममन्ये ह्युपासन्तु विनीता धर्मचारिणः ।। 47
I am not able to persuade Yudhishthira, son of Kunti; let Kunti’s son Yudhishthira follow truth as he wishes, and let others, humble and righteous, follow as they will.
त्वां तु दुःखमिदं प्राप्तां नाहं शक्नोम्युपेक्षितुम्। निर्वृता भव पाञ्चालि कीचकस्य वधात्पुनः ।। 48
But I cannot ignore your suffering, O Panchali; be comforted again by the death of Kichaka.
कीचकस्य वधं भीम यदि जानन्ति नागराः। त्वया कृतं महाबाहो नाहं जीवितुमुत्सहे ।। 49
If the townspeople learn, mighty-armed one, that you have killed Kichaka, I will not be able to go on living.
कथं सत्याच्च नापेयाद्राजाऽयं मत्कृते प्रभो। निशि गूढं तथा भीम कीचकं तं निपातय ।। 50
How could this king, for my sake, abandon truth? Therefore, Bhima, secretly kill Kichaka at night.
अनुबुद्धे हि कौन्तेयो धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः। पुनर्वनं व्रजेद्धीमाननुजैः परिवारितः ।। 51
If the wise son of Kunti, king Yudhishthira, learns of it, he will return to the forest again, surrounded by his followers.
कश्च धर्मपरं ज्येष्ठमतिवर्तेत भारत। भीम भीताऽस्मि संबोधात्साधु मा चापलं कृथाः ।। 52
Who among the Bharatas would overstep the eldest devoted to dharma? Bhima, I am afraid of discovery—do not act rashly.
यथा न कश्चिञ्जानीते सूतपुत्रं त्वया हतम्। तथा कुरुष्व कौरव्य बलवन्नरिमर्दन । अदृश्यमानस्त्वंतस्य भिन्धि प्राणानरिन्दम ।। 53
See to it, O Kaurava, crusher of foes, that no one knows you have slain the son of the charioteer; unseen, destroy his life, O subduer of enemies.
तथा भद्रे करिष्यामि यथा त्वं भीरु भाषसे। अदृश्यमानस्तस्याहं तमिस्रायां सकुण्डलम् ।। 1
So, gentle one, I will do just as you say, O timid lady; unseen by him, in the darkness, I will strike him down, earrings and all.
नागो बिल्वमिवाक्रम्य पोथयिष्यामि तच्छिरः। अलभ्यामिच्छतस्तस्य कीचकस्य दुरात्मनः ।। 2
Like a serpent crushing a bilva fruit, I will smash his head, which that wicked Kichaka desires but cannot attain.
मया यदुक्तं पाञ्चालि धर्मराजसुतं प्रति। कोपादृते किमन्यत्तु नानुवर्तेत को नृपम् ।। 3
Whatever I have said to you, O Panchali, regarding the son of Dharma, except for anger, who would not obey the king?
एवमुक्तवा महाबाहुस्तत्र पाण्डवनन्दनः। अर्धरात्रे तदोत्थाय सत्ववान्भीमविक्रमः ।। 4
Having spoken thus, the mighty-armed son of Pandu, Bhima of great courage, rose at midnight.
अवदातेन मृदुना पटेनाच्छादितस्तथा । द्रौपदीं पृष्ठतः कृत्वा यत्रासीन्नर्तनालयः ।। 5
Covered with a clean, soft cloth, he followed Draupadi to the hall where the dancers were.