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.
स भीमः प्रथमं गत्वा तमिस्रायामुपाविशत् । मृगं सिंह इवादृश्यः प्रत्याकाङ्क्षत्स कीचकम् ।। 6
Bhima went ahead first and sat down in the darkness, unseen like a lion waiting for its prey, anticipating Kichaka.
कीचकस्तु शिरःस्नातो निशायां समलंकृतः। सङ्केतमगमत्तूर्णं शून्यागारमपावृतम् ।। 7
Kichaka, having washed his head and adorned himself at night, quickly arrived at the appointed place, an empty, open chamber.
तदेव नर्तनागारं पाञ्चाली यदभाषत। तां मन्यमानः संकेते सैरन्ध्रीं काममोहितः ।। 8
That very dancing hall, which Draupadi had mentioned, he entered, thinking the rendezvous was with Sairandhri, his mind overcome with desire.
प्रविश्य नर्तनागारं ततस्तं पुरुषर्षभम्। पूर्वागतं भीमसेनं दृप्तमप्रतिमजसम् ।। 9
Entering the dancing hall, he saw that foremost of men, Bhimasena, who had arrived before him, proud and unmatched in strength.
शयानं शयने तत्र मृत्युं मूढः परामृशत्। जाज्वल्यमानं कोपेन कृष्णाधर्षणजेन च ।। 10
There, lying on a bed, he ignorantly touched death itself, blazing with anger from the outrage against Krishna.
एकान्ते भीममासाद्य कीचकः कालचोदितः। हर्षोन्मथितचित्तात्मा स्मयमानोऽभ्यभाषत ।। 11
Kichaka, prompted by fate, approached Bhima in private, his mind elated with joy, and spoke with a smile.
प्रहितं ते मया भद्रे बहुवित्तं शुचिस्मिते। त्वयि तिष्ठतु तत्सर्वं यथाऽसि स्वयमागता ।। 12
O fair-smiling lady, I have sent you much wealth; let it all remain with you, since you have come here of your own accord.
अकस्मान्मां प्रशंसन्ति सदा गृहगताः स्त्रियः। बलवान्दर्शनीयश्च नान्यस्ते सदृशः पुमान् ।। 13
The women of my house always praise me unexpectedly, saying no other man is as strong or handsome as I am.
अहं रूपेण संपन्नः स्नातो गुरुविभूषितः। नित्यमेव प्रियः स्त्रीणां सौभाग्यात्प्रियदर्शनः । रूपस्य तन्मया प्राप्तं फलं कमललोचने ।। 14
I am endowed with beauty, bathed and adorned with noble ornaments; always dear to women, fortunate and pleasing to the eye. O lotus-eyed one, by my beauty I have attained this reward.
दिष्ट्या त्वं दर्शनीयोसि दिष्ट्याऽऽत्मानं प्रशंससि।। 15
By fortune you are beautiful to behold, and by fortune you praise yourself.
त्वयाऽपीदृग्गुणा नारी रूपशीलसमन्विता। अदृष्टपूर्वा पश्य त्वं यतो जानासि सूतज। द्रक्ष्यसि त्वं मुहूर्तेन यथेयं स्त्री गुणान्विता ।। 16
You have never before seen a woman with such qualities, endowed with beauty and character; see now, O son of a charioteer, for you will soon witness what a woman of virtue is like.
उपरंस्यसि कामाच्च शीघ्रं त्वं स्प्रष्टुमर्हसि । ईदृशस्तु त्वया स्पर्शः स्पृष्टपूर्वो न कर्हिचित् ।। 17
You will soon lose your desire, for you are about to touch something you have never touched before.
स्पर्शं वेत्सि विदग्धस्त्वं कामधर्मविचक्षणः। स्त्रीणां प्रीतिकरो नान्यस्त्वत्समः पुरुषस्त्विह ।। 18
You are clever and skilled in the ways of love, knowing the touch that pleases women; there is no man here equal to you.
इत्युक्त्वा तं महाबाहुर्भीमो भीमपराक्रमः। सहसोत्पत्य कौन्तेयः प्रहस्येदमुवाच ह ।। 19
Having spoken thus, mighty-armed Bhima, of terrible prowess, suddenly sprang up and, laughing, spoke these words.
अद्य त्वां भगिनी पापं कृष्यमाणं मया भुवि । द्रक्ष्यतेऽद्रिप्रतीकाशं सिंहेनेव महागजम् ।। 20
Today, my sister will see you, wicked one, being dragged by me on the ground, like a lion dragging a great elephant.
निराबाधा त्वयि हते सैरन्ध्री विचरिष्यति। सुखमेव चरिष्यन्ति सैरन्ध्र्याः पतयः सदा ।। 21
With you slain, Sairandhri will move about unhindered, and the husbands of Sairandhri will always live in happiness.
ततो जग्राह केशेषु माल्यवत्सु सुगन्धिषु ।। 22
Then he seized him by his hair, adorned with fragrant garlands.
गृहीत्वा कीचकं भीमो विरराज महाबलः। गृहीत्वा ग्रासकामस्तु सिंहः क्षुद्रमृगं यथा ।। 23
Having seized Kichaka, Bhima, mighty in strength, shone forth, just as a lion seizing a small animal eager for its prey.
स केशेषु परामृष्टो बलेन बलिनां वरः। आक्षिप्य केशान्वेगेन बाह्वोर्जग्राह पाण्डवम् ।। 24
Then, the foremost among the strong seized Bhima by the hair, grasping with force, and swiftly pulled his hair, catching hold of his arms.
बाहुयुद्धं तयोरासीत्क्रुद्धयोर्नरसिंहयोः। वसन्ते वासिताहेतोर्बलिनोर्नागयोरिव ।। 25
A wrestling match arose between those two enraged lions among men, like two mighty serpents in spring fighting for a mate.